Sometimes I am forced to the conclusion that the ideology that birthed Nigeria is faulty. Though I'd rather hope I'm wrong. I am compelled to see through the lens of secessionists, and wished they have their ways. The latest of such issues that make me wish those that believe in Biafra part ways while Hausas have their independent Arewa nation, and Yorubas stay in their Oduduwa or whatever nation, is our attitudes toward convictions or death of politicians. When a politician dies or is convicted, one group morns, some other rejoices. A group will display clannish solidarity for a known criminal that squandered the opportunity and privilege to impact their lives all because he's a son of the soil.
The trial or conviction of a criminal that normally should be a victory for the people ends up polarising us the more. We recently witnessed how some hungry folks showed to the world how 'immensaly' they've been deprived their right to good education by the same state robber they're defending.
The death of former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha on the 10th day of October, 2015 yet again bring out our hypocrites as a nation. Alams death came with a shock as no one would have expected him to pass away just when he's about to be extradited. His death is mourned as it should, only for the negative buzz it's generating on the social media. His people, the South-southerners are of the opinion that their son should only be mourned and his crimes forgotten. The owners of the land that feeds the nation want us to stop talking about how a smart cross-dresser their illustrious son was. They want us to forget how he was to be extradited before he opted for cardiac arrest in place of UK arrest all because the money he stole was not Nigeria's, it was for the people of a region without which the nation would starve to death. These are the same people that, along with their Eastern brothers, celebrated the demise of late Hadjia Bilikisu Yusuf of the BBOG campaign. They have suddenly leafed their Bible to verse that says that the dead be respected. This level of hypocrisy makes me lose faith in One Nigeria.
With my experiences so far with different ethnic groups, I never believed Nigeria to be one, or has ever been one and I doubt Nigeria would ever be one inasmuch Niger-Deltans hold to "Our Oil" mentality, inasmuch as Yorubas believe themselves more sophisticated than average Northerners, inasmuch as Northern elites believe they are born to rule, inasmuch as Igbo considered themselves smarter than other ethnic group. The earlier we realized that peoples forcefully coalesced into a nation will never be one the better for our sanity because few sane among us are vastly becoming infected by those carrying the dangerous virus of false sense of superiority and grandeur.
I'd rather we have a Yoruba nation where no Frank from the other side of the Niger will tell me to hate Tinubu because he's milking the Yorubas, and that I should love Mimiko because he represents all Awolowo stood for, than pretend to be happy to read epistles belittling MKO's contribution to democracy from a supposed compatriot from The land of a rising sun. It'll be so good to see Kanu's lunacy bothers only his people while Yorubas deal unstable Kayodes among its people. An Arewa nation where Almajiri menace will not be Ayodele's headache will be just a perfect country.
Olabanji Olatoye
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