|
The burning desire of the Ijebu people to have a state
created for their social, economic and political advancement, within the
federal system of Nigeria, is as old as the conclusion of Nigeria's civil war
of 1967 to 1970. A systemic national policy introduced by the federal
government of Yakubu Gowon to weaken the military and regional support given
the secessionist, Odumegwu Ojukwu, in his desperate effort to lead the
old Eastern Nigeria out of the Nigerian federation, as a separate sovereign
state, had led to the sub-division of Nigeria into twelve states, from the
original three, to which the Mid-west was added in 1964. The Murtala/Obasanjo
military government increased the number of states from twelve to nineteen in
1976. By the inception of the Second Republic in 1979, the mood for more states
in Nigeria, in order to bring government nearer to the people, had grown by
leaps and bounds, permeating through the entire Ijebu population within Ogun
state and beyond. When the Abacha dictatorship increased the number of
Nigerian states from thirty to thirty-six, after taking office in late 1993,
the official position occupied by Lt-Gen. Oladipupo Diya stimulated and
encouraged the Ijebu people, from the Awujale of Ijebu-land to all other
traditional monarchs to put more pressure on the Abacha government in order to
have a new state created for them, as demanded by the Ijebu people.
Unfortunately, General Diya's high ranking position, influence and trusted
efforts, in the Abacha government, on behalf of his people yielded no
result. A new state which had been believed would be created by the
Abacha military regime for the Ijebu people in 1994/1995 did not
materialize. The Ijebus were bitterly disappointed because General Diya
could not have been a bigger or a better representative of the interest of the
Ijebus; his people, in the scheme of public obligations on the Abacha
government in Abuja. The true story of the situation that led to this
bitter disappointment for the Ijebu people, within the Abacha government, may
never be known to the public except by speculation.
Shortly after, General Diya was accused and charged with
treason. The political scenario of the period suggested clearly, that the
Nigerian military establishment, had lost its professional focus and
obligation, to preserve and defend the physical and spiritual integrity of
Nigeria. Politicking for power and illegal acquisition of public money
had gradually pervaded the Nigerian armed forces since the execution of the
first military coup of January of 1966, after which absolute but systemic
indiscipline in the barracks took over.
The Ijebu people of South-West, Nigeria
Contemporary Ogun state consists mainly three big sub-ethnic
Yoruba groups; namely the Egba, Ijebu and the Egbado. Others include the
Aworis and the Eguns who are located along the Nigerian International border
with the Republic of Benin. We all belong to the Yoruba ethnic group of
Nigeria's South-west stock regardless of dialect differentials. The
Ijebus occupy a lager physical portion of Ogun state than any other sub-ethnic
Yoruba group. From a common state border with Ondo, the Ijebus of
Waterside region, occupy Abigi and Oni. Others from Itele, Ijebu-Ife,
Ijebu-Imushin to Ijebu-Ode are Ijebu descendants of varying patterns of
historical migration from Wadai through Ile-Ife. The Ijebus of
contemporary Ogun state share a common border with Lagos state at Omu; a town
that lies at the southern end of Ijebu-Ode on the eastern border of Lagos
state. The Ijebus form a sizeable portion of the population of Lagos city
and Lagos State in general. Aside from those who migrated to Lagos
Island, Ebute-Metta and Yaba for commercial and economic purposes, the natives
of Ikorodu and Epe are all Ijebu people. A portion of Epe population migrated
from Lagos Island, otherwise called Eko when the traditional King of Lagos,
King Kosoko, was driven into exile by the colonial authority in the nineteenth
century, precisely in 1850. The people of Lagos who considered themselves as
his loyalists followed him to Epe where they settled and became known as Epe
natives who originated from Lagos. All their descendants have since that time
become natives of Epe but continued to distinct themselves as having originated
from Lagos in verbal discussion or conversation when necessary. By May
1892 when the Imagbon War broke out between the British foreign invaders and
Ijebu Kingdom, the Epe people of Lagos origin were suspected as 'internal
enemies' who were capable of leaking security information to the colonial
authorities in Lagos in exchange for some favours.
