Who is marginalising us in Nigeria?

I find it very funny when people say the Hausas have marginalized the entire ethnic groups in Nigeria. Marginalization in Nigeria cannot be traced and blamed upon a particular tribe in Nigeria’s society. Blamed should be shared to all tribes that made up Nigeria because the so called marginalization is a collective thing in our […]

I find it very funny when people say the Hausas have marginalized the entire ethnic groups in Nigeria. Marginalization in Nigeria cannot be traced and blamed upon a particular tribe in Nigeria’s society. Blamed should be shared to all tribes that made up Nigeria because the so called marginalization is a collective thing in our case (Nigerians). 

Each ethnic group in Nigeria has its representatives in government, ranging from the local to the federal level of governance. What have these representatives done to the people they are representing? They are enriching themselves with the funds meant for the development of their areas and their people. 

For example: The three senators from Benue State are they Hausas? The senators from Imo State are they Hausas? The senators from Cross River State are they Hausas? The answer is no. Another example: Is Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State a Hausa man? Is Governor Bello of Kogi State a Hausa Man? Is Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State a Hausa man? The answer is still no. What do the above mentioned leaders and others not mentioned have done to better the lives of their people? 

Nevertheless, during marginalization period in South Africa, the whites took over everything good belonging to the blacks, which would have bettered the lives of the blacks in the country. Only the blacks were suffering in South Africa but the whites that marginalized them were enjoying. Somebody should correct me if I am wrong. The Hausas that marginalized Nigeria as claimed by many, are they not suffering? It is an obvious fact that poverty is more prevalent in places occupied by the same people that have been accused of marginalizing others and in the real sense of marginalization, that shouldn’t be so.  

The simple truth is that our leaders, who are the same time the rich people in the country, have marginalized the rest of us that are not in the positions of leadership, power and authority. They have marginalized the poor in the country by taking everything that belong to all of us to enrich themselves, thereby making us poor and creating a poverty society for us to live in. 

Now, it is time to ask these questions: The Hausas, are they the only rich people in Nigeria? Are they the only people in leadership positions? Are they the only ones in positions of power and authority? They are not the only people. Yoruba people are part of the rich ones and they have marginalized their people that are poor, the Igbo people are part of the rich ones and they have marginalized their people that are poor, the Tiv people are part of the rich ones and they have marginalized their own Tiv brothers and sisters that are poor, the Igala people are part of the rich ones and they have marginalized their own people that are poor, Niger Delta people have been as well marginalized by their own people that are in positions of power and authority, enriching themselves with the crude oil and ignoring the rest within the same region.  The same thing is applicable to all the tribes in Nigeria. 

Stop blaming Hausas for the failure of those representing you in all the levels of government. The same Hausas have been marginalized by their people that are in leadership positions, they have been marginalized by their own brothers and sisters in positions of power and authority, and they are marginalized by the rich ones among them. We are all suffering from the same thing and it is wrong to blame a particular tribe for our problems. We need a collective effort to fight those in leadership positions, those in positions of power and authority who are at the same time, the rich ones. The time to take what they have stolen from us is now. They are using us as manure to grow with their families. Enough is enough. 

Pius Terwase, Abuja.