Agitated North seeks Nigeria’s breakup —-FEMI ADEOTI COLUMN

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Now. To those vehemently opposed to hunger protest. Come and perceive its wonders, its aroma. See what it has birthed, though still ongoing.
Imagine the protest never happened. Who would have known that the North was ready to bell the cat? It was a clue into the workings of the innermost mind of the North.
Prof. Ango Abdullahi generously obliged us with this. It was a rare opportunity. On a gold platter! Aren’t we glad that the hardship protest came to be? We are proudly Nigeria.
The former Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, is always there for us. He has been on this not today, not yesterday. He joined forces with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal.
That was in October 2017. They agreed. And spoke with one northern accord, though separately. But at the same gathering.
Dr. Auwal Anwar was Atiku’s mouthpiece: “The North stands to gain more if there is devolution of power. The new North has nothing to fear (about restructuring) because we have the land, the people and resources.”
Tambuwal picked it from there: “The idea that the North is against restructuring because it benefits most from the current state of things is circumscribed and patently false.” Really?
He insisted: “The fact that some people continue to parrot such lies only helps to give credence to the flawed argument. Let us be clear, the North wants restructuring as much as anyone.”
Abdullahi capped it up brilliantly: “Let us go our separate ways. If on the other hand we give credit to the British and our founding fathers (and they deserve credit), and we cannot contain restructuring based on what existed in 1914, we should go back to 1960 when the country operated regions.”
He was succinctly emphatic: “The North is not afraid of getting our North back.” Who is then afraid of restructuring? Who’s scared of devolution of powers?
Certainly, not the North anymore. It used to be. But it’s no more. Old things have passed away. Brand new things are springing up. How time changes. And flies away!
Seven years later, Abdullahi isn’t deterred. And he won’t be. He continued the struggle for restructuring unabated. Even taking it to a higher level.
On August 3, 2024, he revisited the issue without fear. It was to our delight. He was genuinely building on his pact with Atiku and Tambuwal. He gave us his honest update.
But this time, he moved past restructuring. He is far gone: “The British enacted a decree in 1914 and that law was very specific. It stated; the contraption called Nigeria will expire after 100 years.”
His strong conviction: “We have not been able to build a country according to this edict. The British say if we fail after 100 years, we should go our separate ways.”
If not restructuring, what next? “We have to look at ourselves and see whether we have strived enough to build a nation before and after independence.”
Abdullahi was apt and forthright: “My honest opinion at the moment is that, it has not and that is the need to bring the conference together. At this time, there is no need to be sentimental about it. We cannot really build a country the way it is now.
“If at the end, we could not achieve any form of consensus, then we should go our separate ways.” Who would not align? The “Ayes” have it! No to the “Nays”!
You can’t fault this elder statesman. Don’t risk contesting his reasons: “We have been restructuring the country since 1960 till date. How many constitutional conferences have we held? I think till date about four. We have been saying the same thing year in, year out.
“These hollow talks have not really been about building a country. That is why we have to go back to that decree. Really, we have to look if we have succeeded. Where we have not, we will have to go our separate ways.”
Abdullahi’s radical view manifested itself in the escalating hunger protest. It was bold, profound. It came most alive in their North. The protesters exalted their kinsmen in neighbouring Niger and Chad far above us.
We, their “countrymen” were grossly ignored, side-lined and undermined. We do not matter. Still, we pretend to be the same Nigerians. Can’t we see the ugly writing on the cracked wall? Are our eyes too heavy that we can’t see? Can’t we read their lips correctly?
They boldly waved the Russian flag to our bewilderment. The rest of us looked on in helplessness. They brazenly dared us to dare them. But we dare not. We don’t have their type of guts. Great pity!
Our leaders committed a monumental blunder. They thought this hunger protest would be acutely short-lived. They believed they could determine its lifespan. They strived to kill it prematurely. They were cocksure it would not last the shortest distance.
They goofed all the way. They failed woefully. They couldn’t do to it the grave damage they did to #EndSARS. These guys picked useful lessons from their fall in 2020. Huge kudos to them all!
This time around. They’re more careful and meticulous in planning and execution. They are determined not to be short-changed, or pigeonholed. They’re restive, restless and resilient. All rolled into perseverance and persistence.
They display a new, restructured Nigeria we earnestly crave for. Yesterday was Day Seven of #EndBadGovermentInNigeria. And they remain as vibrant, active as Day One. Even those previously BATFIED are presently HUNGRIFIED. Mandate turning to bondage!
The principalities and powers in authority won’t want to believe this. But it’s happening. The blind can see it visibly. The deaf can hear it loud and clear.
Pity! The odd characters among us will see otherwise. They will forever focus on the “negative” effects of the protest. And not on the causes of the protest.
