Nigeria, the bane of

Ethnocentrism?
Several unconfined expressions attributed to individuals of gargantuan
profiles describe Nigeria more as a fiction than a nation. Whether true or
false, some of these expressions are permanent appellations by which the
country is defined. It is common to define Nigeria either as “a mere
geographical expression” or “a mistake of 1914”. Both expressions,
chronicled over 30 years ago by the founding fathers of the country (the
sagacious Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir
Ahmadu Bello respectively), have stuck as critical explanations for a failed
Nigerian state.

It would not be hard to deduce that, both Premiers made such shattering
comments about the health of the nation, having vehemently discussed and
severally disagreed on the values and virtues systems of the broadly
different people they led. Sir Michael Okpara, the Premier of the Eastern
Nigeria, however, could be considered as a more reserved personality, who
would improvise for necessities with availabilities. Rather than be entangled
in a “battle royale”, he chose an oblivious path of silence and allowed his
achievements speak the volumes. This does not state that he outperformed
his co-premiers. I just insinuate that he was utterly silent, unflappable and
visibly efficient. He, probably, either believed the Nigeria Project, or
concluded that, while collapse is imminent, do something immortal!

Beyond the mediocritical statements of these founding Premiers about a

“one-nation” Nigeria, they submitted themselves as well as their personally
conflicting views to ensure that Nigeria remained a singleton. While the
amalgamation commander (Sir Lord Luggard) failed to write a manifesto for
the forced marriage of the diverse tribes whose value systems greatly differ,
these heroes past took painful ribs from their chests to write concocted
vision and mission statements on their fragile skins using every drop of their
blood as inscription inks.

The ethnic incongruity of the big country, Nigeria, cannot be denied; either
by the amalgamation Lieutenants or the indigenous founding fathers. Also,
there had, obviously, always been perceived anachronistic and retarded
ethnocentric tendencies from which the destiny of a supposed young African
giant could be and eventually, was professed. These great cultural
differences always exist. And I have no doubts that they were the same
reasons Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Sir Ahmadu Bello, in spite of their global
outlook as Nationalists, made such “destiny-changing” pronouncements on
the future of the Country.

Times passed. Several other leaders emerged. Apart from those who were
slain to sustain the forced, but somewhat accepted, unity of Nigeria, others
exhibited massive traits of Ethnocentrism – the single obnoxious and
persistent destroyer of our politics and subsequently, our economic, social
and moral values. In the words of Late Ken Saro-Wiwa, he described
ethnocentrism as “the misuse of the ethnic groups and ethnic sentiments
against other ethnic groups in a sterile competition”.

It has always been argued that our strength lies in unity and that tribalism is
the bane of our nation. However, we have continually witnessed successive
governments with huge traits of ethnocentrism. A simple example is the
Federal Character. How else would you describe the institutionalization of the
Federal Character by the “maradonic” administration that would not be
monstrous except for hypocrites?

Imagine that Nigeria would never be able to present her best soccer team
(just 23 players) due to this horrible idea of the “evil genius”. If the Federal
Character had to be truly reflected in the Super Eagles, how would one as a
Technical Adviser share the limited squad spots among over 300 ethnic
groups that would not result into marginalization? Even the best rotational
algorithm will marginalize the weaker tribes. Federal Character, a
modernized expression of ethnocentrism, simply makes no sense!

How did IBB intended to foster National Unity with the institutionalization of
the Federal Character? How would I see a fellow northern citizen who gained
admission into the University at my expense with an inferior qualification just
because he is a northerner? Truly, this might sound perverse, but true
Education cannot be acquired through compulsion. Only the best students
should be offered the privileges of our limited educational resources in
tertiary Institutions. However, I hasten to add that, if like some other
countries of the world, the Federal Government could afford free education
for all at every level, then so be it.

An alternative expression for Federal Character is the most popularized

slogan in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) – Zoning. To me and many
Nigerians, this only expresses the mediocrity syndrome of members (if not
all, the key decision makers) of the ruling party and any other political party
that shares same. In simpler expressions, PDP openly stated that even if the
most credible candidate belongs to an ethnic group other than the North, he
or she shall not be allowed to vie for Nigeria’s Presidency. In my
understanding, this is treason – the deprivation of the Country and her
citizenry of good leadership through PDP and the encroachment upon their
members’ rights as Nigerians to vie for a national office. This is a treasonable
felony as well as the violation of human rights!

