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REGIONALISM THE SAGA THAT HAS CRIPPLED THE GAINT OF AFRICA
By: Ushie Henry Ekpe
INTRODUCTION
The concept of regionalism in Nigerian politics is as important in
the political analyses of the Nigerian state as the nose on every
ones face. One cannot shy away from the consciousness of the
existence of regionalism in the polity of Nigeria . At this point it
is imperative to answer the question. What is regionalism in the
context of Nigerian politics, and what is its background in Nigerian
politics. Regionalism as a concept in Nigerian politics describes
the political sub-unit which differentiates other political units
from another for the purpose of administration and beaurocratic
consideration. It emphasizes what is know today as state, not in the
sense of it as Nigeria, Ghana, or America but state as in Adamawa,
Cross river, Ekiti and so on. The regions in Nigeria is to a great
extent partitioned along geopolitical boundaries to express the idea
of nationhood which is characterized by common language, common
history, common objective, the desire to remain together even in the
future, the spirit of nationalism. From the foregoing, it can be
said that regionalism in Nigerian politics expresses the political
sub-unit and nationhood with its geographical distribution for the
purpose of administration convenience and beaurocratic
considerations.
HISTORIC BACKGROUND TO REGIONALISM IN NIGERIAN POLITICS
Before the annexation of Lagos as a British protectorate in 1861,
the territory referred to as Nigeria existed as political
independent city state. These had their political and beaurocratic
principles which describe the various administrations. such city
state include Kanem Bornu,the Igbo city state, Idoma city state,
Nupe city state, and so many others with distinct mode of political
administration. Trade relations and diplomacy was carried out in the
form of what is known today as international relations. With the
amalgamation in 1914, the British government merged the northern and
southern protectorate with a central government in the north and a
decentralized system in the south.
Consequently, with the change in constitution, particularly the
Richards constitution of 1946 which introduced the three regions in
Nigeria , that is the northern, easthern and western regions. These
regions were created by the colonial administration for their
interest and their interest only. These three regions existed
through the independence constitution of 1960, until 1967 when the
then leadership of General Yakubu Gowon created 12 regions [states],
and thereafter 19 regions [states] in the Mohammed/Obasanjo
administration of 1975 to 1979, 30 regions [states] in Ibrahim
Badamasi Babangida military administration and 36 regions [states]
by General Sani Abacha administration of 1993 to 1998.
OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS OF REGIONALISM IN NIGERIAN POLITICS
From the inception of regionalism in Nigerian politics to date.
Certain features have been evident to both professionals in
political analysis and apolitical analyst. Using the historic method
of political analysis I shall project these features stating how
they have positively and negatively affected the politics of the
Nigerian state.
As mentioned earlier, it was the Richards constitution of 1946 that
introduced regionalism in Nigerian politics. Since then politics,
economic and social activities having been programmed in this light.
However, with respect to this discus I shall dwell on the political
aspect. Nationalism in Nigeria took a regional form as early
nationalist were only concern with the interest of the regions.
Instrument of nationalism such as political parties were not left
out. political parties like the national council for Nigerian
citizens[NCNC]headed by Herbert Macaulay in 1941 and then by Nnamdi
Azikiwe in 1946 after the death of Macaulay was an eastern affair as
the Igbo people see zick of Africa as he is known then as an Igbo
hero who should liberate not Nigerians from the clutches of
colonialism but the liberation of the Igbo’s for self governance and
onward development thus; during the leadership of Michael Okpara/
the party introduced even development through out the eastern region
especially into areas now known as Abia ,Anambara, Ebonyi, Enugu,
and Imo state. The first regional university- the University of
Nigeria Nsuka , was established in the eastern region when Nnamdi
Azikiwe was premier of western region and leader of the party. This
was the case too in the north, according to Harold Smith the British
colonial envoy, the north saw other regions as threat to their
political standing in Nigeria, therefore the north was not ready for
independence saying as soon as practicable. The north had to create
there own party in 1951 headed by Sir Ahmadu Bello for the interest
of the north who had the colonial government behind their back. This
is evident in the classified information given by Harold smith the
colonial envoy who was sent by the British to rig the 1959 election
in favour of the north.
Thanks to TELL magazine for disclosing to Nigerians the colonial
origin of Nigerian post independence conflicts as revealed by Harold
Smith, former colonial officer in;
1. TELL NO.10 march 7, 2005. How britian rigged election census for
the north.
2. TELL NO. 12 mach 21, 2005 executive interview. The British
expected Nigerians to breakaway. According to Harold smiths
revealing story he was chosen by his Excellency, the governor
general, sir James Robertson to spearhead a covert operation to
interfere with the election that preceded Nigerians independence in
1960 with a view to installing, not the educated Nigerians from the
east or west, but the British preferred leaders of then backward and
feudal north as successor to the colonial power to actualize
northern administration in Nigeria.
