Nigeria is currently facing a very big challenge with regards to its unity. It’s been long since this nation was this regionally, ethnically and religiously divided. Politicians have played a big part in making sure we are divided while they achieve their selfish goals. Apparently, CIA’s prediction of Nigeria breaking up in 2015 isn’t too far from being accurate. The “Biafrans” are calling for independence at the same time when the Niger Delta people feel they’ve been exploited for too long. But what has this government done to solve this issue?
Being a Muslim from the North, I would be a hypocrite if I said I don’t like the fact that Buhari is my President. I was very excited when Buhari won. To us then, President Jonathan was the devil. He was responsible for Boko Haram, Poverty, Marginalization and all sorts of evil. It’s time to celebrate because we have our own. We now feel security not like before. We see our people appointed into various offices. These are the silver linings.
I try imagining being from the South or East. I am probably an unemployed youth who didn’t vote for Buhari. I see the fall of the Naira. I see increased difficulty living. I see rise in price of food stuffs. I see fuel subsidy removal. I see the “respected” politicians from my region getting arrested or probed. Even the ones who are free don’t give away money anymore. Then ultimately, I see appointments made where 7 out of 10 will be from the north. In such an atmosphere, you don’t need to be a professor in psychology to know that, its chaos waiting to be triggered.
I always argue with the fact that Buhari won mainly because President Jonathan was an incompetent president. I might be one of the few who think this. But believe me, I have my reasons. In my opinion, his alliance with ACN was the key to his success. Jonathan lost the 5 governors along with Amaechi and Obasanjo. That was his biggest flaw. Buhari had lost elections before even though he is the same person. A lot of people, based on his records, believe Buhari would make a good president. But, the ACN had to sell him to the west via campaigns and propaganda. So in my opinion, it’s not how good you are, it’s what people think of you. And what they think of you is what their elites what them to. It’s not just about infrastructural development. It’s also about fair representation.
I don’t know if President Buhari has noticed, but there is a campaigned to further disunite Nigeria and his actions are not helping matters. I am very disturbed by his appointments. Perhaps, when he said he wasn’t going to treat those who voted for him equally as to those who didn’t, he actually meant it. I thought “The Northernization Agenda” was just a conspiracy theory. But there are more facts to prove it now than to disprove it. I understand that President Buhari does whatever he feels is right. But he also needs to understand that we are in a democratic set-up. It’s not just about building Nigeria. It’s about building a united Nigeria. His actions don’t just affect his political image but the image of the region, ethnic group and religion he is from.
Even as I write this, somewhere in me, I keep hoping that I got this all wrong. That maybe there is indeed fairness or maybe there are bigger reasons for these actions. Until then, I think it’s time President Buhari looks back and reconsider some of these actions. God bless Nigeria.
Muhammad Karamba
Twitter: @Mukib_
