No roars from the lions in the south east

    Nigerians were greeted to a rude shock when the federal government in its bullish nature removed the ‘subsidy’ on Premium Motor Spirit-PMS- popularly known as petrol on the first day of the year. This shut up prices by alarming 120% increase from N65 to N141. this new development did not augur well with Nigerians, as most people took to the streets to protest. The NLC and TUC announced a total lockdown of the economy, embarking on an indefinite strike until prices are reverted back to the old rates. The have been protests in different parts of the country as youths have taken to the streets to register their displeasure at the insistence of an insensitive government to worsen their plight. All but the south east has taken bold steps in voicing their opinions. The Igbos seem non-chalant to the subsidy matter, and their governors have made audacious attempts at botching any [planned protests. In Enugu, the NLC leader was arrested under the guise of planning a civil disobedience and has even ordered its civil servants back to work. The same situation was replicated in Abia, when the governor threatened its civil servants with termination of appointment if they do not return to work. Even amongst the populace, there is an absent minded opinion of the subsidy removal, as most people go about their businesses except for banks and government offices that have remained shut.

     Several schools of thought have emerged in defense of the Igbos. Some pundits recount the bitter experience of the Biafran expedition as the reasons the Igbos do not want to be involved in the protests, claiming the Igbos were used as scapegoats during the civil war. These analysts claim that they Igbos feel cheated that they were used to pursue a reformist agenda, but were sold out by their southern brothers who aligned with the northerners. Ever since then, the Igbos have been marginalized out of the Nigerian mainstream politics, only playing subservient roles.

    Another argument defending the Igbo position draws its points from the fact that the igbos do not have any of their sons or daughters in cabal or as beneficiaries of the subsidy. As such, why waste our time to fight for thE cause of other people. Consequently, another school believes that the Igbos may be eyeing the 2015 presidency and as such would not want to jeopardize their position. Aligning with the present regime would cement their position. Some others have even argued that 90% of Igbo youths do not reside in Igbo land, as such the much needed

 driving force for the protests is absent. There have even been pro-subsidy removal rallies held in some parts of Anambra state in places such as Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka.

    An objective analysis of the scenario depicted above could be summarized under one word, which continually has been the bane of development and nationalism in this country: Ethnicity. It is rather sad that whilst others are trying to actualize the Pan-Nigerian project, some other have been allowed to be hoodwinked by their leaders who used sentiments that have further divided this country. This leaders, as others in the previous ethnic groups have succeeded in hiding behind the curtains of ethnic loyalty to prevent an imminent paradigm shift. Nigeria is a collective venture which all of us must be partakers.

      Saying that the Igbos were cheated as a result of the civil war is nothing short of cheap blackmail. If the Igbos are so disgruntled, then why partake in the Nigerian polity? Why do we have Igbo sons and daughters in the Nigerian government if they want to register their grievances? This is akin to speaking from both sides of one’s mouth. There is a proverb that says “the child that does not stay at home, never eats a hot meal”. If the #Occupy Nigeria protests succeed, the Igbos would be further marginalized

  It is high time Igbos and Nigerians at large shelve ethnic  affiliations and embrace Nigeria as a whole. The ongoings in the government has shown us that the bane of this country resides in our leaders, not in our cultural differences. Taking actions based on cultural backgrounds rather than objectivity is hypocrisy. I would like to commend those Igbos who have decided to shelve parochial interests to embrace nationalism. But to our leaders I say shame.

Our fathers have failed us, but our children would curse us

                            

     The present generation of Nigerian youths seems to have quickly come to terms with the reality that has befallen us. Tired of hearing rehearsed and relayed fallacious statements from our leaders, the youths have taken to the streets to protest against government’s insensitivity to the plight of the Nigerian masses. Reports of government corruption are a recurring occurrence in the Nigerian media. Where exactly do we start from? Is it the oil wind fall of the Babangida regime or the billions Bankole stole? What about the daily lunch money of N3m for the president whilst millions live below the poverty line? We may be contesting for a slot in the Guinness book of records for having constructed the most expensive road in the world which in fact was just an expansion of the existing lane. Motorists are now been scammed for 30years for using the same amenities they have been taxed for. The average senator in Nigeria earns more than the United States president, yet no concrete law which has impacted in the lives of average Nigerians has been enacted. The list is endless, as it seems each successive regime is in a competition to outshine the previous one in looting the national treasury.

     The prickly point evolves around the fact that this generation of locusts actually had enjoyed the basic necessities of life whilst growing up. There was free and quality education, hospitals were fully functional, infrastructures were not in their present shambolic state. Nigerians abroad at that time called folks back home to send them money because the naira had a strong value. But alas, blinded by their greed, our fathers have eaten theirs, ours and are now devouring the fruits of our children. They have mismanaged the entity called Nigeria which our founding fathers fought and died for/ the objective of this great nation enshrined in our anthem and pledge has fast drifted into oblivion.

