THESE AGITATIONS; BIAFRA, ODUA, BOKO HARAM, AND OTHERS; HOW DID WE ARRIVE HERE

By Dr. Kenneth Anozie

In 1978, as the political transition heated up; the National Party of Nigeria, NPN dominated by northerners, chose Dr. Alex Ekwueme as its Vice Presidential candidate. Nigeria Peoples Party; NPP has Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe as it’s Presidential candidate. (Onye Igbo). Great Nigeria Peoples Party; GNPP chose Dr. Nzeribe as its Vice Presidential candidate. Oyibo Odinammadu was chosen by Awolowo as his vice presidential candidate. All the major political parties chose an Igbo eighter as Candidate or Vice. This was just 8 years after the Nigeria – Biafran war. In essence, it means that Igbo has been brought back to the mainstream of the political atmosphere of Nigeria after a bloody civil war.

Eventually, NPN won, and Dr. Alex Ekwueme became the vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. There was to protest from any part of Nigeria that just eight years after the after the war ended, an Igbo became vice president. Shehu Shagari and leaders of NPN showed magnanimity to Igbo. Edwin Umezuoke became speaker of the House of Representatives. Igbo was Number 2 and 4. Many Igbo occupied high positions in that government

It went like that till the 1983 general election. Then the coup happened. Buhari came. It looked as if Igbo was completely marginalized under Buhari. It was so till Ibrahim Babangida took over. Two prominent positions went to Igbo; finace Minister and Attorney General. Even under Abacha, CBN Governor and other prominent positions went to Igbo.

Under President Obasanjo; Igbo was never neglected. Finance Minister; CBN governor; Education minister, etc. went to Igbo. Under Yardua, there was not much sidelining of Igbo. But MASSOB started by Uwazurike. Obasanjo did all he could to muzzle them. Uwazurike was clamped into detention. But what I don’t understand was what led to his agitation for Biafra. Many young people clamored around him, including Nnamdi Kanu, who opened a Radio Biafra in the UK. The agitating was not widespread. There was no violence except pockets of it here and there.

In 2010 or thereabout, Nnamdi Kanu started IPOB having severed ties with Uwazurike. Nigeria was moving normal. Goodluck Jonathan never put interest in what they were doing.

It was at this point that Boko Haram surfaced. Bornu state became a killing field. Some political issues emanating from the current vice president Shettima grew the Boko Haram insurgency. Jonathan was doing everything possible to quel it. But it was hijacked by Muslim fundamentalists whose agenda was to destabilize Jonathan’s regime.

IPOB was just there with some young boys doing their thing. I did not hear of IPOB until Nnamdi Kanu was arrested by Buhari. Buhari contested for president in 2011 and imported Fulani almajaris and bandits to show force against President Goodluck Jonathan. For the first time since this political season, thousands were killed in 2011 because Buhari lost election. It became a bloody era. Meanwhile, Buhari and his ilks were not opposing Boko Haram. Other terrorists groups like ISWAP came on. In 2015 elections more Fulani almajaris and terrorists were brought into Nigeria. When President Goodluck Jonathan saw the boldness and audacity with which they were just parading these terrorists groups; he made his famous speech; my ambition is not worth the blood of anyone.

PDP for 16 years, they were in power were able to maintain a high level of security all around. Pockets of robberies and kidnappings were seen once in a while. Immediately, Buhari came to power..all the mercenaries that Goodluck Jonathan employed to help in maintaining security were sacked. Nnamdi Kanu was arrested. Gold was discovered in Zamfara. Insurgency took a new turn across Nigeria. Whole schools were kidnapped. Trains were stopped, and occupants kidnapped. Many Christian areas in Kaduna, Bornu, Kebbi, Adamawa, Benue, Plateau, and almost all northern states daily witnessed massacres and sacking of the communities. It was terrible. Young men in the east began violent attacks to press home the release of Nnamdi Kanu. These made the Southeast very violent. The Igboho Odua Republic agitation fueled by Buhari’s negligence sparked violence across the west.

Today, under APC Buhari and Tinubu, Nigeria has turned into the most insecure nation in the world. Iran has gotten interested, and Isreal has already accused them of fueling insurgency in Nigeria. The Zaki Zaki sect Buhari regime arrested their leader is also fueling insurgency.

The solution is simple. Release Nnamdi Kalu. Stop his agitation for Biafra. It makes no sense. Deport all those Fulani terrorists brought in by APC Buhari elRufai back to where they came from. Put a stop to all Islamia fundamentalism going and arrest any Islamic preacher inciting the people. NIGERIA IS A CIRCULAR STATE No religion should be promoted above the other.

Nigeria should focus on the economy; creating jobs, using our land for farms for export and consumption. Increase our oil export. Attract more foreign investment by killing insecurity as it were under PDP regimes. Organizing more sane elections. Stop using police and army to rig elections. Make salary of workers a living wage to curb corruption all over.

NIGERIA CAN BE GOOD WITH LESS GREED

Dr. Kenneth Anozie
Publisher
Truthmedia.