At this period, the Ijebu people had developed into an
independent sovereign state, side by side with other pre-colonial Yoruba
states. The defeat of sovereign Ijebu kingdom at Imagbon was the
beginning of the decline of Ijebu people who became wholly and completely
annexed with the Southern protectorate of Nigeria before the terminal
amalgamation of 1914. Relatively proud, enlightened, smart, and confident
of their ability and environment, the Ijebus had established themselves as
mainly traders and middlemen between those who approached Lagos Island from the
seas into the hinterland and those other African peoples and national societies
that were land locked but wanted to reach the coastal area of Lagos. The
bold resistance of Ijebu warriors of the British colonial army, in their
determined effort to enter and penetrate Ijebu kingdom in 1892, led to the
decimation and excision of the kingdom, after the war, in order to conquer it
permanently. Ikorodu town near Lagos, Ejinrin and Epe which were all
parts of Ijebu kingdom were added to Lagos colony to constitute Lagos state.
Today, Lagos state is over-crowded and the demographic pattern of people living
on the Island of Lagos, Ebute-Metta, Yaba, Mushin, Surulere and in their recent
physical extensions is different from those of others resident in Ikorodu, Epe
and all townships which the Ijebus populate. Therefore, it would be reasonable
to suggest that the excised portion of Ijebu-land which was added to Lagos
after Imagbon war of 1892 be returned to the old Ijebu kingdom for the purpose
of creating a more viable Ijebu state. A good number of Nigerians today
are ignorant of the cultural identity of the people of Ikorodu. People from
other parts of the country see them as sub-urban Lagosians or Lagos Yorubas.
They are technically correct. But no, the natives of Ikorodu, Epe, Mojoda,
Ibonwon, Igboye and others along Epe route have naturally unalloyed and unambiguous
identity as Ijebus of Lagos state today. It would be in natural order if they
could be returned to join the rest of their people and become part of the dream
Ijebu state. All the traditional Agemo priests that arrived Ijebu when Obanta
came centuries ago, still pay their traditional homage and ritual observance to
the Awujale till today. The Ayangburen is traditionally one of the sons
of the Awujale. The natives of Ikorodu are naturally attracted to Lagos
city owing to its status as a cosmopolis of the Europeans who arrived
West Africa with all the economic benefits and opportunities they had to
offer. Lagos city was the first urban centre to which Nigerians of all
'hew and cry' tried to settle down and live in pursuit of new economic opportunities
and exploit its colonial empowerment for better life. The proximity
of Ikorodu town to Lagos Island by boat provided a natural access and advantage
to the ijebus who approached Lagos for economic benefits and other social
advancement. The gun-powder business monopoly by the Ijebus was a unique
example.
What Kind of State Will It Be?
Will the new Ijebu state, when created, follow the rot that
had become the established order of how states are run in our shamelessly
corrupt political environment? After a thoughtful rumination mixed with some
enthusiasm, generated by the hope for a new state for Ijebus of Nigeria, it
occurs to my positive impulses that our new state will make history in terms of
its political, economic and social agendas. It will be a new state with new and
better ideas of governance, breaking new grounds of achievement that will make
all other states wonder with admiration and awe. A new state created for the
Ijebus would be unique considering the qualities and attributes of Ijebu people
in general. The Ijebu 'province' of Ogun state is the home of one of Nigeria's
founding fathers, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who was a great democrat, a great
planner, a visionary and the first agitator for state creation. Nigeria's
federal system has proved his (Awo's) realist approach vision to bringing
government nearer to the people, who urgently deserve its services, as the
appropriate policy to follow for national development. Secondly, Chief
Awolowo vehemently advocated federalism to allay the fears of minorities of the
majorities in governance, where smaller representation can be overwhelmed by
the bigger voice of the larger ethnic groups such as the Hausa-Fulani in the
old North, the Yorubas in the old West and the Igbo in the old Eastern region.
