#Fubara #Arewa #Gbaja #Chika #Plateau State #Yul Edochie #First Lady #Nigeria vs Cameroon #Fubara #Obidients #MyPresident #Congratulations Ruth
For Argument
Bashir Dalhatu of Arewa was on an Arise News interview with a host to discuss the plan to move the CBN and FAAN to Lagos. A move the Arewa organization vehemently opposes. He expressed dissatisfaction with the Federal government's decision to relocate some Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) departments from Abuja to Lagos. He sees the relocation of some federal agencies from Abuja to Lagos, as a move to undermine the northern region. He argued that this decision needed to be fairer and more logical, as it would create an imbalance in the distribution of ministries and agencies across the country. He suggested that if the reason for moving FAAN was the concentration of airline activities in Lagos, the same logic should apply to other ministries related to regional economic activities. He suggested that the headquarters of the Ministry of Commerce should be moved to Onitsha or Kano because there are far more commercial activities in those places than in Abuja. He warned that this move could set a precedent for further dismemberment of ministries and agencies and undermine the unity and cohesion of the country. He urged the government to reconsider its decision and respect the Federal Capital Territory as a symbol of national integration.
Bashir Dalhatu of Arewa also talked about the North's interest in one Nigeria and the need to keep the country together. He said that the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) was committed to Nigeria's unity, stability, and progress and was open to any discussion or debate on achieving these goals. He said that the ACF was not a secessionist or separatist group but rather a forum for articulating and promoting the interests and aspirations of the northern region within the context of one Nigeria. He said the ACF believed the North has much to offer and gain from being part of Nigeria. It was ready to cooperate and collaborate with other regions and groups to address the country's everyday challenges. He argued that the ACF was not opposed to restructuring as long as it was done peacefully and democratically and did not threaten the unity and integrity of the country. He said that the ACF was open to dialogue and consultation on the issue of restructuring and that it had a committee on restructuring that had submitted a report with recommendations on how to improve the governance and development of the country. He said that the ACF wanted a fair, just, and equitable Nigeria for all its citizens and that it would support any genuine and constructive proposal that would enhance the welfare and security of the people.
When asked for his take on restructuring the country, Bashir Dalhatu of Arewa discussed being fearless in the discussion of restructuring in Nigeria. He said that the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) was open to dialogue and debate on the issue of restructuring as long as it was done peacefully and democratically. He said that the ACF had a committee on restructuring, which had submitted a report with recommendations on addressing the country's various challenges. He noted that the ACF believed that restructuring should be based on the principles of justice, equity, and fairness and that it should not threaten the unity and integrity of the country. He also said that the ACF was ready to engage with other stakeholders and groups on restructuring and that it was not opposed to any genuine and constructive proposal that would enhance the development and welfare of the people. He said that the ACF was not afraid of change but that Arewa wanted change that would benefit all Nigerians, not just a few. The states in the North, especially those in the Sahel region, need more attention and investment in agriculture, irrigation, and livestock development, as these are the primary sources of their livelihood and income.
To support his argument, he stated that the states in the Southeast, especially those in the Niger Delta region, need environmental protection and remediation, as well as a fair share of the oil and gas revenues, as these are the leading causes of their agitation and unrest. The states in the Southwest, especially those in the Yoruba-speaking areas, need more autonomy, devolution of powers, and respect for their cultural and linguistic diversity, as these are the main demands of their self-determination movements. The states in the middle belt, especially those in the Plateau and Benue regions, need more security and peacebuilding, as well as justice for the victims of communal violence, as these are the main challenges to their coexistence and harmony. These examples show that restructuring is not a one-size-fits-all solution but rather a complex and multifaceted process that requires dialogue, consultation, and compromise among the various stakeholders and groups in the country. He said the ACF was ready to participate in such a process if it was democratic and peaceful.
At the same time Bashir Dalhatu of Arewa expressed some difficulty why the Southeast is agitating for more states. He said that the Southeast region of Nigeria is asking to create more states as part of its restructuring demand even though they have no land mass for it. That sounded condescending. He declared that the Southeast currently has only five states, the lowest number among the six geopolitical zones in the country. He went on to say that the ACF believes that creating more states should be based on the criteria of viability, population, landmass, and historical and cultural affinity. He noted that the ACF is ready to dialogue and cooperate with the Southeast and other regions on the issue of state creation and restructuring as long as it is done in the interest of national unity and development.