Part of this issue of regionalism was the cause of the Kano riot of
1953, when the north fueled a riot against members of the NCNC and
AG of the west headed by Chief Obafemi Awolowo who was also piloting
the affaires of the action group. Due to the issue of self
government agitated in the house of representative by the leaders of
the action group and NCNC on first April 1953 by Anthony Enahoro.
The motion was seen by the north as been directed against them.
Ahmadu Bello the Sadauna of Sokoto, later amended the motion to read
that the house accept”as a primary political objective the
attainment of self government for Nigeria as soon as practicable”
the southern political leaders were angry while some political
conscious citizens booed and jeered at the northern leaders on there
way back to Kaduna from Lagos . Soon after this event, the action
group sent a delegation to the northern region under the leadership
of Chief S.I Akintola. The main objective of this delegation was to
show that the stand of the NPC on self government did not represent
northern opinion. When the delegation got to Kano , they encountered
a very hostile reception which led to the bloody riot.
Furthermore, as if the Kano riot did not teach Nigerians lesson to
be united. The instability and contest of power by regional leaders
in the independence period led to the military taking over power in
1966,which led to the more senior offices of the military becoming
the rulers. Many of those killed during the take over of government
in January 1966,were political and military leaders from the north
and western regions, led by an Igbo military officers, as a result
many saw the action as regional. General Aguiyi Ironsi, an Igbo and
the head of state between January and July 1966 was killed during
the second change of government. This change led by the soldiers
from the northern region. Colonel Yakubu Gowon who became head of
state after Ironsi was not accepted by Colonel Odumegu Ojukwu, who
was then governor of the then western region, because Gowon was not
the most senior military officers available. Indigenes of the
eastern region were recalled to their home region because they were
seen to be unsafe anywhere else in Nigeria . These were the
immediate cause of the Nigerian civil war, between July 1967 and
January 1970.
However, the present state of the Nigerian political scenario is
geared towards regional [state] interest. Thus, a political party
such as the All-progressive Grand Alliance [APGA] is seen as an
eastern party based on the ideologies of its leaders. Some times one
attends an APGA meeting and the language spoken will be Igbo all
through, same with ANPP speaking housa. Most of these parties have
never produce flag bearers from other geopolitical zone other than
those from which the party is represented. Though none of the
Nigerian language is a lingua franca in Nigeria , it is imperative
for the purpose of propagating unity in Nigeria that the acceptable
lingua franca be spoken so that certain sections of the Nigerian
population will feel belonged and welcome to certain political
parties based on ideological lines instead of ethnic ground. Today
Nigerians do not ask questions about credibility in elections rather
they ask where he/she comes from. It is very evident that the
federal quota system which was meant to give equal opportunity to
all the regions has rather created more sentiment among the regions
against each other as some regions call themselves majority and
agitating for more resources to be allocated to there region,
thereby creating more tension in the political system. Presently it
is the issue of rotational leadership, which is rotating the
government to certain regions of the six geopolitical zones thereby
furthering the conflict and disunity in the country.
Since the inception of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, and with the
leadership and dominance of the country’s polity by the peoples
democratic party PDP the country has known no unity and sense of
belonging, she has lost her patriotic virtue and her future raped.
The PDP instituted a policy, which rotates the office of the
president between the Islamic north and the Christian south. It is
very pathetic to know that such policy has marred the country rather
than made it. The issue now is; who gets the PDP’s ticket for the
presidential poll come 2011 Nigeria general election? Some say the
death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and the consequent
inauguration of Good luck Jonathan as the president have completely
turned the PDP table around. This is because the party intends to
maintain power in the north for the next four to five years more
before zoning it to another area. That is why the PDP dominated
presidential advisory committee is advising the president not to run
for the plum job come 2011. So all the big names like the formal
military president Ibrahim Babangida, former vice president Atiku
Abubakar, the chairman of the governors’ forum and other big wigs
who have indicated interest in running for the big job, are
predominantly from the north. The big issue now is the cross
carpeting which is favouring the numerical strength of the PDP, but
that is an issue for another discourse.
SUMMARY
From the foregoing it is evident that the concept of regionalism in
Nigerian politics has marred the Nigerian polity rather than made
it. Regional party politics, federal structure that is federal quota
system, regional government, rotational presidency and geo-political
consciousness has further disunited the country causing civil unrest
and economic detoriation. Sometimes perpetrators of these acts hide
under the umbrella of religion, but as political observers and
objective analyst in the making, it can be seen clearly that they
are being fueled by the selfish interest of these regional leaders
who believe not in Nigeria but only in themselves and there regions.
Nigerians should rise above regional differences and embrace unity
in diversity which will further the course of patriotism, democracy,
freedom, economic growth, structural development, and a society
which all Nigerians hope to enjoy will emerge, creating a fair and
transparent political process in Nigeria.
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