Observing the international political landscape, it can only be deduced that given the multitude of civil unrests raging on various fronts around the globe, disunity has increasingly become a central theme and it is one that need be addressed by our politicians. The Yoruba people have somewhat been able to suppress the insurgence of disunity by adopting a one-party system to manage the affairs of the region as a unified economic bloc.
It is held that the South Western states all share almost common objectives. Even if it’s on the surface, it still has been able to ensure peaceful co-existence amongst the Yoruba people. There is a sense of real direction, one that promises economic development through concrete and consistent policy making. Same can be attributed to most Eastern and Southern states as they are predominantly Peoples Democratic Party-controlled.
The only exception is the North and this is where it gets interesting. Most Northern states are PDP-controlled despite the fact that the populace sing a different song with regards to party affiliation. They support either the All Nigeria Peoples Party or its progeny, the Congress for Progressive Change. This scenario, by and large, suggests an imposition of an unwanted party rule, one with autocratic dispositions. Hence, the current security situation in the North.
It was noted at the second anniversary of the Arewa Consultative Forum, championed by a former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, in 2002 that the religion and ethnic differences that made Northern Nigeria more united and monolithic is now being used as a tool of separation and suspicion by the forceful inroad of the PDP into that region. Bafarawa noted that the strength of the North that Sir Ahmadu Bello championed has been replaced with selfishness and self centeredness. In straight English, the totality of the PDP mandate in the North is flawed on the basis of its adverse perception and reception by the people it is intended to govern.
It is to be said that the past glory of the North, which was based on it being the hub of trade for the African region, one that had a robust agricultural sector, has been taken over by begging. The image of groundnut pyramids has been replaced by what is referred to as ‘Cima Zaune’ and ‘Maula’, pure begging.
The United Nations in one of its reports on Development in Africa stated that there are over 18 million under-aged children and unemployed youths roaming the streets in 16 out of the 19 states of the North. The rationale amongst other things for this colossal and criminal unemployment level lies in the fact that there is an enormous divergence in what the people want and what they keep receiving as a result of “selfishness and self centeredness” on the part of some Northern politicians who are still bent on playing out the script written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The foundations for sustainable development laid by the past leaders of the North for the Northern people are regrettably being systematically destroyed with brazen recklessness. Naturally, the North should have had enough. We have seen well-meaning politicians like Bafarawa go from ANPP back to ANPP, all in a bid to root out the political weed planted by Obasanjo in his ploy to infiltrate the Northern political scene.
Recall that Bafarawa’s move to the Action Congress of Nigeria was in order to form a formidable opposition by uniting with the former Action Congress to form the ACN. He stood by his words and was the only main Northern politician amongst the trio that went along with the idea alongside Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari later went ahead to form the CPC. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar went back to the PDP. Bafarawa later dumped the ACN over what he described as lack of internal democracy, to return to an ailing ANPP, which he is rebuilding. He is however urging Buhari to join hands with him in rebuilding the party that literarily launched his career as a democratic politician as opposed to the undue advantage of having a military platform, which launched him to seat during the military era.
Bafarawa’s quest for unity and fairness even in opposition both in the regional and national political scenes, is yet to be matched. His political ideology has been compared with that of Sir Ahmadu Bello. One could say that even though Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe are dead, their spirits and ideologies are still alive in the South West and South East. On the other hand, the lofty principles that late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, stood, fought and died for have gradually been eroded and unfortunately by the very people brought up by the Sardauna himself. This reality is being franctically corrected by the shield of the caliphate, Bafarawa.
It is high time the Northern ruling elites come together mutually to resolve, strive to restore and sustain people’s confidence by uniting themselves and preaching the gospel of peace for the common good of the North and all Nigerians. It is time to strive to explore the options that unite the North (ANPP) as opposed to those that divide the North (PDP). The North should take this initiative in the upcoming gubernatorial election slated for Sokoto State on the February 18, 2012 as precedence for positive change, for the re-unification of the entire region, for breaking the yoke of economic stagnancy. The time is now.