A Country Deserves The Leader It Gets

By Prince Kingsley Afeniforo

It is true: a country deserves the leader he gets. Nigerians are always at crossroads with themselves even when there is a conspicuous road or who is afraid who?

The national dialogue offered us the greatest opportunity and an escape route to slough off the toga of incontinence. Suffering and smiling is the aphorism to describe Nigerians in the face of oppression. The majority of our leaders are bad. They never represent the masses, if they do, how could it be said that NO ONE proposed the breakup of Nigeria during the FEMI OKUROUMU-led national dialogue sessions across the nation? You are all bad and selfish leaders. Pretenders!

Indeed, if a voice is enough as a dissentient view to the unity of Nigeria, I hold that view on behalf of the teeming majority of Nigerians.  I proposed during the national dialogue for the breakup of Nigeria into south Nigeria and North Nigeria.

Perhaps, Dr. Okunromu had a skewed mindset against my kind of proposal. This is because I told him while on Radio Nigeria programme on the national dialogue when the chairman, secretary and some other members of the dialogue were on air receiving phone calls and text messages that the breakup of the nation is the best thing since the unholy marriage in 1914. My two text messages on the programme read: (1) “ Clamour for SNC for years is for split into North and south Nigeria but no government has been  bold enough to do our wishes peacefully, it’ll persist until by arms,” (2) “No fuss about how to overcome the woes: let us revisit pre-1914 arrangement and go it that way…”

The foresight of Mr. President is unequalled in the annals of Nigeria. The setting up of the dialogue was legendary.

The raison d’etre  for BOKO HARAM is for us to split or how do you justify the inequality between northern and southern Nigeria ever since the amalgamation?

In the speech of Obafemi Awolowo, in 1961 to Nigerian students at Conway Hall London, he painted a gloomy dominance by the North. Quota System in employment and political allocation of positions promotes mediocrity over and above merit, all in the name of assuaging the north. The current number of states and local governments are disproportionate, largely giving undue advantage to the North. Such that in a free and fair election it would always win. Why? We must resist this. As big as Ibadan is, it has 11 councils whereas three states would be carved out a local government in the north with the same land mass and  population. Example is Taraba State.

We are not one. Quota system, in which the North is allowed to field mediocre to lord it over  qualified southerners in the name of balancing position only when the interest of the Hausas  is at stake. But no eyes are seeing them at the state and local government levels, such as at the NYSC posting in Kopa, Kogi State in the case of my son. His tales are that Nigeria cannot be one. The unity slogan is deceptive. He was to be assigned to a veterinary teaching hospital there but pointedly told such an opportunity is reserved for Northerners! This should be investigated.

The NYSC members, especially the veterinary corps members from the south should be interviewed on the statement that only the Northerner  corps members could be posted to the teaching hospital!

Unfortunately, some of them were mowed down by Boko Haram insurgents. Miss Precious Okotor was not that lucky. Few days to rounding off and returning to her parents for a congratulatory welcome, she was killed. Hopes dashed!

The white paper on the National confab must address this. The best way out is to split into Sudan-like dichotomy. The resources with which Nigeria is run is domiciled in the South. Whereas same resources are squandered on state sponsorship of wedding for their folks in the North. Why then would southerners not be allowed to occupy the presidency in peace? We are not one, Oh! Obviously therefore which way Nigeria!.

•Afeniforo is former Editor Third Eye Newspaper. Tel.:08181064041.