That played out largely in Tinubu’s Sunday morning address. The President chose to debase decorum and rubbish decency. This won’t work to his advantage. He embraced inanities. It couldn’t have worked to his favour. See the backlash trailing that speech.
He didn’t go near any of the serious issues raised by the protesters. He simply fuelled the agitation the more. The reason it soared since Sunday. Had he known, he wouldn’t have spoken the manner he spoke.
Inflammatory utterances continue to escalate the crisis. These arrogant pronouncements came from top government figures. Other personalities were equally culprits.
They vomited recklessly before and during the protest. Threatening fire and brimstone. For them, it was a matter of life and death.
Leading this inglorious pack were Vice President Shettima and Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Listen to our leaders in this millennium. You will weep inside-out. Very unfortunate!
Shettima blatantly labelled the protest organisers “idiots.” He spotted Nigerians in the Diaspora as sponsors of the protest. And he has not taken kindly to this. He roared: “Insha Allah, the people of Nigeria will not dance to the tune of these anarchists and saboteurs.”
He fumed, raved, raged on: “The only way we can show solidarity is for our people to shy away from dancing to the tune the tune of the bandits and idiots who are fomenting mischief from the comfort of Australia, Finland and the United States, all the so-called social media influencers.”
Akpabio borrowed a “useful” clue from Shettima. And he applied it in his own unique manner: “Those who want to protest can protest, but let us be here eating.”
Its simple graphic interpretation: “You can go on to protest, but we’ll be eating here at the NASS.” Any contrary opinion? None to the best of our understanding! That’s the way Akpabio mocks us all the way.
We wonder aloud: Are these ones leaders or tyrants? They are more of stand-up comedians. Than people in positions of authority, power and responsibility.
Stooping to such gutter language. At that level of leadership is sickening. How are they different from “agberos” with slangs and antics? It’s clownish extravagance in its crooked form. The earliest our rulers put a halt to this. The best for our collective convenience.
Shettima and Akpabio showcased abject hate at the highest height. It ought not to be so. They forgot themselves completely. And the esteemed positions they hold.
We don’t need to remind them. They should rather ask around who they really are. Then juxtapose that with their uncouth vomits. That will stop their misplaced exuberance before it gets messier.
Have they done that? If they still feign ignorance. Tell them, they are numbers two and three respectively. Just behind the President. That seals it.
Sadly enough, President Bola Tinubu did not help matters. His speech made the stinking situation messier. He merely put a dirty stamp of approval to Shettima and Akpabio’s filthy barfs. We were baffled and bemused.
We couldn’t pick a single bit of succour from his epistle. He dwelt heavily on his perceived achievements. That too calls for proper interrogation. It’s full of intentions than actualities. You would want to hold on to something in the speech. But nothing; not even a takeaway.
The deceit in governance continues to increase. It remains unchecked, unrestrained. It festers at the speed of light. When the fuel subsidy was “removed” with uncommon grandstanding. The boot-lickers, hypocrites, do-gooders, hangers-on, went prowling on us.
Terror was practically unleashed on us. They swore and vowed at the same time. That it would end our unending energy crisis. That Tinubu had nailed it to the cross forever.
They cried. That never again would there be fuel scarcity in this land. That the pump price would ever remain stable and avoidable.
They even had the eerie audacity. They told us we were on the threshold to a promised land. They dropped Tinubu’s “renewed hope” on our fragile laps. They insisted and still insisting. It’s the only viable roadmap. The compass we direly need to navigate our path.
Not that we believed them then or now. They forced it on us. But they goofed terribly. It never went down our throats. We stubbornly refused to swallow their fraud. We were convinced they were lying. That their guile would not take us anywhere near the genuine Promised Land.
And see where it has landed us. Deeper into the bottomless pit. It’s akin to hell on earth. That’s our precarious situation.
Fuel price keeps skyrocketing by the second. Our rulers have shut down their minds on this. For them, it is done deal. And their attack dogs have followed suit. We’re compelled to lick all alone. The injuries despicably inflicted on us.
All said and done. Give it to them. The protesters rattled their bookmakers. They surmounted all odds. Dismantled all obstacles. And destroyed all landmines.
Their determination was awesome, daunting, unmatched. They displayed rare bravery. And it worked wonders for them.
Our great fear though. This protest may not even end as scheduled. It may be carelessly allowed to stretch beyond August 10. This must not happen.
Those making provocative utterances are merely stoking the fire. They have not relented. They are as deadly as ever. They are shocked their principal is being rubbished. And they won’t stop at nothing to rescue him.
They are the real enemies among us. They are the elements to be watched from all angles. They shouldn’t be allowed to have their evil way leisurely.
Trust us, the protesters meant well. No harm, not even mischief intended.