The recent clamour to break away from Nigeria and form a Yoruba Nation by the self- acclaimed liberator of Yoruba people, Sunday Igboho and Biafra by Asari Dokubo, leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Salvation Force, who declared the formation of Biafra Customary Government (BCG), apart from Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is they actually speak the minds of many ‘nationalities’ within the Nigerian State who also feel that they would be better off alone.
Such people who call for secession from the Nigerian State because of what they perceive as marginalization or being held back by a certain section of the country to develop according to their own pace, believe that their small countries when formed would be great and famous and become ‘giants’ in their own standing. They feel that they would be in the same stage with the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and so on.
However, if it fits them Nigerians are proud of Nigeria as the most populous black country in the world, as the giant of Africa and on and on.
Because for all her problems, the sheer population of Nigeria is intimidating and if you go abroad, you see people from small African countries being in awe of you, because you are a Nigerian. They say, “Nigerians are rich,” “Nigerians have money.”
And if it is Saudi Arabia, they would ask, “Nigeria?” if they see a black person. However, the moment you reply that, “No, I am from Oduduwa Republic,” (or Arewa or whatever), if they ask where is that, you would have to explain “it is from former Nigeria.”
Besides, you cannot intimidate any other African country again. In fact, the countries that you feel didn’t count because of you being a Nigerian would suddenly rub shoulders with you and some may even think you beneath them as they are ahead of you in nationhood.
Even the big countries that want to invest in Nigeria may not want to invest in the tiny republics that will emerge from the Nigerian State. They may go to the new giant of Africa with the population and proper assertion that comes with numbers.
In any event, Nigerians have love-hate feelings towards Nigeria. You would see Nigerians denigrating their country in any short coming as if they are not part of the short comings. For example, people take it as their right to beat traffic, but praise other countries that have penalties for such infractions.
If you go to banks or anywhere where there is supposed to be a queue, and if suddenly someone muscles his way in. There may be quarrel and then some would say loudly, “This is Nigeria for you.” Or, “We, Nigerians.”
Therefore, those that are rooting for a country made in heaven, should know it will not be an Eldorado paved with gold.
The corruption would continue, the cultism would continue, armed robbery, kidnapping and so on, would continue. After all, it is the same people that made up the Nigerian components that would make up these tiny countries. They are the same people that don’t adhere to rules.
The irony of it is that those that cry marginalization would in turn lord it over the minorities in their “new countries,” even if they have the same language and religion, there would always be a ‘majority’ and a ‘minority.’ And those that feel marginalized may start thinking of breaking away as well.
If push comes to shove, some would prefer the old Nigerian country where they stood a chance of becoming ‘something’ by holding a big national position even though they come from a small ethnic group in spite of the tyranny of the Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo as the largest ethnic groups in the country.
But, in this tiny enclave, they would never ever be reckoned with in power sharing, because they are minorities in their countries as it happens in some states now.
In this regard, there would be new people to hate, new people to blame for every woo that befalls them. And so, the circle begins while the ‘buried’ Nigeria laughs last.
