Arewa youths escalate discourse on restructuring Nigeria

Last week I raised some issues on the Biafra struggle and opined that the Igbo have demonstrated that they loved this country and wanted its unity more than any other ethnic group in Nigeria. I further opined that indeed it looked to me that deep down, Nigeria did not really want the Igbo, but was merely tolerating them. And I concluded with offering my suggestion that if the Acting President and indeed this government wanted true unity, the shortest cut was to try and look at all the reports submitted by PRONACO, the 2005 national political reform conference and the 2014 national conference. In them, we can find good ideas on how to make this arrangement workable and mutually beneficial.

The next day, a motley group of sponsored youth groups, generally classified as Arewa youths, spoke from Arewa House in Kaduna. I have found time to read their press releases (1st and 2nd) and I have also followed comments made by other Arewa leaders especially Prof Ango Abdullahi and the ubiquitous Dr Junaid Mohammed. My deductions and comments are as follows.

First, the Arewa youths and perhaps those they speak for are tired of living with the Igbo in one country and would want that arrangement changed. They have several reasons they resent the Igbo. But it looks like the most obvious is the amount of property the Igbo own in the north and their apparent prosperity where ever they live. Rather than live in batchers and in make-shift temporary structures, they buy massive plots of land and build multi-storey block houses and establish chains of businesses. They do not behave as strangers or those in transit, they settle and live like indigenes and sometimes live more affluent live styles than the indigenes. This has irked some of the Arewa people for a long time, perhaps from the foundation of Nigeria, but since the Nigerian constitution permitted that, they really could not do much, except at the moments of ethnic or religious crisis, when they often descended on Igbo property. Therefore they saw the recent Biafra agitation, particularly the very successful stay-at-home order of 30th May, 2017 as an excuse to boldly express this long held animosity.

Second, the youths themselves are definitely very unhappy with Nigeria and sound very frustrated with this federation which seems to offer them little hope. With the high level of out of school children, the high incidence of the almajiri phenomenon, high level of youth unemployment and the general lack of opportunities and grinding poverty around them, they are no longer sure that they see any benefit in belonging to Nigeria as it is currently structured. Their angry and abusive responses to the statements made by governors of Kaduna and Borno states indicate that the youths may even be angrier with the Northern political leaders than they are with the impetuous Igbo.

Third, it seems clear that all is not well with Nigeria and all those who are pretending that all is well or that we should not talk about it are angry that the Igbo who seem to be comparatively materially better off in Nigeria are the ones clamouring for change. That is why the Arewa youth and their supporters thought that giving the ultimatum for the Igbo to leave the North will perhaps frighten them to abandon the struggle for equity, justice and fair play. After all, there was a time there was a call for Oduduwa Republic by the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC). The Niger Delta Ijaw under the auspices of the Avengers and other protesting youths called for a Republic of Niger Delta recently.  But perhaps the ethnic groups these youths represent may either not have such material possessions in the North or they may not be so materially inclined as the Igbo, neither received any such threats to vacate the North. So there is this perception that if you want to get the Igbo, go for his wealth and he would back down.

Fourth, this outburst by the coalition of the so called Arewa youths has further deepened and polarized the nation. Many other youth groups have appeared on the scene with their demands on Nigeria. The Middle Belt seems to have established a separation from Arewa north. They have offered to accommodate the Igbos if they get driven from the core north. So every ethnic group in Nigeria is finally waking up to vent their long suppressed animosities giving a fresh impetus to the need to renegotiate and rearrange the relationships in a manner that will be more mutually satisfactory. Many agree with the Igbo that either the arrangement is not serving them well or it is gravely skewed in the favour of other people.

Fifthly, we must acknowledge the very strong statements made by governors El-Rufai of Kaduna and Shettima of Borno state who stood up strongly and firmly to discountenance the hate speech authored by the Arewa youths. Those timely statements helped to stabilize matters and prevented the situation from degenerating. Though the youths are yet to be arrested and the statements from Ango and Junaid were counter-productive as usual, Nigerians had some relief.  But the situation remains ominous. The federal government and the National Assembly must follow up some of their lame declarations with swift actions. The Nigerian security forces that had no qualms in mowing down the MASSOB & IPOB youths who threatened no one in words or action, except expressing their desire for justice, equity and fair play, must find the simple courage to do the right thing to arrest the erring youth and bring them to quick justice! Many Igbos believe that the Arewa youths or those they have indoctrinated with their hate speech will try to enforce their misguided threats, because this has happened severally in the past. My prayer and hope is that this does not happen again!

Sixth and finally, let me state that this escalation of the discourse by the Arewa youths may seem extreme in some respects. But they have spoken their minds and we all now know how they feel. I am hopeful that it will finally stimulate our political leaders to seize this opportunity to get everyone around a table to salvage things, before it is too late. That to me is the divine call on acting President Yemi Osinbajo. May God Help him to act swiftly.

Mazi Sam I. Ohuabunwa OFR