Counter Argument.
Most Middle Beltan, South Easterners, South-Southerner and South Westerners believe that Arewa is not a homogeneous or coherent entity but a diverse and divided region with different ethnic, religious, and political affiliations and interests. Arewa comprises groups with distinct histories, cultures, and languages, such as the Hausa, Fulani, Kanuri, Tiv, Jukun, Berom, etc. Arewa also has different political orientations and ideologies, such as progressive, conservative, radical, and moderate, who have different views and preferences on issues of national importance, such as restructuring, security, and development. Arewa is not a monolithic or unified bloc but a complex and fragmented region with internal conflicts and contradictions. How effective can they be as a bloc in advocating equality of everyone and unity of Nigeria?
According to critics, the Arewa region of Nigeria has not played a positive role in the country's unity, stability, and progress. Instead, it has contributed to disunity, instability, and deterioration. Some argue that Arewa needs to be more cooperative in the nation-building project and has somewhat disrupted the national development agenda. Critics also claim that Arewa has little to offer and much to lose by being part of Nigeria. They assert that Arewa is the country's poorest and least developed region, with the worst education, health, and income indicators. Furthermore, they claim that Arewa is highly dependent on federal allocation and contributes the least to the national revenue.
Moreover, critics argue that Arewa is the most vulnerable and insecure region in Nigeria, with the highest exposure to environmental degradation, climate change, and conflict. They contend that Arewa is not a beneficiary or asset in the Nigerian federation but rather a liability or burden in the Nigerian polity. Finally, critics accuse Arewa of being one of the groups that oppose the Southeast producing a president, which is discriminatory and contributes to disunity in Nigeria. They may even support violence and corruption in the election process to achieve this goal.
Suppose you ask anyone from the Southeast or South-South about the relocation of departments from Abuja to Lagos, they will tell you that they are not advocates of of such a move because Nigerian leaders are very tribalistic and need to be more competent to understand the damage they do to the country with their tot-for-tat mentality and unpatriotic agendas. When Tinubu is out of power and another president from another region takes over, they will gut Lagos in retaliation. Lagos and the North are not the only states in Nigeria that deserve the benefit of all headquarters in their state.
When the interviewer asked him about the military architecture housing all the Army, Navy, and Air Force headquarters in Kaduna (Northern Nigeria), he did not see a problem. His answer was dismissive and Northern serving. He did not state that it is an issue that has to be addressed so that the military posts can be decentralized from the North. Still, he argued that there is a reason for Kaduna's centrality because of the geographical location, which makes it easy for the military organizations to have quick movement and action if there is any problem in any part of Nigeria. Hilarious argument. If Kaduna can be strategic for rapid action in any part of Nigeria, So could a military headquarters in the Southeast, South-South and Southwest.
In his argument for equity, he suggested that the headquarters of the Ministry of Commerce should be moved to Onitsha or Kano because there are far more commercial activities in those places than in Abuja. In his argument, the states in the Southeast, especially those in the Niger Delta region, need environmental protection and remediation, as well as benefit from the oil and gas revenues, as these are the leading causes of their agitation and unrest. The states in the Southwest, especially those in the Yoruba-speaking areas, need more autonomy, devolution of powers, and respect for their cultural and linguistic diversity, as these are the main demands of their self-determination movements. The states in the middle belt, especially those in the Plateau and Benue regions, need more security and peacebuilding, as well as justice for the victims of communal violence, as these are the main challenges to their coexistence and harmony. The mentioning of the needs of the Southeast and South-South by Bashir Dalhatu of Arewa has the vibes of someone looking for the alliance of the other regions of Nigeria to kick against the plan of Tinubu to move CBN and FAAN to Lagos. An alliance that is self-serving for the North, which they will never reciprocate for the Southeast and other regions.
