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By Uzodinma Nwaogbe

Nigeria appears heading for a crash except something imminent, drastic and fundamental happens soonest. Let’s stop pretending, there are several factors pointing towards that direction. They are very glaring for every keen observer of Nigeria’s political development to notice.

The rate at which hundreds of citizens are killed in Nigeria within minutes by terrorist groups is alarming. They are simply not hiding their aggressive approach to fully achieve their religious agenda, to Islamize Nigeria by every means necessary. That would be their greatest achievement. It doesn’t matter whether their converts accept by conviction or coercion.

You are either with them to practice their kind of religion or get killed. But we can no longer fold our hands and do nothing to stop this holocaust coming.

As I write this piece, there is tension in Umuahia South and Isiala-Ngwa North LGAs of Abia state. There are reports of suspected armed Fulani herders in the forests. Farmers have suspended going to their farms at the moment. No place is safe in the country.

That this country, Nigeria was FORCED together by the British is common knowledge. It is a proven fact that, they did it for their own selfish reason and not necessarily because there was anything that united us. But our Southern political leaders have pretended for too long and, it is time for them to act.

We can’t continue in this deceptive and blood-rooted unification. In fact, Nigeria’s unity is a scam. This game started for ages, since 1804 and it has not relaxed and will not until the country gets to the desired destination. The game is curiously loosening up to an organized and sustained project.

This unholy alliance between the Southern and Northern regions is not and has never been favourable to the Southern part of the country especially the South East since 1914. The obvious wide gap between the North and South is unfortunately counterproductive. It is very clear in the manner of appointments in federal positions, in the operation of separate laws, the operation of our educational institutions, social and economic infrastructures, the security architecture of the country, etc. These indices are skewed to favour the North against the South. Nigeria cannot survive with these arrangements.

Nigeria as one false united country will only spell chaos, anarchy and doom in the long run. That unification of the two protectorates in 1914 has turned round to hunt us. It is satanic and has become our albatross today as a country.

I have carefully studied Nigeria’s political history, read books concerning her including journals and literatures, listened to several analyses of Nigeria’s political sojourn by political scientists, historians and the rest. I am now more convinced that Nigeria was never divinely created by the Almighty to be one. And she can never be one.

I have always loved Nigeria and, wished for the unity of the country but from the realities of the past and current political and social developments, it is better, to my mind that we end this bloody marriage. The scam called Nigeria was forced on us by the British for their own selfish economic benefits. It just cannot continue anymore. It can’t survive.

My parents are Igbo. I was born in Lagos, South-West part of Nigeria, grew up in a Hausa community, Idi-Araba to be precise. I also lived in Mushin and Ilasamaja, predominantly Yoruba communities. I speak Yoruba language fluently. Some years ago I could sing, read and write the language effortlessly. I went to schools in Lagos.

I have traveled and worked in other parts of South-West, South-South, South-East, North-Central, North-East and North-West of Nigeria. I have friends in most states of the Federal Republic. I love this country ‘die.’ But lately and clearly, Christians and, callously the Igbo are not wanted in this country called Nigeria.

Our political elites are only living in denial and thinking that this country can be sustained as one. I don’t share the same optimism. This bubble (Nigeria) may burst anytime soon. It will. The elites are only holding on to one Nigeria because of the economic and financial benefits the current scam called unity is fetching them. But every fake material has an expiry date. So does Nigeria.

It is disappointing, shameful that we have leaders in the Presidency and NASS and, hundreds of citizens are slaughtered like animals in their homes and absolutely nothing is done to stop the carnage other than the rhetoric of just condemning the killings and issuing messages of condolences through media aides. Life goes on.

We have read stories of how weapons were confiscated from Christian dominated communities only for them to be brutally killed by well armed rampaging terrorists. Why were those weapons taken away from the Christian communities? Why did the security agencies fail to protect the communities?

It was also reported that about 70 vigilantes were killed in an ambush in Plateau by these bandits because the government took away their weapons and allowed their attackers armed with sophisticated weapons to strike. So, the Federal and State Governments must take responsibility for the killing of their own citizens.

One of the first things every father establishes for his children is to reveal historical truths and real identity concerning ancestry. Every father while still strong and alive will ensure freedom for his people before he departs. The Southern leaders must eliminate fear and be bold enough to face the reality and correct mistakes of the past.

