“We despise and abhor the bully, the brawler, the oppressor, whether in private or public life, but we despise no less the coward and the voluptuary. No man is worth calling a man who will not fight rather than submit to infamy or see those that are dear to him suffer wrong.”
This quote by Theodore Roosevelt; historian, conservationist and statesman who was the 26th President of the United States of America from 1901-1909 totally narrates the epiphanic clamour for resistance among hitherto oppressed Nigerians of all tongues, tribes and regions. According to an Igbo adage: “a coward may allow you snatch his wife without putting up a fight, but will rather die than let another man claim his son”.
When the 17 Southern Governors converged in Delta State on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 to reach resolutions on certain issues in what has famously come to be christened as the Asaba Declaration, that singular action sent torrid waves across the camp of the oppressors. What a masterstroke that was. Chief among the 10-point propositions reached was the unanimous decision to ban the open grazing of cattle. One of the first reactions that followed was a statement by the Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG through its spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman who called on the Northern Governors to checkmate the influx of Southerners to the zone as a form of reprisal.
Most notable of the dissenting voices was the Attorney General of the Federation who described the ban as unconstitutional. In his words: “It is as good as saying, perhaps, maybe, the northern governors coming together to say they prohibit spare parts trading in the North”. Any question of whether he spoke in his personal or official capacity got quelled when the government revealed its official position through the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity who delineated the Governors position as “acts of politicking intended by its signatories to demonstrate power.”
As first citizens and chief law officers of their individual states, their powers to promulgate laws that will benefit their citizens remain constitutionally enshrined in our extant laws. Thus, the issue of any illegality is a no-brainer. The futile efforts by the government and pro-Fulani groups alike to summarily dismiss this genuine concern gives credence to the widespread belief that the Fulani herders mayhem is state orchestrated. Its incurious demeanor can no longer be deemed a coincidence.
To the chagrin of the rabble rousers, a handful of southern states have gone ahead to impose the ban against open grazing through their respective legislative houses. Kudos to them. In strict adherence to the popular maxim that all’s fair in love and war, never again should the oppressors be allowed to dictate the rules of engagement in furtherance to its underhand quest to perpetuate the Fulanis over other aboriginal Nigerians.
While firmly standing their ground on the call for secession, the people of the South East have continually heeded the order to sit at home on designated days and that is within the ambits of their rights. A look at that region unveils a tale of systematic neglect which has become more visible during this administration. It really doesn’t matter if the compliance to the order is based on solidarity or out of coercion, its staggering conformity shows that the people have lost hope in the system and are willing to take up the gauntlet. After all, you can’t beat a child and expect him or her not to weep.
Without mincing words, I make bold to say that if these burning issues are not properly addressed by the government; the rebellion from the south will not be televised. Playing the ostrich is not an attribute of any responsible government. Though the ashes of subjugation may have been buried, the resurrectory powers of a phoenix should never be underestimated.
martinsemenogu03@gmail.com
