Some countries across the globe have wondered, and perhaps feel disappointed, that hitherto Nigeria has not disintegrated, contrary to some earlier predictions. With a news headline: “Nigeria@60: We May Break Up, FG Admits” (The Tide newspaper, Monday 28/9/2020), the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was quoted as saying: “There’s urgent need for Nehemiah in our country, Nigeria, today.” What would a Nigerian Nehemiah do? The answer, according to the Vice President is: “to rebuild the cracks we have in our walls (Nigeria) today”. Cracks, but not a broken wall yet!
What caused the cracks that could lead to break if not properly addressed? Although we were told that the Vice President spoke through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, at the 60th Independence Anniversary Church Service held at the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja on Sunday September 27, 2020, other persons also spoke their minds. There was a sermon by President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr Samson Ayokunle, whose summary was that: “We need to do away with lack of trust in order to build a great nation”.
No great nation can be built under a condition of lack of trust. So, the cracks in the walls of the Nigerian nation can be attributed to mutual distrust, among other anomalies. Reference to a Nehemiah came about as a metaphor, a rebuilder of broken-down walls; a preserver of a tottering Biblical nation. We are told that Nehemiah “started with fervent prayers, seeking the face of God and pleaded with his king to allow him return to Jerusalem to rebuild the broken walls.”
A man who would say and do such a thing as Nehemiah, must have a great love, patriotism and loyalty for his country. So, the theme of the Independence Anniversary church service in Abuja, was The Rise of A Nehemia For Nigeria. Let’s call him “Nehemiah Nigeriana”.
Such a hero would not be imposed on the Nigerian nation, rather, in the opinion of CAN, prayers are needed for such rescue process. Osinbajo encouraged Nigerians to study the story of Nehemiah and replicate same in Nigeria for a better country. Quite a challenging task!
Apart from an urgent need for such a national hero, the VP went on to say: “And like Nehemiah faced opposition in his efforts to rebuild the walls, any Nigerian that desires to rebuild Nigeria must also be ready to face stiffer oppositions which will come in torrents.” How and from where would such a national hero arise? The answer lies in prayers. The task and prayers of such a national Nehemiah and those who would back him up should include issues of a proposed Water Resources Bill which the Ijaw Group rejects. The rejection of the bill hinges on distrust and suspicion that it has some hidden agenda and motives.
The tasks of Nehemiah Nigeriana would also include the old whispering of War Indemnity secretly imposed on the South-East and South-South parts of Nigeria arising from the Civil War 1967-1970, for which the Niger Delta people have been on the receiving end of acts of injustice ever since. The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and Senator Ita Enang would tell us that “Northerners owned 83% of all Nigeria’s Oil Blocks”.
One of the causes of the cracks in the walls of the Nigerian nation arose from the issue of national security which is not only delicate but shrouded in secrecy and suspicion also. Why, for instance, were the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) tagged terrorists and proscribed, while Boko Haram “militants” are being de-radicalised and re-cycled into the army and police? Similarly, vigilante groups in southern parts of Nigeria are being asked to surrender fire arms meant for soldiers at war, with no one withdrawing same or asking how herdsmen came by such weapons.
The issue of application of double standards and abuse of due process or the rule of law in various cases are glaring enough to cause some cracks in the walls of the nation’s unstable house. From the investigation of allegations of corruption, to giving protection to politicians who decamp to the party in power, Nigerians feel betrayed and bitter. Do we not observe discriminations, double standards and abuses in strategic appointments, revenue disbursements, project allocations, issues about solid minerals vis-à-vis mineral oil and gas, etc?
Why not an open inquiry into an allegation made by Obadiah Mailafia about possible sponsorship of Boko Haram, and why the foot-dragging over the calls for a restructuring of the polity? Have there not been old allegations about doctoring of population figures in the past, for political and revenue allocation purposes? Is there no lack of trust between the Presidency and the Nigerian masses? The issue of spirited movement of cattle into farmlands in the South and open grazing also add to the cracks.
A gift of N150 billion to cattle breeders and merchants by the Federal Government could have been invested in a way to reduce open grazing and the animosity between crop farmers and herders. But questions arising from that angle remain unanswered, thus creating more cracks in the walls which a Nehemiah should rebuild. Coupled with that is the planned construction of a rail line to link Nigeria with its neighbour, Niger Republic, to be financed through a loan. Are fingers not pointing towards boosting of cattle business? What value does that proposed rail-line represent and whose interests are being served thereby?
Hitherto, issues raised by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo about Islamisation, Fulanisation and Sharia controversies in a democratic Nigeria are treated as baseless speculations. Nobody has been told that the leader of the Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM), Badu Salisu Ahmadu, was invited for a chat by security agents after his outburst months ago. But Mailafia was radical enough to be invited twice for a chat! Who’s afraid of an open inquiry? True federalism!
Without mincing words, one of the causes of the cracks on the walls of the Nigerian nation is a lingering suspicion that indigenes of the Niger Delta zone, as a strategy of oil politics, are being used by power holders to undermine the collective interests of their people. A stable and strong nation cannot be built by the application of divide-and-rule strategy. Either we are striving to be one, based on justice, or we are divided based on shenanigans and duplicity. There is no way a Nehemiah can emerge in such condition. Love and patriotism go with justice! Then add Nehemiah.
Dr. Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.