Implications of Southern Nigerian Governors ‘Stepping into the Battlefield’.

By Lucky Okoedion

1) The Governors May Now Be Spared From Becoming Irrelevant, and from The Wrath Of The People.

This move by the Southern Nigerian Governors is better late than never. But it does not exonorate their failure to speak and fight for the Interest of the people in the past before new, unconventional and secessionist leaders like Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho arose. The rise of these “freedom fighters” to fill the leadership vacuum created by the failure of the Southern Governors to shun party politics and personal political ambition to pursue the collective interest of the people who voted them into power has already ensured that the governors were gradually becoming irrelevant to the people. The office of Governor in Southern Nigeria has already been added to the unwritten and informal list of enemies of the progress of the people, second only to the evil 1999 constitution and the federal government.

The plunder of the palace of the Oba of Lagos by angry youths in the aftermath of the #EndSars protests and the scandal of covid-19 relief items being allegedly stolen by traditional rulers and politicians, the recent fearless attack on the country home of the Governor of Imo State by unknown arsonists and threats to the very safety of the governor himself, etc was already the natural destiny of other Southern Nigerian Governors. This is not by any plan or scheme, but according to human nature – when a people are pushed to the wall and their lives and the future of their children and grandchildren are threatened as it is today in Nigeria, and the option of protests to have their voices heard is ruled out by the federal government which brutalizes peaceful protesters, it is natural for the people to find other means to express their frustration and to defend themselves against a nation that has failed to protect the people, a nation that has turned itself into an enemy of its own people, thereby going to war with its citizens .

Perhaps now, by choosing to stand by their people, the Southern Nigerian Governors could be spared the calamity that may befall Nigeria if the voice of the people is continuously ignored and politicians go ahead with politics like business as usual. This new generation of Nigerians want either restructuring back to regional government or the right to secede from Nigeria to form their own country where they will not be raped, maimed or slaughtered by the president’s tribe men or brutalized for simply organizing a peaceful protest to have their voices heard. Where their people can develop their communities at their own pace and not be subjected to the stagnation, poverty and insecurity that has become of Nigeria. And there is nothing that will stand in their way. Not even threat to their lives. Not more arrests. Nothing !

The Southern Nigerian people are already on an irreversible course of action, with or without the support of the governors. Taking side with the people MAY now only ensure that the Southern Nigerian Governors are spared from the rising wrath of the oppressed and abused people of Southern Nigeria.

2) The Governors can defend the Southern Nigerian protesters and secessionist agitators, protecting them from being killed by the Nigerian army that love to show their might against defenceless civilians instead of fighting Boko Haram and Bandits.

This is what the Governors can bring to the table. They can legalize the struggle of the people by stepping in to attempt to lead the agitation. The failure of these governors has already led to the unfair proscription of IPOB as a terrorist group whereas killer Fulani herdsmen roam free with AK 47 assault rifles, killing, raping and maiming defenceless citizens. Being official agents of the Nigerian state, when these governors are at the Frontline of the struggle, it will not be easy for the Nigerian army to continue to use for target practice innocent Southern Nigerian youths who are advocating for their rights and for social justice. In this way, the governors may be able to redeem themselves and get back into the good books of the people.

The Governors cannot afford to be missing in action because WHEN the people succeed at the cost of lives in this struggle against oppression and abuse without the support of the governors, it is over for them (the governors). This is the inevitable role they must play for their own good.

3) The Most Foolish Rivalry in the World that existed in Southern Nigeria May Have ended.

The crabs in a bucket strategy has always been used against the South. It states that when you put crabs in a bucket, you don’t need to do anything to keep them inside. They will do the job for you. Whenever one is about climbing out, the others will pull it back in. This is what the unnecessary rivalry between the Ibo and Yoruba in Southern Nigeria has caused all these years. If the South has been united ever since, there wouldn’t have been a civil war in the past and Nigeria wouldn’t be where it is today. Thank God they are together now. It is better late than never. Given how educated and sophisticated the South is, it is not supposed to be possible for those with the “born to rule” mentality to be so successful in their evil agenda so far.

Lucky Okoedion is a believer of a new Nigeria where true democracy is practiced. He writes from Benin City, Nigeria. He can be reached on +2347038820118.