The Mid-west was the first state to be carved out of the old western Nigeria
and Chief Awolowo worked assiduously for it. A new Ijebu state has the
potential to become the flag-ship of Nigeria's economic and political
advancement because Ijebus are hard workers, whose classic economic ability
pre-date the advent of capitalism, at least, in West Africa. A state created
for the economic progress of Ijebu people will not identify with the high level
of public corrupt practices which has become endemic in Nigeria's political
culture. Ijebu state, as a new unit within the federal system will work
tirelessly to provide jobs for its unemployed, especially its tertiary
institution graduates, provide pipe-borne water, supply adequate electricity,
build good and well maintained network of roads and develop a modernized and
well ordered society where peace and prosperity will flourish. Education
will be objectively cultured to serve the multi-purposes of the state and
Nigeria at large. Pensioners who have served the nation meritoriously
will longer have to suffer psychological and other physical discomforts to earn
their legal dues, pensions and entitlements. Pensioners of all
categories, especially teachers who deserve absolute respect would longer
encounter any difficulties whatsoever when claiming their post- employment
rights from the government. I foresee competence, efficiency,
honesty and trustworthiness as some of the qualities and attributes of the
government of Ijebu people when created. It will acquire and demonstrate
a responsible tendency to produce a government of its own people, by its own
people and for its own people and not a government of political godfathers and
exploitative party-men.
When the new Ijebu state is created, it will be among the
first set of such state units to increase Nigeria's federal structure from
thirty-six to forty-two in the twenty-first century. (This is a suggestion for
those who would be constitutionally responsible for creating more states) From
a hind-sight, Nigeria's social, political and economic antecedents in terms of
progressive performance in governance are very negative and discouraging.
Government, which in developing nations, remains the first and the last bastion
for the generality of common men to seek economic assistance and sustenance,
security of life and property, political enlightenment and guidance through
education, and build people's hope for the future, fails to perform
creditably in Nigeria. A handful of state governments have barely
succeeded in achieving their set goals since Nigeria became independent in
1960. Having succeeded in laying the essential infrastructure for social and
economic development in the old Western Region of Nigeria before independence
in 1960, no government in the whole federal system has come close in
performance to the great achievements of Chief Obafemi Awolowo's government,
much less, improve on them. Today, the bitter struggle for elective office
among our politicians, who often lack the ability or knowledge to represent and
deliver qualitative service to their people is so tense that flaunting
fraudulent money and engaging in a high measure of animalistic violence have
always become the order of the day. Ever since the military violently took over
government in Nigeria in 1966, all levels of governance from local to the
federal, usually slip over from complacency into senseless arrogance, and from
arrogance into indifference of the law and abandon their obligation to the
people they are supposed to serve, leaving huge opportunities for corruption,
inefficiency, incompetence and non-performance. This scenario has been the
pattern of governance even among those who make much noise and flaunt
calculated propaganda about their false promises and commitments to their
electors from the day of their inauguration, which is usually organized as a
jamboree of festivities to drink and merry.
The open consequences of all the political grandstanding in
Nigeria's history of governance, civilian or military, has been exploitative
opportunism, display of mediocrity in leadership, lack of knowledge about what
is needed for societal and collective advancement, corruption in public office,
i. e. stealing tax payers' money by applying incredible and uncommon
manipulations perfected with the notorious 419 concept, promotion of falsities
and lies to fool and confuse our people, the majority of whom are less
informed, rural and less literate. It is most unfortunate that most people or
individuals who have been entrusted with political power to effect positive and
meaningful changes in the lives of our innocent and trustful populace and
also in our dirty and unkempt physical environments in townships and cities,
have discreetly abused the rare privileges offered them to rule. Everywhere one
goes in our country, every newspaper one reads, one smells an unimaginable high
measure of corruption and criminal dealings in public offices. Enormous
cans of worms are covered and when they are incidentally or accidentally
opened, the stench of corruption of those who rule us keep our imagination
wondering whether we have reached the end of the world, when all hope is lost,
fading away before our own eyes. The anticipated Ijebu state, hopefully
when created, will once again raise our common sensual obligations to one
another and re-build our confidence in a positive and progressive future. Our
new state cannot afford to join the league of corrupt entities known as states
of the Nigeria federal system. Ijebu state of the twenty-first century would be
a state of optimum performance in terms of social development, creation and
preservation of economic opportunities for its citizens and others, development
of its political institutions by complying with our constitution, commitment to
a high degree of transparency in governance, observance of the'rule of law',
promotion of justice, security of life and properties, adequate respect and
honour for its traditional institutions and those who occupy such offices,
promote education and seek to create matching employment opportunities for
those in need, and provide adequate medical personnel and facilities for the
poverty of health that evidently exists in Ijebu part of Ogun state.
