USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: {'Yan Arewa} Conference won’t stop Nigeria’s break-up – Bishop

Chris Udoh and My People:

There is frustration in the land, but let us hold our horses.....

Left to Nigerians 40 years and older, Nigeria might break up - but even that is doubtful:  it depends on what happened the week before. If the poll were taken today after Nigeria beat Uruguay in the Under-17 World Cup match yesterday, or after Nigeria wins the World Cup come 2014, a break-up vote would be overwhelmingly negative, showing you that the break-up sentiment is not marrow-deep.

For Nigerians younger than 40, a broken-up Nigeria is inconceivable, despite our pains - and they are in the overwhelming majority in Nigeria.  Interacting with all the 700 students in my university - a  small sample, I admit -  thinking in those terms is not in their consciousness.

Three days ago, at a Shell Nigeria Distinguished Scholars Forum in Lagos at which thirty of us former Shell scholarship recipients were honored, and Shell's New Strategy for Education in Nigeria launched,  a young man named Timi Dakolo (from Bayelsa State, I understand a former Nigerian Idol winner) sang a breath-taking song titled "Great Nation" for which he apparently was well known already; I was "knowing" about it for the first time.  See a performance of the number here:

               http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2OhlyXx3kE

It was very moving, and could easily be adopted as an alternative "National Anthem."  I intend to invite him to FU Otuoke to perform one of these days...

Moving on....

Nigeria can be made to work if we correct our political leadership deficit.  That deficit is sustained by an anomalously acephalous constitutional structure that is neither unitary or federal, that alienates individuals from personal meritorious hope and progress,  and alienates groups from their lands, and births a grab-and-grab/bunker mentality....that throws up dealers rather than leaders....in which servants rule their masters with impunity, and the inmates run the asylum.

That acephalous Constitution requires surgery - actually a transplant - and one hopes that that will be the outcome of the inchoate National Conference. .

And there you have it...a Sunday musing-let.

Bolaji Aluko

In a burst of patriotic fervor

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Idowu Awosika,

Why forward this to the Forum. Are you not the same man that abused me for saying that Nigeria will disintegrate very soon? Now that the same information is coming from your brother, and from even the market women from your area. As well. Why are you silent. Go ahead and abuse them. Where is your second brother, the so called Abiodun?

Now that both of you can see clearly, tell it to others. Let everyone be prepared for a parting ceremony very soon. Up Oduduwa Republic, Up Atlantic Republic. Up Bo'ram Republic. 

Chris

On 3 Nov 2013, at 01:44, Idowu Awosika <idowubobo@gmail.com> wrote:

 

Conference won't stop Nigeria's break-up – Bishop

NOVEMBER 3, 2013 BY LEKE BAIYEWU 3 COMMENTS

    

Rt. Rev. Peter Adebiyi (retd)

Retired Bishop of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Lagos-West Diocese, Rt. Rev. Peter Adebiyi, has faulted those who do not want the proposed national conference to lead to Nigeria's break-up.

He said there are several indications that the nationalities in the country are living together under duress. He said this was evident in the high level of religious intolerance being experienced, which was reflected in politics.

Adebiyi, who spoke on the state of the nation in Lagos on Saturday, said it would be suicidal for him to walk in some places in the North in his robe without being attacked for being a Christian.

He noted that such would not occur, if he goes to the North as a foreigner. He said if he was killed as a foreigner from Yorubaland, there would be diplomatic row but if he was killed as a Nigerian, only his family would bear the loss.

He identified the born-to-rule mentality of some northerners as one of the causes of the crises in the country. "An average northerner believes that he was born to rule Nigeria and that is the essence of the conference we are talking about," he said.

Adebiyi said, "Sometime, when I see people speak about one Nigeria, I remain silent because I know that Nigeria is not one. We have an agglomeration of nations in Nigeria. I will only go to where I'll be tolerated.

"It is only those who are after money; those who are selfish that say we are a country. How do I call where I'm not wanted my own? Everything is a deceit; Nigeria is a country of great deceit.

"It is time for every one of us, if this conference is real, to say that 'this is what we want.' If we cannot live together, why can't I go home? What is wrong, if I say I'm going home?"

The retired bishop blamed the failures of the countries anti-graft agencies on lack of political will by the government. He said they were driven politically.

He stated that it would be difficult for the head of an anti-graft agency appointed by the President to investigate the President, if indicted.

The bishop said, "I was a member of the Code of Conduct Bureau at its inception in 1988; eleven of us were members. I was there for 20 years until few years ago. I cannot say what my eyes saw. At a point, the bureau became a god that cannot bite because the setup was good but the operating value was bad."

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