by Sonde Ilo
Nothing demonstrates the current deep alienation of the Igbos from the Nigerian state more than the sudden popularity of Radio Biafra. It is important to mention that this media outfit has been around for some time now but largely ignored by most Igbos due mostly to its coarse language and seemingly aimless talking points.
But something has changed since the election of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The divisive coalition that brought Mr Buhari to power inevitably polarised the nation, creating winners and losers at its wake. Mr Buhari was totally rejected by millions of voters in the South-South and South-East of Nigeria. But he went on to win the popular votes regardless. This obviously created a feeling of disillusionment in those areas of Nigeria where Buhari did not receive any mandate. Given this imperfect scenario, one would have thought that Buhari’s first assignment as the leader of one united nation was to reach out to the other side and make a clarion call for a united country, like President Barack Obama did in 2008. The following words by Obama encapsulates the expectation of most people of goodwill from President Buhari.
[pull_quote_center]‘And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.’[/pull_quote_center]
But Buhari and his party have so far carried on as if democracy is a winner takes all affair. As Patty Obassey warned, when the winner takes it all, he makes the loser feels so small. The endless taunting of those who voted for Buhari’s opponent by a rude vocal section of Buhari’s party have obviously deepened animosity amongst young people and continues to poison every national debate.
Equally, the early decision of Buhari’s party to exclude Igbos from the National Assembly leadership, even with the presence of competent members of House of Representatives from the South-East sent a strong message of collective punishment across the nooks and crannies of the South-East Nigeria.
Buhari and his party, the APC will need to reach out before it is too late. They cannot continue as if a section of the country is irrelevant, otherwise there will be a heavy political price to be paid in short and long term.
Buhari will need to disassociate itself from the hateful mob within the APC and begin addressing the Igbo question. He will need to explain to the Igbos the reasons why Boko Haram suspects were transferred to Anambra state for a start, otherwise Nnamdi Kanu will do that for him. He will need to stop ignoring the demand of the south-East governors and the popular protests across the South-East against the presence of Boko Haram suspects in the region. Buhari will need to engage the Igbos because he is their president too. Radio Biafra is not the problem, it is the symptom.
The APC once accused the Jonathan administration of running a divisive government, the party will do well
to heed its own advice. They will need to insist that an Igbo be appointed in the National Security Council in accordance with the well-established federal character principle.
Above all, Buhari’s government must not just be national in outlook but it must be seen to be a one nation
government.
Sonde Ilo is a lawyer and financial analyst based in the United Kingdom. He is on Facebook.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
