These 5 people may cause Nigeria’s break-up
Friday, 12 February 2016
The incumbent
government of President Muhammadu Buhari is very young. The leader of
the nation is battling vigorously with such monsters as corruption,
insurgency and many others.
However, things that bordered on human
arrogance, corruption, total disrespect for rule of law, insurgency and
many other evils can tear Nigeria apart.
The
Federal Republic of Nigeria, as it is known today, has never really been
one homogeneous country, for its widely differing peoples and tribes. There
are also several powerful people who could spoil all Buhari’s efforts
by their controversial activities in different parts of Nigeria.
At independence Nigeria became a federation and remains the one country.
Soon afterwards the battle to consolidate the legacy of political and
military dominance of a section of Nigeria over the rest of the
federation began with bigger passion. More than 45 years ago Nigeria was
nearly divided by the bloody civil war that broke out on July 6, 1967,
and led to the deaths of over a million people.
Below are the five people who are fighting for the soul of Nigeria with
the central government at the expense of millions of residents who just
want an opportunity to live their lives quietly.
5. President Buhari
Buhari makes the list only because he is the leader of the nation and
his actions or inactions could push Nigeria over the edge or become the
messiah, as many predicted, and save the country from the imminent
disaster posed by the people mentioned below.
The president’s manner of tackling the controversial prisoners of
Nigeria could go a long way to define if the situation would be worsened
or buried and forgotten.
However, if Buhari wants to keep Nigeria united he should ensure that
the rights of these men are protected while also figuring out the ways
on how to stop the conflicts in the country.
For example, Nnamdi Kanu is both Nigerian and British, and the UK has
already rose questions over his continual detention. Sheikh El-Zakzaky
has Iran’s support because he preaches their type of religion, the Shia
Islam.
4. Tompolo (Government Ekpemupolo)
Tompolo was a prominent figurehead in the Niger Delta militancy that besieged the oil-producing country in the mid-2000s.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is currently accusing Tompolo of corruption.
Armed with more money than ever to purchase even more weapons than
before, Tompolo could pose a real danger to Nigeria quickly should the
situation deteriorate any further in the South South.
Before the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, his name drove fear into the
hearts of many as he and his cohorts terrorized the creeks of the South
South region.
3. Goodluck Jonathan
Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan has left the power as the national hero.
He is currently getting many awards from the global community,
recall his recognition in the USA and in Switzerland last month.
Jonathan has been visiting many strategic pro-democracy institutions
where he had been invited to share his experience in office as
the promoter of democracy and the advocate of good governance in Africa.
However, his government left many questions unanswered. For instance, the biggest scandal that currently rocks the country is fake purchase of the arms to fight the deadly Boko Haram sect.
The further anti-graft agency digs into the scam, the more Jonathan’s men are implicated and indicted.
These fake deals reportedly caused thousands of deaths in the country in the hands of terrorists.
What Jonathan decides to do next – to stay the hero or to reclaim the
power by all means – will determine his role in the unity of Nigeria.
2. Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky
Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, is
another powerful man with his finger practically on the activation
button. Shiites’ leader was the one who introduced the Shia Muslim
practice into Nigeria from Iran over 30 years ago. Before then, Nigeria
had only Sunni Muslims.
He controls a part of the Muslim population in the north and is so
powerful that his religious procession or convoy has right of way above
anyone. He could not even be controlled by law enforcement agencies.
Residents of Kaduna state, where El-Zakzaky used to be based, has many
times lamented about the disturbances the sheikh and the members of his
sect cause.
While at the moment, his location remains unknown after a bloody clash
with the military in Zaria on December 12-13, which left hundreds dead
his followers wait for his return patiently.
1. Nnamdi Kanu
Of all the people on this list, the leader of the Indigenous People of
Biafra (IPOB) and the director of the Radio Biafra pirate radio station,
Nnamdi Kanu, is, perhaps, the most influential at the moment.
Nigeria’s secret police arrested Kanu, on October 17.
He lives in London but often travels to Nigeria and was reportedly
apprehended in Lagos. Kanu leads the IPOB, the Indigenous People of
Biafra, supporting the revival of the Biafran state and independence
from Nigeria. Since his arrest, pro-Biafran protesters have organised
marches in southeastern Nigeria, demanding Kanu’s release and calling
for the independence of the Biafran territories.
Kanu is calling for the people of the South East to mobilize and fight
for the creation of the state of Biafra. He argues that the Igbos are
not properly catered for by the federal government.
While at the moment the protesters have been peaceful and recorded cases
of deaths happened only when security forces attacked them, the
agitation clearly is on the rise in the South East, as Nigerian leaders
wonder what to do, and anything could deteriorate the situation.
BY BIAFRA WRITERS
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