Moreso, how else can a Political Party serve the country other than the
presentation of the best leadership that can be?

With perception, I have no doubts that majority of the victims of the Jos crisis
were Nigerian that emanated from alien tribes. In defense of this statement,
it would be wise that, the Federal Government produces genetic manifests of
the victims. Through iniquitous policies that brutally forced ethnical
coexistence, the Nigerian Government has disintegrated the nation more
than they have united it. Even if we are forced to live together, in our hearts
are seeds of discord and we know who our “true” brothers are in times of
crisis.

While this article is not intended to stress the disintegration of Nigeria, it is a

simple pointer that, the unification of Nigeria lies more in our ability to
identify and respect the various value systems offered by the diverse ethnic
groups in the country. We cannot hope to sustain this marriage in the face of
“renamed” tribalism. While our ethnicities are permanent and cannot be
changed, we should embrace a common national value system that
promotes ethnic growth and militates against ethnocentrism. Different
ethnics should be allowed to coexist and develop symbiotically. Obsequious
servile treatments of minority ethnic groups by the acclaimed majority
should be treated with disdain.

Professor Pat Utomi stressed the need to consciously militate against the
North-South dichotomy in his article – A message to the Youths. He
expressed optimism of (and in) a new country - One Nigeria; and he
encouraged the youths across the country to make people to people
connection and to learn from their colleagues from the other divide so that
they no longer see them as strangers, and worse off, enemies. In my humble
opinion, I think Professor Utomi did a great job dissecting the basis of
ethnocentric tendencies. However, while I do not expect an absolute
discourse, a vital omission of failed leadership did severe injustice to the
topic.
Rather than blame the unfortunate chronological leaderships that had
befallen this nation and had, in turn, undermined the oneness of the country,
he blamed parents for anxiously wanting to save their wards from the jaws of
a merciless and stanch predator! May I ask the number of promising Nigerian
Youths lost yearly to communal and religious crisis? May I also ask if
Professor Pat Utomi had ever lost a loved one to any of these crises? Did he
not hear of the atrocities of rape and murder perpetrated by the “Boko
Haram” evangelists?

Except for a refined NYSC that assures and reassures safety, I would not
allow any of my loved ones to serve in unsafe lands and this, completely, has
nothing to do with dichotomy or tribalism. It is a simple effort of parents to
provide for their wards, what Nigeria had failed to provide to any citizen
except the highly placed (the very most tribalised citizens) – Safety &
Security!

Dear reader, if you were in the hot-seat of Frank Edoho (MTN Who Wants to
be a Millionaire?) and you were asked “Which of the major tribes of Nigeria
dragged the country into her presently predicament of statelessness?” and
you were provided with 4 options namely A:Yoruba, B:Igbo, C:Hausa and
D:All of the above, what would be your answer? Let me guess for you. If you
are Yoruba, your answer is definitely Hausa. If you are Igbo, your answer
might also be Hausa. And if you are Hausa, I’d win a jackpot taking a guess
on Yoruba! Well, it is all in your opinion and because this is my game, you
are wrong! The answer is D – All of the above.

Now read Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s comment on the book titled: “Nigeria,
Africa’s failed Asset?”.

