Of Primordialism And Security Issues Nationalism Security With
JUDE OBUSEH
WHEN Adolf Hitler, the potentate of the Third Reich, in the heat of the Xenophobia against the Jews and other coloured peoples of Europe, launched a massive pogrom against these so-called “weaker species”, it was justified on the grounds of Aryan supremacy. When Rwandan Hutus launched a genocidal war of attrition against their Tutsi brothers’, there was a reason for it. When the four wars of Yugoslav secession broke out, it was based on long-held, deep-seated animosities among the groups constituting the country. When the Nigerian Civil War broke out in 1967, something triggered it off. It is against the backdrop of the aforementioned cases that I interrogate the hate-filled expletives hurled at Indigbo by Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, a prominent Nigerian of Yoruba extraction, some months ago, and their implications for the country’s security. In three highly abusive, derisive, and derogatory articles (“LAGOS, THE IGBO AND THE SERVANTS OF TRUTH”, “THE BITTER TRUTH ABOUT THE IGBO”, and “A WORD FOR THOSE WHO CALL ME A TRIBALIST”) circulated in both social and regular media – national and international FFK deliberately stoked the fire of violent conflict by exhuming long-buried divisive issues bothering on why Nigerians should be wary of Igbo domination; the same fears that activated the Volcano that almost pulverized the entire country between 1967-1970. His, is the latest in a long tradition among prominent Nigerians that stretches back to the onset of the much-vaunted Nigerian project (?). The implications of FFK’s highly prejudicial statements for national security are legion – thorny issues that are capable of blowing the country into smithereens several times over if not properly handled. At delicate times like these, when the country is already battling with other centrifugal forces threatening its continued
existence on several fronts, it can ill-afford the divisive issues raised by FFK in his highly controversial and reproachful write-ups. For a country with a woeful history of very internecine and intractable conflicts: one major Civil War (1967-1970) and (approximately 38) sundry other low intensity insurgencies (CRESNET, 2001:1) – political, ethnic, religious et al – and where conditions on ground are volatile, Nigeria can ill-afford another major national crisis. FFK’s vituperations constitutes criminal incitement; unguarded statements that are capable of heating up the polity several times over and further endangering the already fragile unity among the heterogeneous groups domiciled within the country’s borders, if not summarily and properly addressed. It is only Nigeria that people make uncensored statements that threaten public peace without concerned authorities taking commensurate steps to check the likely deleterious effects of such careless pronouncements on the larger body politic. In saner climes, a trouble shooter like FFK would have been arrested and prosecuted for inciting the public against another indigent group. His words are not only criminal, but pose a major security threat to the continued existence of Nigeria as a united sovereign state. The World War II Holocaust was preceded by massive propaganda against the Jews and other coloured people on the grounds of racial superiority. But under the caveat of racial superiority lay the real reason for this mass murder – the fear of increasing Jewish domination of all facets of German national life – industry, arts, academia et al. Thus, before the commencement of the war proper, there was already deepseated, widespread xenophobia against the Jews living in Europe. It took the breaking out of hostilities for Hitler and his
bloodthirsty goons to commence the practical expression of their long-held animosities towards the Jews and other coloured groups in Europe. The events in Rwanda and Yugoslavia are two contemporary cases of how massive propaganda preceded genocidal attacks by one group against other indigent groups. FFk’s threat that “history will repeat itself in this country”, if the Igbos living and making their living in Lagos “continue to denigrate and belittle the
response mechanism to act as bulwark against the outbreak of violent conflicts in Nigeria. Unlike the usual practice where the authorities wait until a conflict escalates before reacting to stem it, I am calling on concerned authorities – at national and state levels - to immediately step into this brewing crisis between Igbos and Yorubas living in and around Lagos. The Boko Haram insurgency in the Northern part of the country has already exerted a massive
catastrophe. Such a move will help in building confidence among the Igbo population residing in Lagos, and assure other groups in the country that they can reside and subsist in any part of the country. It will also go a long way in discouraging other chauvinists like him from acting in like manner in the foreseeable future. This will, in no small way, ensure that the nationbuilding process continues
• Mohammed Abubakar, IG-P
Yorubas” is as careless as it is provocative, and should be speedily addressed by the authorities to avoid ugly scenarios of any kind. Such careless pronouncements are capable of triggering off violent confrontations of massive proportions between Igbos living in Lagos and its environs, and their Yoruba hosts. I have always argued for the adoption of a more proactive
toll on the country’s resources and security capabilities to breaking point. The likely consequences of another major crisis on the South-Western front must be averted. To forestall this likely scenario, it is advised that Mr. FFK be immediately called to order by the authorities, and warned to desist forthwith from firing further disparaging salvos at Igbos, before he leads this country into an avoidable
“The World War II Holocaust was preceded by massive propaganda against the Jews and other coloured people on the grounds of racial superiority. But under the caveat of racial superiority lay the real reason for this mass murder – the fear of increasing Jewish domination of all facets of German national life – industry, arts, academia et al.”
unfettered. However, a more comprehensive step towards checking the general pandemic of ethnic bigotry and all other forms of prejudice posing security challenges to the country’s continued existence would be for the Nigerian Government to do a thorough review of the country’s moribund constitution, especially as it concerns the definition of who is a Nigerian. All the incongruities in the explanation of who qualifies to hold Nigerian citizenship in this parent law must be corrected. The ambiguous definition of who is a Nigerian as captured in the several constitutions the country has had since 1960 is largely responsible for the animosities that have defined relations among the several groups constituting Nigeria – a development that has acted as the major stumbling block to
the nation-building process, and one of the greatest threats to national security. This issue has been consistently pointed out by both experts and casual observers of political developments in Nigeria in the past without concrete efforts made to address it. All the past attempts at constitutional review have tended to relegate this primary issue to the background in preference for secondary issues. Again, Nigerian leaders must wake up to the realities of the times and commence the processes that will ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of primordial considerations, is properly catered for. All injustices of the past that have seen the citizens of one of the potentially richest country on the African continent living like Serfs in the land of their ancestors must be corrected. Nigerians are naturally among the most peace-loving and productive people in the world. All they need to bring out their best is encouragement from those at the helm of affairs. Most people resort to whipping up ethnic or other kinds of sentiments when they feel the collective interests of their subnational groups are not being properly addressed by the larger body politic. Responsible, accountable, transparent, and peoplecentered leadership will go a long way in inculcating true nationalism and patriotism into the citizenry. The truth is that good governance can become a major resource for peace, if well utilized. In conclusion, the phantom of violent conflicts will continue to loom large over this country until those operating the system are able to guarantee Nigerians that, regardless of their ethnic, religious, social, and economic backgrounds, they can reside and subsist in any part of the country without fear. A collective security arrangement that takes cognizance of the peculiarities of the different groups constituting the contemporary Nigerian State is the only ironcast solution to the cancer of insecurity in the country. All square pegs must be put in square holes for peace to reign unfettered in this country. Failure by all concerned to make hay while the sun still shines is a careless and open invitation to chaos. There is no short cut to positive peace. God save Nigeria!