On April 14, 2007 Nigeria held a pseudo election. As expected, Obasanjo and his criminal gang have rigged it. The PDP purportedly won the majority of gubernatorial contests and state houses. Come this Saturday the PDP presidential candidate would win by a landslide.

 My prediction is that for about a week Nigerians would make empty noises about how unfair the election was. Subsequently, their attention would be turned to getting appointed to positions of prestige in the emerging political dispensation: who gets appointed to what office by the governors and the president etc becomes the work at hand. Finding a way to get their share of the national cake becomes their sole preoccupation. Becoming wealthy by corrupt means becomes their motivation for being alive. The fact that the election was rigged recedes into distant memory.

 These people are so engrossed in seeking money and social positions that their attention span for social injustice is, at most, one week. The powers that be understand Nigerians well enough and in a cynical maneuver will give them a week to complain and thereafter start falling over each other to seek appointments from presumed the illegally elected politicians.

 If you listened to Nigerians you would think that real human beings are talking. Even those who are on this forum telling us that they are interested in fairness in the election’s outcome are probably already making contacts in Nigeria trying to position themselves for political appointments by the new government. These people are contemptible and despicable. Until a new type of Nigerian emerges, one ought to look away from these feckless people.

 This is what ought to happen. The result of this rigged election should not be accepted by Nigerians. There ought to be another election, one conducted, preferably, by an international organization (such as the United Nations; you cannot trust a bunch of corrupt Nigerians to conduct a corruption free election; corruption, as it were, is now in their blood).

 If the government insists on imposing this election’s outcome on the people, strong personalities ought to form militias (guerillas) and start wars with the government. Yes, let there be insurrections.

 It is when folks fight that they eliminate the fear of harm and death that hold them in servitude. Let folks die fighting for justice. That is the stuff of history. If one million or more Nigerians die fighting for justice, that is an acceptable price to pay for liberty.

 If folks are not willing to fight and die for liberty, well, they would continue living in bondage and chaffing about corrupt governments in Nigeria .

 You may ask: are you (me) not a Nigerian, why don’t you go and join the fray? Good question. Hang around and learn. I am not one of the Nigerian slaves whose sole reason for living is to obtain social prestige via been given political office. To me, only liberty matters.

 In the meantime, those Nigerians on the ground in Nigeria ought not to accept this pseudo election. They ought to storm Aso Rock and hang its occupant, upside down, as Italians hung Benito Mussolini. That ought to teach the bastard and other bastards like him the lesson of always been just in their behaviors.

 And when finally a freely and fairly elected group is assembled their first order of business is to restructure Nigeria ’s political framework.

 We have all moaned about the Berlin Conference (1882-84) that set the present boundaries of African countries. We have all made noises about how it was unfair that Europeans logged disparate African tribes into one country and upon departing from Africa made it possible for some tribes to rule others. We have talked long enough. It is now time to restructure the political framework under which Africans operate.

 The solution to the mistake made by Europeans is very simple. Make each large ethnic group in Africa a state (and combine the related small ones into states). There are about 400 large tribes in Africa and, therefore, there ought to be 400 states in Africa . The numerous small tribes can be combined for another 100 states making for 500 states in all of Africa . These states then could form federations.

 In the context of Nigeria there are about seven large tribes and numerous small ones. There must be seven tribe based states in Nigeria and the small ones combined into another five for altogether twelve states (Igbo, Yoruba, Ijaw, Efik, Edo , Urhobo, Hausa and Tivi etc). Each state must control all of its resources and have its people pay individual and corporate taxes to the central government; each state must control its economic development; each state must control its education, health etc. The central government should control the military and run the nation’s foreign affairs. Regarding elected office holders, a national president (five years, two terms limit), a prime minister selected from Parliament, a legislature (unicameral not to exceed 300 members, five years term, six term limit), and an independent judiciary (headed by a supreme court of no more than 13 members). The same structure is replicated at the state, local and town/city levels.

 This is the only way out for Nigeria . Any other thing is putting off the inevitable solution that would bring about lasting peace in Nigeria .

