Talking about Northern Nigeria

My admonition dwells with a section of Nigeria – the North. Is the North still united, as was the case, what about her oligarchy and a few leftist socialist activists that set the talakawa agenda, what happened? What is it that needs to be understood about the alamanjiri system and institutional begging in the North?

And before we scream, has the North been this violent, is it really about marginalisation and if it is indeed, who marginalised whom, Abacha, Shagari or IBB, it certainly should be Buhari, did you not see the rickety school where he cast his vote or how come there’s no ‘sweet’ public secondary school in Atiku’s local government?

The North and the agitating Middle Belt is an emotional wreck, a perfect picture of an abused bride, which today is even afraid of a hug of reconciliation, with rehabilitation and reconstruction from the ruins of Borno, a far cry.

Go to Zamfara and see a budding Northeast in the making, the town has become a quasi jungle state, gun wielding vigilantes, how about the sacrificial altars in southern Kaduna.

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If the North decides to go away from Nigeria, will the other component part fight to keep it and would it be really 19 states, is Plateau North, when there’s no love lost between the Plateau people and the North, does Taraba believe in North, Southern Kaduna, parts of Nassarawa, Benue, Kogi, etc?

People still believe that up North we are all empty land mass and goats, unproductive, and leeching termites stuck on Nigeria because of the oil, if not, why the hue and cry of PIB when Zamfara’s mines are gold for the asking and we could develop a self-sufficient and exportable agrarian community?

What is the Arewa ideology? Did it or does it exist?  Everyone is on a blame ride, the bulk stops at Buhari’s table but as ‘Northerners’ have we blamed our 19 non-performing state charge de affair and ministers, legislators and their ilk; what examples have they set?

So much is wrong with the North–I challenge my brothers from Katsina, Jigawa, Kebbi and Zamfara, among others, to tell me two companies that make 30 million naira a month after salaries are paid and utilities are sorted.

The economy of the North has crumbled due to insecurity unleashed on the region by Boko Haram amongst other allies. A huge army of unemployed youths in the North pointing out there is urgent need for the revival of the Northern economy and job creation. But how are we doing that, other than holding power and our usual it’s a birthright mentality.

What and where have the trillions of 20 years of democracy gone to in the North? Universities out of private initiative litter the South and up here what are we doing, arguing who has suffered more casualties between Christians/Muslims.

The North has equally failed to give her people opportunity, education and resolve conflicts through regular democratic processes.

I will end this admonition in the words of T. Y. Danjuma: “We need to think more, pray more, plan more, work harder, relate better and talk less. Battles are better fought and won through wisdom and strategy than through inflammable pronouncements and political tantrums.” This is to the North but it does apply to Nigeria, the current hate quotient is high; for how long, only time will tell.

Prince Charles Dickson PhD

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