The History Lesson Nigeria Hides From..... By Nneka Aroh

THE PERFECT TEACHER.

I have often regretted not studying History in school. History is a perfect teacher if you'd pay attention. Because we disregard History, we keep running around in circles.

Izaac Adaka Boro and others of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force had their 12 days. They declared the Niger Delta Republic. They wanted to control their resources. The Federal claws under Aguiyi Ironsi seized them and sentenced them to death. But Aguiyi was to go before them and Gowon was to set them free.  A few years later,  the chapter is re-opened.  Resource control remains the topic. You are faced with a more radical and violent Okah/ Tompolo/Asari Dokubo. These ones don't do round table talks. They act. They force your hands to release Amnesty. It is a terrible precedence.

Nigeria battled the Maitatsine extremists in the 1980s. Thousands died. But government did nothing about the root causes of the disturbances. They did nothing to check radical Islamic clerics, did nothing to curb illiteracy and the attendant poverty, did nothing to compel people to take care of the children they breed. Today we have a monstrous breed of terrorists. They have a ready supply of foot soldiers from our stock of uneducated, unattended  and misguided children

Ojukwu presented you a choice, a good one...the Aburi Accord. You think it makes sense. Soon after, you change your mind,  tear up the papers, dare him to kick. He kicks, you descend on him. With your federal might and the backing of the British, you quash him and his Biafra. A few decades later you are confronted with Nnamdi Kanu. This one knows not decorum. He spits fire. He brews and serves his stuff like the finest tea. So many people can't stand his tea. But he finds those who have nothing else to drink. They gulp it down like cold water on a hot afternoon. They look forward to it like I would look forward to a bottle of sweaty coke. You take it off their menu and they kick. You are baffled. Are they really kicking? Really?

The examples abound.

I am one of those who do not enjoy Nnamdi Kalu's tea. But that is only because I do not enjoy the way he brews it. I have never listened to Radio Biafra.  I do not even know the frequency. I once read something Nnamdi wrote during the last National Conference. He threatened to kill all the delegates from the South East. He called them traitors and all. I decided then that I do not like his tea. I have a delicate taste bud. Vile language and contemptuous rudeness do not appeal to me. I think that his style is too crude and could whittle down the essence and esteem of Biafra.

But someone could come tomorrow with a better brew. It may be free of the acrid taste in Nnamdi's and could appeal to many more people. Rebellion in the face of injustice is a universal trait.  You cannot quell it for long. Mandela had it. Martin Luther King Jnr had it.

The time to act decisively is now. If we continue running this Federation the way we are doing, it will only be a matter of time before we see another set of MEND, another set of OPC, another set of Biafra agitators and indeed another breed of BH. Nigeria could be a great country if we do the right thing.

Let all the States control their resources and make a contribution to the centre. Let every region or State decide if they want to grow crops or build bombs. Let them decide if they want Western Education or Arabic Education. Let them decide if 2 marks in entrance exams would secure admission into secondary school or not.

The Niger Delta has fed Nigeria long enough. The mammary glands are drying up. The nipples are bleeding from too much suckling. Let them rest. The rest of us Nigerians can come and do a little 'omugo'. If we can't bring milk, we can bring water, agidi, amala, tuwo shinkafi, anything. There is no State/ Region that cannot survive. We are just too lazy to try. We are better off together with our rich diversity. But we must be allowed to move at our individual paces.

God bless Nigeria.