Nigeria is a very interesting country. It may not be too far-fetched for one to postulate that many things we do here are defined by tribe, region or religion. While the North is usually defined by religion, the West is defined by openness, and the East by commerce. My analysis may not necessarily be spot on, but please be kind to read to the end.
As a tribe, the East has been the most stigmatized, marginalized, and traumatized. In spite of these struggles, their Republican culture of egalitarianism which is a driver of dreams and debate and entrepreneurship, has never let them down.
They march forward, regardless. As a people, about the 16th century, they had reached a consensus on many issues, including commerce and religion.
For example, while many other ethnic groups were manufacturing deities to worship, they, through market square conversations, just like the Greeks of old used to do, after a series of debates, had come to a conclusion that there could not possibly be a pantheon of gods as that would spell disorder in the universe. They therefore, came to the outstanding conclusion of “Chukwu Okike”—the concept of one God.
Their evolutionary history is what puts them in a unique position in Nigerian cultural, economic, social and political history. They had WhatsApp and Facebook long before these Apps were formed. They just called it monthly village meetings. Those meetings have over the years evolved into a juggernaut-economic-machine that is unmatched by any group in Nigeria.
Thusly, by their economic power, skill set and spread, they are the only group that can effectively shut down Nigeria.
Their non-participation in the current protest will cause it to lose steam sooner rather than later.
On the other hand, the Yoruba region is differently situated. Many would argue that they are the most detribalized people in Nigeria, the most accommodating, and the most enlightened. They have therefore by their accommodation been able to attract everybody to bring their money and investments to their region. Can one safely say that this attribute makes them the wisest of all the ethnic groups in Nigeria?
In Yoruba land, a Yoruba pastor will marry an Igbo woman he met in school and give her a Yoruba name. A Yoruba woman will marry an Igbo man and become Chichi without blinking an eyelid.
A Yoruba pastor will marry a Muslim woman and a Christian woman will marry an Alfa. In a Yoruba family of 8, you can have 4 Muslims and four Christians. Everyone co-exists. By their openness, they have managed to blunt the effect of religion as a tool of division. Add to that, that right now, their son is in power. Why should they protest against their own son even if they are also hungry? This is wisdom. You do not have to like it, but many things in life are not rational.
The history of Northern region, by contrast, is largely driven by religion. If Karl Max is to be believed, truly, religion is (the opium des volkes)— German for—-opium of the masses.
Religion of any kind, while it may be good to the extent that it helps to instill morality in society, it can also be a tool of control if misused and this is where the negative influence of religion comes into play.
As much as religion is a unifier towards a common purpose, a leader who is not well-meaning can use it for his personal benefit at the expense of the people. Therein lies the struggle of the North.
As a result of backward thinking of its leaders, Northern region has misapplied religion as a tool of oppression since the dawn of the Regions in 1952.
Whereas pre-1914 amalgamation, Lord Lugard called Northern Nigeria a “poor husband” it has since become not only poorer, but also sick.
Fortunately for them, their sickness is not unto death. Governor Zulum of Borno State is shining a light.
The poverty in the North is on many levels, and to further compound their poverty with more poverty forced on them by their inability to go to the farm is what makes the protests in the North the way it is. If the protests are allowed to fester, the North will literally catch fire. They are boxed in by lack of skills, lack of education, and oppression by religion, all of which have now been compounded by insecurity.
It is through these lenses that the current protests in Nigeria can be viewed in a historical and contemporary context.
Big problems require big thinking.
What we need is direct, targeted subsidy.
Technology should make that easy already. We may not be able to reach everyone as the informal sector is largely undocumented. However, we have a good place to start. Everyone who has a bank account has a BVN. Let us create new money that will go directly to the vulnerable. If a small chunk of poor Nigerians wake up tomorrow to N50,000 in their bank accounts, the protests will end. In order for us to get the benefits of this form of targeted subsidy, it should span a period of 6 months. This should be clearly communicated.
I believe in the power of money to answer many questions. The beauty of this solution is that the government can create new money without spending a penny. Some may want to argue that it will be inflationary. If anything, COVID showed us that giving money to people in times of hardship will bring stability to the polity by creating new purchasing power. These are times of hardship in Nigeria. This is our real COVID. Let the CBN take the Bull by the horns and lead the way. I hope Mr. President is listening.
PS: May the Souls of Nigerians who have given their lives in the struggle for a better Nigeria rest in power.
Michael Ovienmhada.
Senior Correspondent,
Egogonewshub.com