Ozodi Thomas Osuji

April 17, 2007

Robot  Villager

# 1 On April 14, 2007 Nigeria ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 17.04.2007 14:12

ithinkbetter  Villager

# 2 thank you very much, nwanne, ozodi. Posted by ithinkbetter| 17.04.2007 21:17

Auspicious  Villager

# 3 Hi, Mr. Osuji! As the Yoruba would say at the end of the storyteller's folktale, I say: Kaabo! (Welcome!) Auspicious. Posted by Auspicious| 18.04.2007 00:20

Son of the Delta  Villager

# 4 Everything that represents the Nigerian state should be attacked.Especially institutions like the army and police that have decided to side with the wicked Nigerian state.In the countries of eastern Europe were democracy prevailed the army and police allowed the people resist oppression but in Nigeria they are taking sides with the oppressors they should be taken as enemy combatants just as they are now being viewed in Kano all their installations and institutions are legitimate targets. If the government insists on imposing this election’s outcome on the people, strong personalities ought to form militias (guerillas) and start wars with the government. Yes, let there be insurrections. This is exactly what Nigeria needs. Maximum violence against the system is the only solution. Nigeria`s political class understands only one language violence to the maximum. Posted by Son of the Delta| 18.04.2007 03:45

Abraxas  Villager

# 5 =Ozodi Thomas Osuji;169263>In the context of Nigeria there are about seven large tribes and numerous small ones. There must be seven tribe based states in Nigeria and the small ones combined into another five for altogether twelve states (Igbo, Yoruba, Ijaw, Efik, Edo , Urhobo, Hausa and Tivi etc). Each state must control all of its resources and have its people pay individual and corporate taxes to the central government; each state must control its economic development; each state must control its education, health etc. The central government should control the military and run the nation’s foreign affairs. Regarding elected office holders, a national president (five years, two terms limit), a prime minister selected from Parliament, a legislature (unicameral not to exceed 300 members, five years term, six term limit), and an independent judiciary (headed by a supreme court of no more than 13 members). The same structure is replicated at the state, local and town/city levels. This is the only way out for Nigeria . Any other thing is putting off the inevitable solution that would bring about lasting peace in Nigeria Hi, my very good friend, Mazi (Dr.) Ozodi Ozuji! I hear you! Ya mama an' papa born you well-well, (you hear?) No shaking! And although, no prophet is acceptable in his home country, I am confident that Villagers know, and accept that you are the pride of NdiIgbo in this our very beloved village of origin, specifically, and throughout cyberspace in general. I challenge any one to come up with a better road map for damage control in Nigeria, post-Obasanjo, like you have done so brilliantly here. Na you, biko nu, nwannem, Tomosi, nwa Osuji! We go see, 'jare, my small buroda. Muchas gracias. Don Juan-Carlos ABRAXAS (III) Posted by Abraxas| 18.04.2007 03:56

el_pharoah  Villager

# 6 Please Sir, why don't you come down and lead this insurrection, please come and show us the way! Posted by el_pharoah| 18.04.2007 03:56

Abraxas  Villager

# 7 =el_pharoah;169356>Please Sir, why don't you come down and lead this insurrection, please come and show us the way! Hi, el-Pharoah! Precisely, who are you talking to, please: Don Juan-Carlos ABRAXAS (III)? or Auspicious? or Son of the Delta? or Dr. Ozodi T. OSUJI? Please clarify. Muchas gracias. Don Juan-Carlos ABRAXAS (III) Posted by Abraxas| 18.04.2007 04:07

