We need an Inter-Marriage Support Bill to combat this growing menace of ethnic mistrust

By Ayo Akinfe

[1] Once headache that has always plagued Nigeria since independence is the problem of ethnic mistrust. It is like a cancer that simply refuses to go away. After the Nigerian Civil war, between 1970 and say 1993, we had relative ethnic peace but alas, ever since then, this menace has come back to haunt is big time. Ethnic mistrust will always act as a reign on economic growth as apart from breeding insecurity, it stifles attempts to eradicate illiteracy

[2] Why the problem is so pronounced in Nigeria is not hard to see. Nigeria is essentially seven average African nations combined into one. If you look at it, the Oyo Empire, Benin Empire, Igbo City State, Middle Belt City States, Kanem-Borno Empire. Niger Delta City State and Sokoto Caliphate could easily stand alone as individual nations. However, Frederick Lugard had this vision of building this African giant south of the Sahara and combined them into one. I think history will judge him ultimately as one of the greatest men of our time. Unfortunately, his dream was hijacked by those with selfish desires

[3] Now, if you look at say Ghana, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Zambia, Botwana, Gabon, Ethiopia etc, they are not homogenous but do not have any of the complexities of Nigeria. Ghana for instance is about as complex as say the Niger Delta City states, while Ethiopia is about as complex as the Sokoto Caliphate. Nigeria wanted to become independent in 1951 but alas, we could not agree on a way forward until 1960. Within that period, Ghana who latched on to our idea managed to become independent in 1957. In all we do, the ethnic complexities of Nigeria need to be factored in

[4] We got where we are thanks to the divisive politics of the British colonialists. In the run-up to independence, they fuelled the ethnic divisions to prevent the components parts of Nigeria coming together and speaking with one voice. This same principle was adopted in India in an even more brutal fashion, where Sikh minority administrators were appointed to govern majority Hindu areas. However, the Indians have seen through the scam and today are eschewing ethnicity. Unfortunately, Nigerians are still hoodwinked by ethnicity, believing it actually offers them a brighter future. It is a big myth that any ethnic group will be better off as a small kingdom

[5] Today, ethnic and religious mistrust has grown to such an extent that it is scary. Nobody outside the northwest and northeast trusts President Buhari anymore and he too appears not to give a damn about what people think. He is totally insensitive to the ethnic make-up of Nigeria and could care less if 90% of his appointees are from two geo-political zones. If this continues, it is only a matter of time before the keg of gunpowder explodes

[6] When you add the killings by armed Fulani thugs and the kidnapping we are witnessing across the country to the mix, it is easy to predict that there will soon be ethnic pogroms across Nigeria as we witnessed in 1966. Once a group of Fulani kidnappers are lynched in Ilesha, there will be retaliatory lynchings in Kano and before you know it the whole country will be on fire. How President Buhari does not see that clamping down on these bandits, kidnappers and herdsmen is the lesser of the two evils is beyond me. His body language has emboldened them and some will even openly brag that they can do what they want because they are Fulani like the president. Never before in the history of our country have we had a government so insensitive to our ethnic complexities. Highly irresponsible and classless behaviour on the p[art of the government

[7] Now, we simply have to find a solution to this problem and return to the relative peace of the past. During the Shagari era for instance, nobody in Nigeria felt marginalised. Back then, even corruption was multi-ethnic and equal opportunity. Oil revenue was shared evenly between Alex Ekwueme, Umaru Dikko, Adisa Akinloye and Joseph Wayas. Nobody stole money without settling his pals from other parts of the country

[8] Prof Obaro Ikime used to tell us back in UI that the solution to Nigeria's myriad of ethnic problems was inter-marriages. Now, this may not be the sole solution but it could help immensely. I think the government needs to at least push this as hard as it can to chip away at the growing craze of ethnic mistrust. One suggestion is for the National Assembly to pass an Inter-Marriage Support Bill 2019 that will offer anyone who marries across the ethnic divide, reduced rate mortgages, low interest business start--up bank loans and preference when it comes to employment and appointments

[9] As part of this programme, special Wazobia housing estates should be built to accommodate those who marry across the ethnic divide. Anyone who breaches the Wazobia principle, however, should be evicted immediately 

[10] President Buhari appears to nurse the same fears of southern domination that Ahmadu Bello had. Or let me rephase that, he has worse fears because Ahmadu Bello's policy was that everything, be it contracts, appointments or scholarships, etc had to be split in two, half to the north and half to the south. Thankfully, Tafawa Balewa was a moderating influence on Ahmadu Bello, which for instance is why Major General Aguiyi Ironsi became the GOC of the Nigerian Army and not Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari. Today, it appears President Buhari is surrounded by fear and doom mongers who are terrified of southerners. Let us see if Ahmad Lawan can penetrate this cabal and get this inter-ethnic bill passed. We need to start the process of trust building today!