Many among the old and current political hands of Ijebu in
Ogun state may have started nursing their usually inordinate and criminal
ambition to seek some of the attendant political offices that would come with
the creation of a new state for the Ijebu people. Under normal circumstances,
people can be ambitious. It is a natural right to do so but political events in
Nigeria for some time past has indicated that most people who seek to rule us
are fraudulent in intent, they are demagogues and charlatans who lack
leadership qualities and cannot perform creditably in public office. Most of
them are in government to enrich themselves and build a fortune from the public
treasury. Ijebu state needs to do far better than that. Ijebu state has the
opportunity to display leadership for quality performance among the poorly run
states of Nigeria and demonstrate some explicit example for good, responsible
and progressive governance devoid of corrupt practices. We do have men and
women who can emulate our political father and mentor, late Chief Obafemi
Awolowo, within the Ijebu population and perform wonderfully well in government
to our common admiration. Our traditional monarchs and Chiefs should be
prepared to give critical attention to the curriculum vitae of those who wish
to serve our newly anticipated state with honesty of purpose as Governor,
Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, Members of the State House
of Assembly and the Local government levels as Chairmen and councilors. They
all need to be well educated and be highly qualified with university or college
degrees. We are all aware that West African School Certificate is the minimum
constitutional academic qualification, yet we also know that Ijebu sons and
daughters belong to the highest cadre of educated class of people in
contemporary Nigeria. Mention the degree or profession, the Ijebus have it. Our
envisaged state should be a shining example of hard-work, honesty and
trustworthy governance, socially, politically and economically driven with
passion for progress, all the time. All other states of the federation
including the clumsy, lazy, reluctant and visionless federal government would
need to watch, wonder and emulate the unprecedented high performance of Ijebu
state.
Late Alhaji Tafawa Balewa's federal government used to
borrow money from the efficient government of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo of the
old Western Region. It was a case of purposeful, efficient and competent
governance. A twenty-first century state created for the Ijebus; the home of
our late sage and political hero can dream to perform likewise, if not better.
The Ijebu state of our dream can emerge as a great state where fraud,
insolence, political hooliganism, money laundering, electoral malpractices and
all evil machinations that diminish positive and progressive government
performance and legitimacy have no place. The good people of Ijebu do not
deserve anything less.
In conclusion, the creation of Ijebu state should illustrate
a political and economic combination of unique and hard working human frontiers
which, with all intents and purposes, is capable of uplifting the uncommon
relevance of dynamism in the Nigerian federal system. The abiding concern and
responsibility of those directly planning and executing the statutory petition
for the new state is to follow meticulously the details of constitutional
requirement as specified in our basic law in order to succeed. All Ijebu
members of Ogun State House of Assembly should endeavour to play their
constitutional roles in the interest of the collective demand and agitation of
Ijebu people for a new state.
Much appreciation should attend the collective of Ijebu
monarchs for the imperative and compulsive leadership role demonstrated in
their unanimous and popular demand for a new state for the Ijebu people, whose
demography had been decimated over time in the geo-political colonial effort
and structure of 1914 Nigeria of Lord Lugard. The Awujale of Ijebu-land, Oba S.
K. Adetona, the Akarigbo of Ijebu-Remo, Oba Sonariwo and all other
traditional monarchs of Ijebu-land have come together amicably to demand this
dream state for their people. As proponents of this appreciable demand, all
sons and daughters of Ijebu-land within Nigeria and in diaspora and all future
generations owe them much gratitude. The entire people of Ijebu cannot thank
you enough. Kabiyesi, ki Ade pe l'ori, ki bata pe l'ese, ki irukere di abere.
Ase.
Bankole Okuwa Ph. D.
Professor of Political Science.
okuwa1006@cablelynx.com
|
Authors 
Posted by Robot| 22.09.2008 09:17