Over the last few years, I have consciously avoided
discussing issues about my dear country, Nigeria . Not because I am less patriotic.
No, far from it! The reason is simple: I have realised that I get pissed and angry
every time I do. What manner of nation will be so blessed with resources that
other countries crave to have and yet a large number of its citizens still live
in abject poverty? As if this is not enough, I have since discovered that in my
fatherland, we dissipate our energies on irrelevant issues while ignoring the
root causes of some of the major problems.
The present debate, or should I say accusations and counter
accusations going on between intellectuals from two major ethnic groups in the
country, the Igbos and Yorubas after British newspaper The Guardian published
excerpts of Professor Chinua Achebe’s latest work, There Was A Country: A
Personal History of Biafra, just highlights this penchant by Nigerians for
irrelevant issues while ignoring more important ones.
Having read that excerpt from The Guardian, two things
struck me. One, Achebe in his now famous (or notorious depending on which side
of the divide you are on) book accused the Federal Government of Nigeria and
particularly the late Yoruba leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo of masterminding
what he calls a calculated attempt to wipe out the Igbo race. Secondly, Achebe took
time out to explain what he feels is one of Nigeria ’s greatest problem:
mediocrity. Hear him: “mediocrity destroys the very fabric of a country as
surely as a war – ushering in all sorts of banality, ineptitude, corruption and
debauchery. Nations enshrine mediocrity as their modus operandi, and create the
fertile ground for the rise of tyrants and other base elements of the society,
by silently assenting to the dismantling of systems of excellence because they
do not immediately benefit one specific ethnic, racial, political, or
special-interest group. That, in my humble opinion, is precisely where Nigeria finds
itself today.”
Unfortunately, since that excerpt was published, almost all
public discourse, beer parlour debates, newspaper commentaries as well as blog
posts have focused on either defending Pa Awolowo or siding Prof Achebe. Former
minister of aviation, Femi Fani Kayode wrote a beautiful piece in which he
tried to defend Awolowo’s policies as being right. According to him, Achebe was being economical
with the truth if he insisted Pa Awolowo was largely responsible for the
starvation of the Igbos. The former minister of aviation went on to explain how
the ex Biafran leader late Odimegwu Ojukwu should be held responsible for that
action having actually refused the
Federal Government’s offer. For Fani Kayode, “Professor Chinua Achebe owes the
Awolowo family and the Yoruba people a big apology for his tale of pure fantasy.”
Another writer Ayodele Obajeun~who happens to be a good
friend of mine~ in a commentary for Sahara Reporters also toes the Pa Awo
defense line. According to him, “Achebe is a historical god, but he is
currently being hunted by the burden of his old age. Achebe has reversed the
history of civil war in his nonfictional account; casting aspersions on
Awolowo, the political god of Western Nigeria …Feeding
your enemies on the battlefield is like giving your gun to your enemies to
shoot you. Achebe should perish the thought of telling the assumed untold story
and come to terms with historical realities.”
I am tempted to ask: how come no one is talking about
Achebe’s second point about Nigeria
and our penchant for mediocrity? Why is no one commenting on Achebe’s claims
that the Nigerian government failed to carry out successfully the three Rs of
reconstruction, rehabilitation, and reconciliation? Why are we so hell bent on
protecting, or better put, defending ethnic tribe and sentiments all the time?
One of Femi Fani Kayode’s strong points in his piece was
setting the records straight with historical facts and proving that Ojukwu and
not Awolowo should be held responsible for the starvation of the Igbos during
the war. Now, I have not read Achebe’s book, but reading through Noo Saro Wiwa’s
review of the book also published in The Guardian, he says, “in the middle
chapters… Achebe
cites Biafran diplomat Raph Uwechue, who accused Ojukwu of choosing ideology
over pragmatism when he rejected relief supplies from the British.” If indeed
Achebe did admit in his book that Ojukwu may have contributed to the starvation
of the Igbos by this refusal, does this not expose the unnecessary historical
lecture by Fani Kayode?
As Nigerians, we must learn to see ourselves first as
Nigerians if we want this country to move forward. We spend all our energy
trying to protect ethnic sentiments and that is why we have failed to move to
higher heights 52 years after independence. Still in doubt that is our major
problem? Well, take a look at the following scenarios: How come many are of the
opinion (whether right or wrong cannot be verified) that the rise in violence
from the militant group Boko Haram is as a result of sponsorship by some northern elements
who feel aggrieved that they lost out in the power tussle? In Benue State Benue
State
While I admit these four cases may not be entirely true, for
me, it mirrors the deep animosity and ethnic sentiments which we as Nigerians
have refused to do away with. The question is should we still in this age be
more concerned about ethnic bigotry? Instead of wasting our energy on trying to
protect our various ethnic sentiments, maybe it is time to look inwards and
like Achebe postulated, ask ourselves why as a country we now value mediocrity
over meritocracy. Maybe, just maybe, this country will be a better place if we
all heed this call.
2 comments:
The debate about nepotism and favoritism towed along ethnic lines, have been the only agenda of the British, while sowing the seeds of discord pre-independence. Lord Luggard had a reverence for the leadership style of the north - patriachy from resplendent royalty. The south, governed by well schooled gentlemen (and women, who saw the need to be part of government). This agenda, was seen as a front which would leave the new nation fragmented, while they continue to plunder its natural resources. Britain still imports the highest number of Nigerian medical personnel than any country today.
And, we have long been drunk on what the British have sold us, all we are wont for, is the aggrandizement for anything good, for the clan first, than any other. Indeed, mediocrity have been the bane of a much grown but immature nation. And we might need a more brutal war, one acted outside the confines of just a region, to be able to realise the gifts we have been blessed with by fates, or God, depending on who's side you are on.
Should an upcoming,infamous,unpublished writer err his view about Nigeria;past,present& future,who shall care? Now blogs,dailies,the entire nation's mouth pour out words.
My take on reactions?- live the headlines for those who choose to talk. Give political positions to those who seem to have much words;let them practice,for after all,they know the problems present holders cannot solve.....
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