Nigeria's Divine Destiny: The Perils of Tribalism and Bigotry

Nigeria, a country blessed with abundant resources and diverse cultures, has been plagued by the demons of tribalism and bigotry. 

The actions of past leaders, driven by selfish interests and narrow-mindedness, have led to devastating consequences. 

This article explores the mistakes of notable leaders and the impact of their actions on the country's trajectory.

Awolowo's Blunders

Obafemi Awolowo, a prominent Yoruba leader, allowed his religious bigotry and personal biases to influence his decisions.

Awolowo had several political followers but won't allow Muslims among them to rise. Among millions of Muslims following Awolowo, Lateef Jakakande was the only Muslim allowed to rise in rank and file - others are forgotten.

Awolowo's bigotry made him to commit several political blunders that denied him the post of presidency - for instance, he refused to partner with Northern Muslims, despite advice from Late Chief Ladoke Akintola to rally support with the majority and the northern elites begging Awolowo to join them. 

But instead, Awolowo begged to play second fiddle to Nnamdi Azikwe, a fellow Christian. 

Azikwe, wiser and more pragmatic, understood that politics is a game of numbers, he deceived Awolowo to wait for him at a purported meeting. 

Meanwhile Zik was busy somewhere aligning with the Northern Muslims, and take the post of presidency rejected by Awolowo in 1960.

Awolowo's regional politics suffered from his bigotry. He selected only Christian candidates from Kwara, alienating the predominantly Muslim population and jeopardizing his party's chances. 

For instance, he imposed fellow Christians like Late Sunday Olawoyin, Late Cornelius Adebayo, and Ayo Opadokun on the Muslim majority, forcing Kwara people to shift their votes elsewhere. 

His Afenifere group, initially co-founded with Muslims, excluded them from key positions, leading to factions. 

In 1979, Awolowo chose Philip Umeadi, another Christian from SE, as his running mate, instead of a Muslim majority from the North, further illustrating his bigotry.

Some Pentecostal Yoruba churches also tow the line of bigotry in the name of Muslims-muslim tickets.

Forgotten the excellent track records of excellent performances of Tinubu and his wife being a church pastor, some bigots still went ahead to vote the Zionists that used the opportunity of endsars protest to wantonly destroy Lagos and threatened to sack Oba of Lagos, throw Oba into Lagoon, hijack and rule Yoruba land willy-nilly.

Yoruba are known for liberality and don't play religion politics. Despite Awolowo's politics, Yoruba Muslims still vote for him regardless and most states of SW operate Christian-Christian tickets till date without rancour - kudos to Yoruba Muslims.

Azikwe's Mistakes

Nnamdi Azikwe, Nigeria's first president, made critical errors. He galvanized support to remove the referendum clause from the constitution, paved the way for Igbo-dominated coups and the brutal civil war. 

As president of Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikwe used his position to populate federal MDAs with Ibo people, creating an imbalance in representation. 

General Yakubu Gowon later addressed this anomaly with the Federal Character principle.

Northern Agenda Politics

The Northern political class has historically exploited ethnic and religious divisions to maintain power. 

Their refusal to relinquish the presidency has led to accusations of marginalization and fueled secessionist sentiments. 

The 1993 annulment of MKO Abiola's election to pave way for Abacha's coup is a stark reminder of this approach.

The Secessionist Threat - Blessings in Adversities

Secessionist groups like Oodua, IPOB, and ESN exploit marginalization grievances, threatening national unity. 

However, their actions put the northern leaders on their toes and highlight the need for power rotation and inclusive governance.

National Interest - the Winning Cards

Since 1960 till date, presidential candidates that play the game of majority that catered for the majority won - Whoever plays ethnic, regional or religion cards mostly failed.

Way Forward

Nigeria's survival depends on embracing unity and rejecting bigotry. Leaders must prioritize national interests over personal and ethnic agendas. Key steps include:

- Power rotation and inclusive governance

- Addressing marginalization and promoting equitable resource allocation

- Fostering dialogue and reconciliation among ethnic and religious groups

- Strengthening institutions and ensuring accountability

Conclusion

Nigeria's divine destiny is threatened by selfish leaders. It's time for Nigerians to acknowledge the past, confront biases, and work towards a brighter future. By embracing unity and rejecting bigotry, Nigeria can overcome challenges and become a beacon of hope.

Recommendations

- Establish a national dialogue to address historical grievances

- Implement policies promoting national unity and inclusivity

- Strengthen institutions to prevent future abuses of power

- Encourage civic education and critical thinking

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