Analysis of the minority complex
Time has come when to do an analytical review of the minority complex. Going by the so-called Western-democracy, the winner remains one with majority. Under this dogma, they say that “the minority should have a say but the majority must have its way”. One of the notorious places where this mathematics or geometry is being turned upside down is Nigeria. This short change is only when the Hausa-Fulani is the victim. A minority in their midst is to have his way while they do not even have a say! The myopia in Nigeria from the amalgam of diverse ethnic nationalities is like the study of kinematics in mechanical engineering. Kinematics is the study of the geometry of fluids flow. Imagine when you are to develop the equation of motion of the flow of river Kaduna at its peak in August/ September.
Imagine, also, when you are to develop the equation of motion in air surrounding the wings of an aero plane when flying. Just stretch your hand when you are in a moving car travelling at 160 km per hour. Or try to walk against the gale in a strong windy day. That is the way the minds of the tribal jingoists and the minority complexes work without clear direction and without common sense. The kinematics is “me” only and to hell with others.
To a minority in power, the absurd is endless. The south Christian dominated media is the terrorism the Hausa-Fulani is living with. An ignorant lawyer in the days of Goodluck Jonathan will introduce himself on an engineering project and say he is Barrister so, so and so but as the consulting Engineer! Another joker will introduce himself as the consulting Mechanical and Electrical, Structural Engineer or the Quantity Surveyor. How? This is absurd! The answer is na we get power! So a minority can assume all things. Even some fake doctors from the south emerge just because they love to be called doctors.
So-called armed militants, but in reality terrorist, would gate crashed a Ministry or a parastatal and demand for a Billion Naira contract. The Presidency under GEJ and the southern press remained silent over the daylight robbery. They even subcontracted the nation maritime securities to these miscreants. But these absurdities just passed because they are not herds-men but animist Christian minorities that the southern media never saw anything wrong with. GEJ with no cows went further to state publicly that stealing was not corruption!
The Hausa-Fulani in Nigeria is the victim of this confused geometry. Paradoxically, it is he alone that has the mental balance, capacity and quality to rule Nigeria peacefully. The minorities in the north are mere pawns in the hands of Ibo and Yoruba ethnic jingoists and the south-south clueless media houses to attack their HausaFulani neighbours. In fact on one on one and as neighbours with over 100 speaking different languages are more of sworn enemies and suspicious of each other. All the CAN camaraderie are mere pretences and for political gains of their elites.
The Yoruba’s after the cluelessness of GEJ, a minority from the Niger Delta, learnt the bitter lesson. And so for once, saw the reason and therefore, came to the conclusion to back Buhari after being in opposition for over 50 years. The letter of OBJ in the press to the clueless GEJ concluded that, he did not see how Nigerians will trust a minority Ijaw come to power again.
The leadership of the Hausa-Fulani in the northern region predates 300 years. Take Kaduna state where some ethnic champions in southern Kaduna are turning logic upside down. They partner with anti-Hausa-Fulani southern press like the Sun, Vanguard, The Nation etc to orchestrate lies and half-truth. Way back before independence, the Hausa Fulani developed Kafanchan, Kachia, Zango and other economically effective settlements in Taraba, Plateau among others. They did not impose their religion by force on other inhabitants. For Islam says no compulsion in Religion as against others. Most were invited to Islam through active and fair preaching.
It is instructive there are more Muslims in Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Taraba and Nasarawa states. In Plateau there is more Muslim-Christian ratio than there is in Kaduna state. What obtains in Plateau with Christians dominating all political offices arising from military hangover during IBB is not sustainable. If the Muslims with 75% allow southern Kaduna a deputy governor then with 45% in Plateau the case for a Muslim governor is discernible.
If one surveys Kaduna state, the minority with less than 30% of the population cannot continue with free lunch in a democracy. This arrogance and injustice to insist they must share 50-50 or more, if there should be “peace” in Kaduna is unacceptable. Take scholarship for example. With few local governments in southern Kaduna, if one allocates equitably per each LG, they stand to secure less than 25%. Yet they cry “foul” if fair distribution criteria are applied. It is the same with the recruitment in the armed forces and paramilitary for Kaduna and higher institutions and employment. Out of 10 lots with less than 30% population they would like to swallow 80% of the stakes. These are unacceptable.
Even in budgetary allocations when they controlled government as in the days of Patrick Yakowa, the inequity manifested. Here with less than 30% swallowing more than 50% in resource allocation. These imbalances in the geometric matrix do not hold water in a democracy where numbers are the kernel of the issues. No amount of media blackmail will change these realities. If in an LG with 100 Hausa-Fulani students seeking opportunities and only 15% or 15 make it what of the other 85%. While the south Kaduna say have 100,000 unemployed youth, the northern part has close to 1,000,000. So who has greater problem to contend with.
Now with Governor El-Rufai, trying to establish balance, the clueless southern media is dabbling into the internal affairs of the state. What is the business of the Yoruba, Ibo, southern minorities in the affairs of Kaduna and the northern Nigeria? If not for Buhari they will hardly pay salaries. If indeed they care much about southern Kaduna and other minorities in the north let them be donating 10% or more from their federal allocations. While the oil states from the southsouth if it is not gimmickry, surrender the 13% derivation and stop exporting terror and deceit. What is logical for Kaduna state is the MuslimMuslim ticket like Plateau state. From now on with the card reader the chickens will come home to roost in Taraba, Plateau and other states in the north.
On the whole, leadership by the majority should stand on justice for all. The late Sardauna Ahmadu Bello did it. The minorities under him had a fair deal. This is what this piece advocates that power in Kaduna or similar cases must reside with us. Certainly, we should not accept intimidation from any quarters to surrender power in Kaduna to minorities. The southern media and noise makers should be warned to understand their limits and political realities. We are not sheep to be dictated to by any coalition of selfish fools from the south or any religious jingoists.
Engr. Fari wrote this piece from Kaduna.