“Let me start by saying that I am Fulani (laughter). My grandfather was an Emir

and therefore I represent all that has been talked about this afternoon. Sir Ajayi
has written a book. And like all Nigerians of his generation, he has written in the
language of his generation.
“My grandfather was a Northerner, I am a Nigerian. The problem with this
country is that in 2009, we speak in the language of 1953. Sir Olaniwun can be
forgiven for the way he spoke, but I cannot forgive people of my generation
speaking in that language.
“Let us go into this issue because there are so many myths that are being
bandied around. Before colonialism, there was nothing like Northern Nigeria.
Before the Sokoto Jihad, there was nothing like the Sokoto caliphate. The man
from Kano regard himself as bakane. The man from Zaria was bazazzage. The
man from Katsina was bakatsine. The kingdoms were at war with each other.
They were Hausas, they were Muslims, they were killing each other.
“The Yoruba were Ijebu, Owo, Ijesha, Akoko, Egba. When did they become one?
When did the North become one? You have the Sokoto Caliphate that brought
every person from Adamawa to Sokoto and said it is one kingdom. They now
said it was a Muslim North.
“The Colonialists came, put that together and said it is now called the Northern
Nigeria. Do you know what happened? Our grand fathers were able to transform
to being Northerners. We have not been able to transform to being Nigerians.
The fault is ours. Tell me, how many governors has South West produced after
Awolowo that are role models of leadership? How many governors has the East
produced like Nnamdi Azikiwe that can be role models of leadership? How Many
governors in the Niger Delta are role models of leadership? Tell me. There is no
evidence statistically that any past of this country has produced good leaders.
You talk about Babangida and the economy. Who were the people in charge of
the economy during Babangida era? Olu Falae, Kalu Idika Kalu. What state are
they from in the North?
“We started the banking reform; the first thing I heard was that in Urobo land,
that there will be a course of the ancestors. I said they (ancestors) would not
answer. They said why? I said how many factories did Ibru build in Urobo land?
So, why will the ancestors of the Urobo people support her?
“We talk ethnicity when it pleases us. It is hypocrisy. You said elections were
rigged in 1959, Obasanjo and Maurice Iwu rigged election in 2007. Was it a
Southern thing? It was not.
“The problem is: everywhere in this country, there is one Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba
and Itshekiri man whose concern is how to get his hands on the pile and how
much he can steal.
Whether it is in the military or in the civilian government, they seat down, they
eat together. In fact, the constitution says there must be a minister from every
state.
“So, anybody that is still preaching that the problem of Nigeria is Yoruba or
Hausa or Fulani, he does not love Nigeria. The problem with Nigeria is that a
group of people from each and every ethnic tribe is very selfish. The poverty
that is found in Maiduguri is even worse than any poverty that you find in any
part of the South. The British came for 60 years and Sir Ajayi talked about few
numbers of graduates in the North (two at independence). What he did not say
was that there was a documented policy of the British when they came that the
Northerner should not be educated. It was documented. It was British colonial
policy. I have the document. I have published articles on it. That if you educate
the Northerner you will produce progressive Muslim intellectuals of the type we
have in Egypt and India. So, do not educate them. It was documented. And you
say they love us (North).
“I have spent the better part of my life to fight and Dr. (Reuben) Abati knows
me. Yes, my grandfather was an Emir. Why was I in the pro-democracy
movement fighting for June 12? Is (Moshood) Abiola from Kano? Why am I a
founding director of the Kudirat Initiative for Nigerian Development (KIND)?
“There are good Yoruba people, good Igbo people, good Fulani people, good
Nigerians and there are bad people everywhere. That is the truth.
“Stop talking about dividing Nigeria because we are not the most populous
country in the world. We have all the resources that make it easy to make one
united great Nigeria. It is better if we are united than to divide it.
“Every time you talk about division, when you restructure, do you know what
will happen? In Delta, Area, the people in Warri will say Agbor, you don’t have
oil. When was the Niger Delta constructed as a political enlity? Ten years ago,
the Itshekiris were fighting the Urobos. Isn’t that what was happening? Now
they have become Niger Delta because they have found oil. After, it will be, if
you do not have oil in your village then you can not share our resources.
“There is no country in the world where resources are found in everybody’s
hamlet. But people have leaders and they said if you have this geography and if
we are one state, then we have a responsibility for making sure that the people
who belong to this country have a good nature.
“So, why don’t you talk about; we don’t have infrastructure, we don’t have
education, we don’t have health. We are still talking about Fulani. Is it the Fulani
cattle-rearer or is anybody saying there is no poverty among the Fulani?”

My final submission is that we all (Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and the other minority
tribes) have dragged Nigeria to her knees. So, in a unit of undaunted force,
we have to fight to bring back those lost glories. Nigeria is not about me or
you. It is about all of us. And if you would not put a hand in Nation Building,
dear reader, quit blackmailing the country. It is the only country that has
accepted us the way we are.

God bless Nigeria!!!