Furthermore, Bashir Dalhatu of Arewa argued that the decision to move the CBN and FAAN needed to be fairer and more logical, as it would create an imbalance in the distribution of ministries and agencies across the country. He urged the government to reconsider its decision and respect the Federal Capital Territory as a symbol of national integration. He forgets that President Buhari has been accused of marginalizing other tribes in Nigeria by some of his critics and opponents. Some of the reasons they give for this accusation are:
1. He has appointed more people from his ethnic group, the Fulani, and the northern region to crucial positions in his administration, such as the security chiefs, the heads of the judiciary, the central bank, the state oil company, and the electoral commission. Buhari's policy created a perception of nepotism and favoritism and a lack of representation and inclusion for other ethnic groups and regions, especially the Southeast, where the Igbo people are predominant.
2. Buhari failed to address the root causes of the farmer-herder conflict, which has escalated into a violent and deadly crisis in many parts of the country. The conflict involves clashes between mostly Muslim Fulani herders, who travel far with their cattle in search of pasture, and primarily Christian farmers, who accuse the herders of trespassing, destroying their crops, and attacking their communities. Some critics allege that Buhari has been soft on the herders and his kinsmen and has not done enough to protect the farmers and punish the perpetrators.
3. Buhari was insensitive and dismissive of the grievances and aspirations of some ethnic groups, such as the Igbo, who have been agitating for more autonomy and self-determination, or even secession, from the Nigerian state. Buhari repeatedly rejected any form of restructuring or devolution of power to the regions and has instead deployed the military and the police to quell the protests and arrest the leaders of the separatist movements, such as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
4. Buhari neglected the development and welfare of some regions, especially the Southeast and the south-south, where the oil-rich Niger Delta is located. Despite contributing to the national economy, these regions have suffered decades of underdevelopment, environmental degradation, poverty, and marginalization. Buhari has been accused of failing to fulfill his campaign promises to improve the infrastructure, security, and social services in these regions and failing to implement the various committees and panels' recommendations to address their issues.
There is no evidence that Arewa ever cautioned Buhari about the marginalization of Nigeria's Southeast and south-south regions. On the contrary, some Arewa leaders, such as the Board of Trustees Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Bashir Dalhatu, have defended Buhari's policies and actions and accused the Southeast and south-south of being ungrateful and unpatriotic. “Ungrateful” for demanding their rights? wow!! Therefore, Arewa has not been sympathetic or supportive of the grievances and aspirations of the Southeast and south south and has not challenged Buhari's alleged marginalization of these regions.
Judging by Arewa's history of supporting Buhari's discriminatory act against other non-Northern states of Nigeria and his Northern agenda, it is difficult not to point out Bashir Dalhatu of Arewa's hypocritical and self-serving argument when analyzing his interview with Arise News about Tinubu's administration's intended move to move some critical CBN and FAAN departments to Lagos. However, most Nigerians will agree with him that the move is not for the interest of the nation.
One suggestion to strengthen the country would be to engage in more dialogue, consultation, and compromise among the various stakeholders and groups. The conversation would help address the challenges facing different regions and ensure that any restructuring or policy changes are done in the interest of national unity and development. Additionally, there could be a focus on investing in agriculture, irrigation, and livestock development in the North and environmental protection and remediation in the Southeast. Devolution of powers and respect for cultural and linguistic diversity in the Southwest could also be significant, as well as increased security and peacebuilding efforts in the middle belt. The country can become stronger and more unified by addressing these issues and working together towards a common goal.
In conclusion, the interview with Bashir Dalhatu of Arewa highlights the need for fair and logical decision-making in Nigeria's governance. While there are concerns about the proposed relocation of CBN and FAAN departments to Lagos, there is also a need to address the challenges facing different regions of the country. For Nigeria to become stronger and more unified, there must be more dialogue, consultation, and compromise among the various stakeholders and groups in the country. The Arewa Consultative Forum's visibly demonstrating commitment to Nigeria's unity, stability, and progress will be commendable. It will prove to the other sections of Nigeria that they are genuinely for one Nigeria and not strictly Northern agenda. Different regions and groups must work together towards a common goal. The country can ensure that any restructuring or policy changes are done in the interest of national unity and development.
You can watch the video of his interview on Arise News here.
Sources:
Arise TV live on YouTube; Guardian.ng; New Telegraph; Nigerian Bulletin.
ความคิดเห็น