Is Northern Nigeria colonising the South?

Written by Sabella Abidde 

(sabidde@yahoo.com)

To hear some Nigerians of southern extraction tell it, they are being colonised by Nigerians of northern extraction. By colonisation, I do not mean it in the classical sense: the establishment and perpetuation of hegemony, and the spread of its political, cultural, social, and economic order. In the classical sense, and insofar as continental Africa was concerned, seven European powers dominated and controlled the public and private spaces of individuals and the state. But in this context, in this instance, I think of colonisation as the exploitation, the oppression, and the domination of a weak southern Nigeria by the powerful northern Nigeria. At least, this is what some southerners are saying.

Some southerners speak of northerners as if they are speaking of a people and a region that is thousands of miles away. They speak and act as if northerners are not their brothers and sisters and in-laws and neighbours - neighbours, in-laws, sisters and brothers with similar aspirations and with common historical experiences. This is not to say that northerners do not speak of southerners in uncomplimentary terms. And they seem suspicious of the south: that overly liberal, Americanising and increasingly secular, politically disorganised, and polytheistic people and place.

I am a southerner with good fortune to have lived in many parts of the country; and mightily blessed to have nieces and nephews from all parts of the country, too. Within my circle of friends and family, you barely hear the northerners complain about the southerners. Well, maybe they do when "outsiders" are not listening. But hell, you can't keep the southerners from expressing their fears and anger.

In the mind of the average southerner, the northerners are the "problem with Nigeria." Many believe that the North is holding the South back in terms of political and cultural progress and economic development. They believe that "without the oil, the north would have seceded." And that once oil is found in commercial quantity anywhere in the North, the drums will start rolling for the separation of the country. They blame the North for all the military coups and counter coups; yet, forgetting that rich, ambitious and manipulating southerners, in many cases, financed and encouraged failed and successful coups.

But the greatest of the fears, insofar as one can tell, is the belief that the North has a grand design to rule Nigeria from 1960 until eternity. The oft-quoted passage that frightens many is this: "This New Nation called Nigeria should be an estate of our great grandfather, Uthman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We use the minorities in the North as willing tools, and the South, as conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us, and never allow them to have control over their future" (Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of Northern Region: The Parrot of October 12, 1960). In spite of this, there is nothing in the memory of Nigeria to indicate the North intends to colonise or lord over the country forever. But don't tell this to the average southerner.

Some southerners have data that seem to confirm their fears. Show up on the social media on any given day and you will see/read many of the fearful and fear-inducing commentaries about northerners. When the Niger Deltans are not going well, they blame the North for "taking their money and oil blocks." They blame the North for the poverty and social dislocations that have befallen them (instead of blaming themselves and their leaders). Since 1999, indigenes of the Niger Delta have been running their respective states (as governors, commissioners, and local council chairmen). What have they done for the people and for their states in spite of the billions and billions of dollars in budgetary allocations? Is that the fault of northerners, too? The other day, a Niger Deltan governor, suffused with so much money and nothing to do with it, dashed out two brand new Prado jeeps bought with unbudgeted state funds, to a popular Nigerian musician simply for marrying, finally, a lady from his state during a traditional wedding ceremony. Yet, the road to the wedding venue is a big disgrace to behold.

As far as I am concerned, Niger Deltans should stop blaming northerners for their woes: they should look inwards, question and challenge their state governors. A thief is a thief whether or not he/she is an insider or an outsider. Today, the collective voice of the Niger Delta is almost silent. How many are today talking about the inhumanity, the indifference, and the Stone-age condition of the region? Where are all the so-called commanders and generals that were pounding their chests and who waived AK 47 and other weapons in and around the Niger Delta? The answer is simple: the vast majority have become caviar eaters and champagne drinkers - wining and dining with political and economic heavyweights in and outside of the country.

On any given week, you will find some of these wannabe commandants and imaginary generals flying to and fro choice vacation spots. And you will occasionally find them at the Presidential Villa (or safe houses) giving and or receiving reports and briefings. Many can also be found on the premises of the Presidential Amnesty Office in Abuja conducting million dollar business. "Forget the struggle," they will tell you to "chop as much as you can...who knows what will happen after 2015." So, are they going to blame future calamities on the northerners?

And then there are the Yoruba. One cannot but wonder "what's going on amongst the Yoruba?" From Action Group to the Unity Party of Nigeria, it was achievement galore. But you go to western Nigeria today, what you see and feel are confusion and economic stagnation. Meaningful progress halted! It is as if the Yoruba, since 1985 or thereabout, suddenly ran out of ideas. For whatever reason, they became unsure of themselves, became unsure of what to do and how to do it. They ceded leadership to "rascals", as the President would call them. What can small boys and small minds, read rascals, do - except attempt small and inconsequential things? Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, they will wake up then blame the northerners. The same unsightly scenario is evident in Igboland where political governance has been taken over by merchants and desperadoes leaving the region, known for its enterprise, as a den of kidnappers and decrepit roads.

Is northern Nigeria colonising southern Nigeria? The answer is a resounding No! Collectively, is the North more politically clever than the South? Of course, just as the South is more economically developed than the North. Are there primordial suspicion and latent animosity between the two divides? Yes, of course! Are there compelling reasons for the breakup of the country? No, no, no! Is there a way forward? Yes! In a week or so, I shall offer a set of recommendations.