With the fast approaching 2011 election, several happenings and occurrence have taken place in the political scene. The Nigeria political institution has witnessed so much controversy and turn about in public opinions. Much has been said about the zoning fomular, which is completely a PDP affair and it’s still generating an internal conflict within the party. The consensus movement by the Northern Political Leaders’ Forum was given birth to due to the controversial zoning mathematics which appears to be unsolvable. The consensus candidate emerged in the person of Atiku Abubakar to battle against Goodluck Jonathan. The zoning simultaneous equation seems to have no definite formular since it has been interpreted into diverse ways. The President’s decision to contest for the 2011 election and the insistence of the North that the presidency is their birth right come 2011 is a clear indication that the statement Muammar Gadhafi made few months back, should be taken seriously. Jonathan is a Christian from the southern part of the country while Atiku is a renowned Muslim from the north and both of them have decided to lock horns at the presidential primary. Though it is an obvious fact that Nigeria’s problem goes beyond Christian- south and Muslim-north dichotomy, but the bitter-truth must be said. The implications of this on the nation’s unity and stability may be hazardous and catastrophic. This assertion can be analyzed from the Col. Maummar Gadhafi statement on Nigeria some months ago. Without gainsaying, almost every ethnic group in Nigeria complains of being marginalized.
Libya’s Maummar Gadhafi was reported to have suggested that Nigeria split into two along ethno – religion lines, one Muslim and the other Christian, to end communal clashes. This statement was made having studied the Nigeria State. An attempt by the Igbos to gain independence in 1967 sparked a war which left more than one million people dead. Hundreds have died this year in violence between rival Muslim and Christian groups around the city of Jos. Sincerely speaking, it would be an understatement to Say Maummar Gadhafi lacks international diplomacy. But, the open truth is that his statement contains an atom of truth considering the political condition of the country with the coming of the polls. Gadhafi did not make a startling revelation that is alien to us except we are trying to hide from the truth. What is false in the fact that Nigeria is not a united state? The game being played by the PDP big boys is not helping matters. It is only working towards the realization of Gadhafi’s statement. The North is hell-bent on producing the president come 2011 and the south insist that it is high time they enjoy the presidential stool since the nation has long been feeding on their resources.
The Nigeria lawmakers saw Gadhafi as a mad man. If at all Gadhafi is not really a mad man, he has displayed some degree of insanity with his careless statement. However, It is suffice to say that mad men do speak the truth especially during the short period they normally regain their senses before returning to the status quo. The holistic truth of the situation can be ascertained, taking a close look at Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon’s stand on the issue having dispensed massive vocabulary from his grammatical reservoir that made the lawmakers to be rolling in the aisles. About a decade ago, America Hon. Patrick said predicted that Nigeria will disintegrate in fifteen years. Tell magazine he added published some time ago that Nigeria was exhibiting traits of a failed state. Shortly after this prediction and publication, Nigeria he said began to toe the path of disintegration which was tantamount to demonstrating traits of a failed state. This is a clear picture of what is currently happening. The lawmakers took their time to criticize and lacerate Gadhati for extending his venomous and boring big mouth to Nigeria, without considering the America and Tell prediction. The legislooters don’t really need to pay attention to details in as much the 25% share of the cake is constant. America has said it. Tell repeated it. Then there is no need for public and legislative outcry if gadhafi has decided to go mad over it. It’s the simple truth. If a man like gadhafi has decided in his own infinite wisdom to comment on Nigeria affairs, then we are doomed.
The atmosphere is tense. With the current political manoevring that pervades the 2011 election, it is worthy of note that Nigerians must live in fear of what may happen. The two camps are not at rest over the presidency come 2011. Only God knows what the two rams that have decided to drink from the same bucket have in their arsenal. The principle of do or die is now the latest philosophy. With the shipment of illegal arms into the country, I have my fears about the volcano about to erupt. Until the rotten tooth is pulled out the mouth must chew with caution.
I’ll leave you with the last words Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon said on that fateful day. I’ll try to quote him as much as I can. He said “…we should not take steps either by omission or commission to fall into the prediction of those who do not mean Nigeria well’’. The message goes to all Nigerians. Let’s strive to promote peace and national unity.
