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MINIMIZE: Represent or estimate at less than the true value or importance.
“They may minimize, or even overlook, the importance of such beliefs”
Synonyms: Belittle, make light of, play down, underestimate, underrate, downplay, undervalue, underappreciate, understate.
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[dropcap]I[/dropcap] have been trying to get the pulse of the government on this Biafra agitation and I see that like the economy, Boko Haram and all else, the government is HELPLESS (According to a former running mate to Buhari, Pastor Tunde Bakare). When people are helpless and have zero solution to a rising “problem”, they start to talk it down. They “minimize” it. We shall in this discuss take each talking point and give our opinion.
1. IT IS BECAUSE GEJ LOST
Last time I checked there is no riot in Otuoke that GEJ is from. There is no agitation from Delta state that gave GEJ 1.2 million votes. Rivers with its anti-APC stance that gave GEJ 1.6 million votes is relatively quiet….at least the aborigines. It is the East that gave its highest vote of 600 thousand in Enugu and where there was serious voters apathy that is now agitating because GEJ lost? Is that not stupid thinking? Yes the East supported GEJ and strongly too. However to minimize their struggle to being “sore losers” and to postulate that is because GEJ lost that the Biafra cry has gone up like a muezzin calling for prayers before dawn is to lie that cancer of the skin is pimples. Nnamdi Kanu cannot love GEJ more than Tompolo and Asari Dokuboh.
2. ONLY THE POOR PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR BIAFRA. IF YOU HAVE A MANSION IN LEKKI, YOU WILL NOT TALK OF BIAFRA.
Emmmm, I will not argue with that as I do not know anyone with a mansion in Lekki asking for Biafra. However, as a student of history, I know that it is the proletariat that carries out a revolution. The Russian and French Revolutions as well as the Arab springs are clear examples. So for the foolhardy, keep looking at the rich for direction instead of the poor man and woman whose rage historically have been game-changers.
3. IGBOS ARE ONLY SHOUTING BIAFRA BECAUSE THEY HOPE ON THE OIL OF MINORITIES. THEY CANNOT LEAVE ONCE NIGERIA STOPS THEM FROM GOING WITH THE SOUTH SOUTH.
Emmmmm, any smart Biafran of course knows they stand a better chance as a nation with the route to sea (ocean not River Niger) provided by these south south states. However, there are many who are ready to go with the five Igbo states. You say that will be a stupid thing to do, to form a Nation with zero route to sea and I say “when have humanity always made the best decisions? What is “the best decision?” All the states that broke off from USSR, do they have loads of oil or route to sea? Have you not seen sons of billionaires tell their father “eff off with your money” and go and stay in a one room apartment and do many of them not thrive? Yes they stand a better chance with the south south going with them but to assume that Biafra dream dies should the minorities choose not to be Biafra is a bet your bookmaker will not advise you to put high stakes on.
4. THEY ARE ONLY USING BIAFRA TO NEGOTIATE BETTER STAKES. THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE NIGER DELTA MILITANCY EXAMPLE AND BOKO HARAM EXAMPLE.
Maybe. Note however that when Saro Wiwa and the south south youths began militancy, I can say this with all confidence, IT WAS NOT NEGOTIATION. Th Ijaw nation wanted (maybe want) a country of their own. It is the Federal Government that negotiated with them and bribed their leadership with huge contracts and gave the youths scholarship. The igbos, the main agitators are not thinking negotiation. They want a nation of their own. It is those that will hijack the struggle that will negotiate Biafra away and not the increasing number of supporters, ranks of which are growing daily.
WE CAN DO WITHOUT THE IGBOS
Indeed! Orphans survive without parents and the scientific law of PLASTICITY applies even socially. However will Nigeria do as well without some of our most intelligent and athletic and resourceful?
The Buhari government is seemingly unruffled by the Biafra agitation because Nigeria can do without oil from Abia. Perhaps their thinking is already “If Igbos go, our people can now become traders and not be outdone by better businessmen. However, what is the peace of the nation worth to him? Is he certain breaking up the most populous black nation with the hugest potentials is the way to go?
NIGERIA WILL EASILY DEFEAT IGBOS AND CONUER THEM AGAIN.
Is it this Nigerian army we are seeing or another? Now imagine this to be 1966 and that Biafra succeeded as much as Ojukwu did conquering Warri, Benin and having all the oil producing areas under its control, albeit short (speaking of Bendel state.) Think of the carnage they could have done to oil facilities…that is if they do not keep it for themselves? So calculate how long it will take for soldiers to move down and protect the oil in Rivers, Cross Rivers, Delta etc and the NNPC, Chevron, Mobil, Oando and such and how quickly the Biafran fighters will get there. THINK!!!
In conclusion, FIGHT NO DEY PAY, except you be Floyd Mayweather. Who blow person teeth comot, him hand dey still pain am. Whoever knows Buhari should first tell him slowly that he is very dull. He should ask him why he arrested Nnamdi Kanu in the first place and say “Bros Sharia, na you cause this thing. You true true dey want run country like say Igbos no dey exist abi? You want to look and pass them like who no get IV to party abi? Na you cause this thing wey dey happen. Why you no run for president of North? You no know say whether people vote for you or not, you must give them sense of belonging? You leave all GEJ project for North to continue, their small 2nd Niger Bridge, you stop am, no be say na government dey sponsor am. You pick almost 50 people, na so you SKENK their side, that no be witchcraft??? ”
Having told the Daura representer that as opening, he should next tell Buhari to “bring out the palliatives”. Na so!!! World over, when a people have risen, to avoid a war, you hand them some spoils. Buhari has been advised to take this Biafra agitation serious and I re-echo that advise. BUHARI, TAKE THIS BIAFRA AGITATION SERIOUS. STOP MINIMIZING IT.
Ena Ofugara studied law in the University of Benin for some years before leaving Nigeria for the United States where he is studying while working. He has a passion for Nigeria. He has a clear bias for his people of the Niger Delta and he believes the Nigerian system – justice, social, economic – is rigged against his people. So he became a social and political commentator to highlight this injustice. Connect with him on Facebook.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
