POLITICS Why Nigerian Political Parties Evolve Along Ethnic Lines
Nseobong Okon-Ekong writes that leaders of the Oduaa Peoples Congress and Igbo Youth Movement have identified reasons why Nigerians gravitate towards their ethnic enclave in forming political parties
Nigeria’s political parties evolved along ethnic lines in the First Republic, simply because some leaders found it difficult to accept the emergence of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe as Herbert Macaulay’s replacement in the NCNC in 1946, argues Mr. Elliot Ugochukwu Uko, President, Igbo Youth Movement (IYM). He reasoned further that had a northerner replaced Macaulay, the NPC would not have been formed and had a Yoruba man replaced Macaulay, Action Group would not have been formed.
Responding to questions on why Nigerian political groups assume an ethnic colours, Uko said, “Nigeria made it impossible for her citizens to assume nationalistic posture in their thinking through the undeserved punishment meted out to Ndigbo since 1970. Everybody knew that millions of Ndigbo whose bank accounts were seized ( and a paltry £ 20) allowed them in 1970, were not informed by Nzeogwu, Adegboyega, Ifeajuna and co about a coup in January 1966. Everybody knew that they were slaughtered all over northern Nigeria and in Lagos, Ibadan and Abeokuta in their thousands all through the repulsive and horrendous well planned pogroms of 1966 that inspired secession and outright war. Yet everybody tacitly approved or at least condoned the war of attrition and scorched earth policy visited on Ndigbo by successive governments since 1970. Both the oppressed and onlookers know for a fact that, there is no justice in Nigeria. It is against the law of nature for the oppressed to be patriotic and nationalistic. The oppressed will only remain aggrieved, bitter and angry until Justice and equity is enthroned. Even the oppressor himself and the minorities are not nationalistic because the winner takes all attitude of the oppressor ensues a dog eat dog culture of every man to himself. A great bane of nation building.
Even today, Igbo land is deliberately removed from the railway modernization plan.
“No passable road in the zone, all the roads are clearly broken and impassable. Fulani herdsmen having a field day raping, beheading, kidnapping and terrorizing the entire zone, while Nigerians remain quite over the suggestion by the government, that no Igbo man is qualified to head any military or paramilitary agency.
When they complain, they are told to wait for their turn to rule Nigeria, while in another breath, they are mocked that they will never rule Nigeria.”
Prince Osibote, President, Oduaa Peoples Congress ( OPC) argued that the challenges of having over 250 ethnic groups jostling for recognition and prominence is real. Accordingly, they employ all manners of method to agitate. Some of the approaches used often pose a great threat to our corporate existence and development as a nation. Most of the crisis that pervade our space today are ethnic by nature but are often disguised as religious. What about the seeming imbalance in government today, the South- east region is shouting marginalization, the south- south is talking about under developement and environmental degradation. But all hope is not lost, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. There is strength in unity, our diversity should not tear us apart, instead it should be our source of strength and development. That is why I will like to appeal to the President to listen to the People’s yearnings for restructuring. Nigerians are losing hope, they need assurance we can make it as a nation. Every aspect of our national life must be seen to be working, that is when the people will feel that they belong and build their confidence and trust.
Osibote rejected the notion that organizations like the OPC erode national unity and Pan Nigerian consciousness. He reasoned that “OPC is not out to erode national unity. You will recall that our Late leader, Dr Fredrick Fasehun was at the forefront of the agitation for a Sovereign National Conference ( SNC). OPC had gone to the rooftops to exclaim, agitate and mobilize, invested all manner of resources to shout both home and abroad that the survival of Nigeria as a nation and the survival of her democracy lies in the convening of a SNC where Nigerians will forge a federation based on mutual trust and agreement. So the fact is the OPC has always advanced the course of national unity and prosperity for Nigeria and Nigerians.”
The OPC leader believes that his organization and the like can identify common ground to work with other Nigerian ethnic groups and consciously promote them to achieve national cohesion. He said, “OPC has always enjoyed a cordial relationship with other ethnic groups and some self-determination groups. Check our records for the relationship between the OPC and Arewa Consultative Forum. Our mutual relations with MASSOB, Ohaneze Ndigbo, even with some Niger Delta self- determination groups over the years are on record. OPC is not an ethnic chauvinistic organization. If you check rightly, you will notice that the objectives and aims of these groups are similar to that of the OPC in that we share a common understanding in the defence of the interests of our people. Some of these groups too are at the front row of agitations for a better Nigeria through calls for restructuring. With this, it is only natural that we embrace ourselves and find a common ground to push for a successful Nigeria.