      Our fathers have made us terrorists, kidnappers, robbers and yahoo boys. Our sisters are now prostitutes giving themselves up for the highest bidders. Even our coat of arms has disintegrated, as the eagle has taken flight while the horses have galloped into the horizon. Our pride and dignity as a nation has been sold for cheap monetary gains. This is a country where the plants and grasses in the presidential villa have more value than an average Nigerian citizen.

     Herein lies the crux of my agitation, are we going to allow the same fate which have been meted to us by our fathers to repeat themselves in the lives of our children? Do we seat back and watch like those of our fathers who were left out of the system, praying for divine intervention?

    Even God depends upon our actions for him to manifest himself. Though he promised the Israelites the land of Cannan, flowing with milk and honey, they still had to contend with the desert, Red sea, Ammonities, Amalekites and other tribes, including the giants in Canaan before they could possess their property. David was anointed king while still a shepherd, but he had to fight numerous battles including with Saul to keep his throne.                 The point is nothing is given but taken. We owe it to ourselves to stand up and fight for the rights and freedom of our children.

    The dream of every good father is for his children to surpass his achievements. Are we doing this or rehearsing the excuses we would give them? Are we going to be caged by the walls of religion and ethnicity whilst the locusts ravage our lands barren. If so, then lets us prepare for the wrath and curses of our children. Let us prepare to raise another generation of child soldiers, militants, thugs and prostitutes. Let us not challenge our kids when they curse us to our faces because we were afraid to do the right thing. A Chinese proverb says, he who plants a seed today, leaves a shade for the next generation. What are we leaving for the next generation? Excuses and regrets? We must break this vicious cycle once and for all unless our children would inherit nothing more than barren lands. The onus is on us to do what is right.

There would be no war, only a revolution

        As the # occupy Nigeria protests gains steam, the psychological warfare seems to have started. Different strategies are being employed by the government and its cronies to stymie the growing momentum of the protests. Panic text messages have been circulated, claiming the possibility of  Boko Haram members  posing as protesters would seize the opportunity to unleash mayhem in three major cities. The federal government still seething from the audacity of Nigerians for having defiled all odds to come out en mass to protest its draconian policies, have ordered civil servants to return to work threatening ‘ no work, no pay’.

       Prior to that, some state governors had already instructed their civil servants to return to work or risk losing their jobs. This action purportedly aimed at creating division in labour’s support base and weakening the protests, has met with a brick wall as workers have asked the government to go to blazes with its instructions. Meanwhile, the reality show continues as more damning figures and implicating documents are released by the petroleum marketers and the federal government officials who are hurling blames and slanders at each other for the rot in the petroleum industry.

       In an attempt to distract the populace from achieving its paramount objective which is the total eradication of corruption and accountability in the public sector, some mischief makers are dangling the carrots of religion and ethnicism before us. If you thought the #Occupy Nigeria protests was all about fuel subsidy, I advise you have a rethink. The protests is about the institutionalised decadence and endemic corruption that has paralyzed the country. Lest I digress, some politicians are trying to cash in on the chaos to bring up tribal and religious sentiments. This is aimed at keeping us further divided so that they can continue with their lootocratic agendas. In response to the Boko Haram ultimatum, the movement for the emancipation of Niger delta-MEND-has issued northerners in the south-south region its own ultimatum. In Benin city, hoodlums hijacked the peaceful protests to perpetuate reprisal attacks against northerners. In the north, the Boko Haram continues with its pogrom against the southerners unchecked.

  This perhaps was the reason for the recent comments by eminent Nigerians that the nation may be heading towards a war. One would hardly blame  them for taking such stance, given the nature and dimension which the protests have assumed. However, there would nothing like a war. The #Occupy Nigeria protest is nothing short of a revolution aimed at cleansing the Nigerian polity of corruption and vampire politicians who feed on the blood of the Nigerian masses. Every leader must be held accountable for his role in plunging the nation into this quagmire.

    Already there are indicators that the protests would not assume religious or ethnic lines. In Abuja, a human column made up of northerners and southerners was formed around Muslims who took a break from the protests to say their prayers. In Kaduna, Christians and Muslims arm in arm, formed human shields against police bullets. In other parts of the country, Nigerian masses have downplayed their differences and have come out in unison to lay show their grievances against an insensitive government. Nigerians have metamorphosed from the invisible wall of religion and ethnicity foisted upon us by parochial leaders for their selfish interests. Besides members of the scripted cabal cut across the different tribes and religion.

       This entails that the problem of this great country resides not in our cultural differences, but in our leaders and the political elite who have ganged up and rapped the nation of its resources. Let us not be swayed by such cheap sentiments. We all have a stake in making corporate Nigeria a feasible entity. As a people with a common destiny, lets us concentrate on the nucleus of the problem, rather than be distracted with the periphery. Waging a war on ethnic and tribal lines reduces us to mere pawns in a political chess game. #Occupy Nigeria is a revolution catalyzed by the strength of the people. Let us not forget that.