They must initiate the discussions on how we can continue to live as one country under the atmosphere of peace, tolerance and unity or, ‘to thy tents o’ Israel.’ Let’s avoid a violent separation. We must not pull the trigger and slaughter each other’s throat before we split.

The painful and avoidable killing of Deborah Samuel because of she was praising Jesus Christ, the master of her faith was cruel, satanic and remains condemned. The worst part of her death was that, her killers were shielded and protected in court by a team of Muslim lawyers. They mocked Christianity. They hailed the death of an innocent girl. Sharia law became stronger than our country’s constitution.

In Kano, some years ago, one Bridget Agbahime, a mother was mobbed to death by Islamic extremists for daring to request that ablution water of a Muslim faithful be moved out of her shop entrance to allow her and customers free access to her shop. That was her only crime. Like someone said, it looked like a set-up. Life, created by the Almighty has become a toy in Nigeria because of religion.

History, geography, culture, education, religion, social and tradition have proven that we are not one people. Nigeria has never and will never be one. What united this country was not natural but was criminally planted and watered by the British after discovering our natural endowment. And the only way for them to succeed is to get the North to hold the rest of the country down.

Nigeria cannot remain as one country when Christianity is viewed with disdain by our Northern Islamic extremists. Nigeria cannot be one united country when there are two laws in the country.

Nigeria cannot continue to be a country when at any slightest chance a Christian or liberal Muslims are murdered by Islamic extremists and nothing happens. We just cannot continue to pretend that we are one when Islamic extremists are moving round the country with just one agenda, to force their religion on every person. Those who refused are reportedly gunned down or slaughtered like ram and their homes burnt to ashes.

Since the extremist Northern Muslims are not satisfied with co-existing side by side in Nigeria, let the country split. Why should we continue to pretend?

I have lots of Muslim friends in the North and South but I am not comfortable with this madness anymore. In our country, why are there more favoured groups?

In a published report of the Amnesty International, a foreign based development agency, more than 10,200 have been killed by armed religious groups since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came to office in 2023. And, the government seems ill prepared to abort such evil.

Nigeria has always been presented as an Islamic country. Which is a wrong notion. Nigeria was secretly and fully registered as a member of the Organization of Islamic Countries, OIC, without due consultation with the Nigerian people. A Mosque is presently functioning in the Presidential Villa while the Chapel built in 2000 by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo is allegedly shut down. So, the Christian population in the Villa can’t access the Chapel for fellowship. Our currency and military have Islamic signs. Is Nigeria an Islamic country? Is Nigeria no longer a secular country?

Even the North is not predominantly Islamic. We have large proportion of Christians domiciled in parts of the North like, Kaduna, Plateau, Taraba, Gombe, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarrawa, Adamawa, etc. So, why do these Islamic bigots think they can establish an Islamic country in Nigeria? Do they prefer blood and bodies littered everywhere in the country without achieving anything?

Other countries of the world have put religion aside to concentrate on real development and the growth of their economy. They are busy thinking and working on how to create wealth for their countries and to establish quality life for their citizens. Nigeria is bored down with religious sentiments.

The political leaders of the Southern origin need to come together and ask very fundamental questions on this Nigerian unity. The hatred coming from these vandals against Christianity is unimaginable. They must ask questions on the continued attacks and killings against Christians and the Muslims who refuse to adhere to their kind of faith. The Sharia law they tried to introduce into our legal framework in a country that is supposedly secular is a setback.

Our leaders need to take a bold decision today. They should come together and take a pragmatic approach, decide on strategy and logic to save their people and land from total destruction and annihilation.

The North and those who want the extremist kind of Islamic system can go their way and practice their religion without any hullabaloo. They can speak their language, practice their culture and organize their own security without any hinderance.

They can organize their own type of trade and opt for countries to do business with while the Southern states decide on how to govern and associate among themselves. This continuous grip on the throat of the South by the North is just unacceptable and provocative.

The one Nigeria that, the British conspired to establish cannot continue to function. It is very obvious. The mistake needs to be corrected for peace, and progress to truly endure in most parts of Nigeria. We must not allow this country turned into another abbatoir. It may take centuries to stop.

• Culled from The Southerner Newspaper