No more politics of region and religion

I’m a Nigerian (was born post-regional states) and throughout my life it’s always been that “scare of Yoruba”. We marry them; we live with them (amongst Muhammad’s three best friends is a Yoruba from Lagos) the largest Hausa population outside the north is in western states, even my Fulani tribe have substantial population there, but […]

I’m a Nigerian (was born post-regional states) and throughout my life it’s always been that “scare of Yoruba”. We marry them; we live with them (amongst Muhammad’s three best friends is a Yoruba from Lagos) the largest Hausa population outside the north is in western states, even my Fulani tribe have substantial population there, but our politicians in the north are suspicious of any alliance with the Yoruba, in spite of our common life and religious beliefs.
I remember the infamous Aminu Kano quote (not sure if it is authentic) that ‘the bane of Nigeria is the Yoruba politicians’!(the narrative was that he was asked why Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, nations that started off at the same time as Nigeria, were ahead, and he replied, ‘do they have Yoruba?)’ Sule Lamido repeated this at his PDP rally, claiming that though the leaders today in the north were from the talakawa stock, he queried why they had ‘betrayed’ the cause of the poor? Any alliance with Yoruba to deliver Nigeria was a farce, he said. Good question though on the talakawa betrayal.
Anyway, if any of the above was the position of northern leaders about Yoruba politicians, then, they are not true disciples of the Sardauna of Sokoto; his last alliance was with Akintola and thereafter followed a chain of events that plunged this country into a quagmire. Hence the ‘change’ mantra that we hear today! The Awoists are on board and Akintolas are onboard the change campaign, something unthinkable in the 1960s, and along with the North may make the much talked about Nigeria project a reality.
The Igbo alliance or Niger Delta alliance isn’t working for projecting the Nigerian state. The Jerry Ganas, Sule Lamidos, Edwin Clarks, Tanko Yakasais ,Muhammadu na Madinas, and the Aruwas, all those obstacles to our moving forward by preaching regional divides should give way so that people like me, can see and experience Nigeria, the country of our birth, not, regions that have died since the creation of states, and which they now want to impose on us.
 Abdullah Muhammad, Esq.<[email protected]>;