WHICH WAY, NIGERIANS?
Samuel Enyi Otsapa
Samuelotsapa@gmail.com
While we mourn, cry, feel terribly sad and complain unending over the rising insecurity in OUR country, that took a different but not altogether surprising turn following the terrorist attack on an Abuja to Kaduna train conveying 970 passengers and crew, some Nigerians are laughing over the development – because from the names, most of the victims; killed, kidnapped or injured, are northerners.
But isn’t this expected? If this same attack, God forbid, happens in Enugu, Onitcha or Aba, would most of the victims not be Southerners, particularly South-easterners? Of course with the way Nigeria is now divided, an attack like this in the Southeast would also see some northerners become happy over it. This is how terribly bad our situation is, no thanks to the nepotistic, narcissistic and ineptitude-tic government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Folks, it is both heart wrenching and demotivating to watch Nigerians laugh, make jest and post comments that suggests they are happy with what has happened because they feel marginalized and want their own country.
One of the many things I hate in life is to be placed in a situation where I’d tell anyone “I told you so!”. Although some of us have consistently raised the alarm (I have specifically written that traveling by train isn’t safe because it is still open to attack) but I am not happy this has happened – because I value life, no matter where the victims are from.
When would the people of the South-east forgive the rest of us, even if they won’t forget? Yes, the Nigerian Civil War that claimed the lives of some three million Igbo men, women and children and destroyed the southeast was a senseless and ego war, but it is time for them to leave the past where it has been buried. It is time for them to stop profiling every northerner – and accept the reality that they are Nigerians. Although I am from Benue State, the average Igbo man/woman sees me as “hawusa” while the Hausa themselves sees me as “ba na mu ba ne” (he doesn’t belong to us).
Yes, the Igbos are still been marginalized, particularly with the position of the president, but what are the guarantees that when they occupy the office, all of their grievances, agitations and fears would dissipate and/or disappear. Would an Igbo president be the magic wand that wipes away their grievances overnight? I do not believe so. As a Nigerian, and if I have my way, I’d “consensus” the Presidency to the Southeast but nothing is given for free. The Igbos must first close ranks among themselves (as they fight each other too much), come to the negotiation table and present a unified position on their ambition.
As Nigerians, this is not the time, if there would ever be such a time, for us to hold tight to our primordial and primitive sentiments and selfishness. This is not the time for us to justify and make case for the many times we have warned the government and offered recommendations. This is the time for us to close ranks, come together and work for the country; a country sliding over the cliff. A country where gunshots are now like doorbells. This is the time for us to demand accountability from President Muhammadu Buhari. This is the time for us to be humans.