el_pharoah  Villager

# 8 =Abraxas;169359> Hi, el-Pharoah! Precisely, who are you talking to, please: Don Juan-Carlos ABRAXAS (III)? or Auspicious? or Son of the Delta? or Dr. Ozodi T. OSUJI? Please clarify. Muchas gracias. Don Juan-Carlos ABRAXAS (III) It's for Dr. Ozodi T. OSUJI, he writes : This is what ought to happen. The result of this rigged election should not be accepted by Nigerians. There ought to be another election, one conducted, preferably, by an international organization (such as the United Nations; you cannot trust a bunch of corrupt Nigerians to conduct a corruption free election; corruption, as it were, is now in their blood). If the government insists on imposing this election’s outcome on the people, strong personalities ought to form militias (guerillas) and start wars with the government. Yes, let there be insurrections. It is when folks fight that they eliminate the fear of harm and death that hold them in servitude. Let folks die fighting for justice. That is the stuff of history. If one million or more Nigerians die fighting for justice, that is an acceptable price to pay for liberty. If folks are not willing to fight and die for liberty, well, they would continue living in bondage and chaffing about corrupt governments in Nigeria . You may ask: are you (me) not a Nigerian, why don’t you go and join the fray? Good question. Hang around and learn. I am not one of the Nigerian slaves whose sole reason for living is to obtain social prestige via been given political office. To me, only liberty matters. In the meantime, those Nigerians on the ground in Nigeria ought not to accept this pseudo election. They ought to storm Aso Rock and hang its occupant, upside down, as Italians hung Benito Mussolini. That ought to teach the ******* and other *******s like him the lesson of always been just in their behaviors. And when finally a freely and fairly elected group is assembled their first order of business is to restructure Nigeria ’s political framework. etc. etc.. He should show us the way, come down and protest, storm Aso rock, lead militias, show us how to reject the elections, lay down his his life for the liberty he loves so much etc. etc. and not insult the Nigerians living there with the clicks of his keyboard from the comfortable arm chair of his American abode! With all due respect, of cause. Posted by el_pharoah| 18.04.2007 07:13

Remi Oyeyemi  Villager

# 9 The recipe in this piece will NOT work. The main reason is this- ALL OF US ARE SUSPICIOUS OF EACH OTHER'S MOTIVES. If you start an insurrection in Tivland, it would be supressed by using soldiers of other ethnic group. If you start it any where else, the same thing will happen. It is why some people are referring to those militants in Niger Delta in unfair manners, when in fact we all know that they have legitimate complaints. Nobody beloieves in Nigeria enough to want to die for Nigeria. There is distrust and suspicion of others who do not speak the same language with you. he poor man in Onitsha is not different from that in Ibadan or Sokoto or Maiduguri. But when it comes to fighting the system, suspicion will creep in and Onitshaman will wonder whether his Ibadan counterpart has a secret agenda or the Ibadanman will begin to suspect the Sokotoman for the same reason and more. IT IS WHY I INSIST THAT NIGERIAM MUST BREAK UP so that each ethnic group could make their individual choices to have a country of their own OR allign with any other ethnic group of their choice to form a country through negotiation. There is no way out of Nigeria unless we break it up. This is my conclusion and no amount of misguided nationalist posture will change this. How many of those of you making noice in this village can die for Nigeria? How many of you can carry arms to fight to defend the integrity of Nigeria? Even if you are among those benefitting from Nigeria's misfortunes, are you willing to die for Nigeria? If anyone loves Nigeria, we do not have to beg that person to be patriotic to Nigeria. But in this case the so-called nationalists are begging, pleading, cajoling and trying to convince others to be patriotic. There will not be any need for this if Nigeria is natural. It is not. It will die. It is a matter of when and how. No a matter of if. I, Remi Oyeyemi, can not waste my life for Nigeria. But I am willing to do the same for my Yorubaland. Posted by Remi Oyeyemi| 18.04.2007 09:56

Mikky jaga  Villager

# 10 Remi Oyeyemi, Nigeria must break up, fair enough, but how will it happen without an insurrection. If there will be an insurrection, who will lead it? Adaka Boro started one, where is he now? Ralph Uwazuruike launched his MASSOB, where is he today? Asari Dokubo planned his own insurrection, he is being wasted away somewhere in a dungeon in Abuja. Orkar tried his own within the Military, where is he today? All these point to the fact that Nigeria is not ripe for a violent change in the status quo. We however can achieve what you desire (not break up yet) but an equitable and just Nation based on respect for our individual differences, and just fiscal policies, by sitting down together and in frank talks restructure the country. The vermins that are milking this Nation dry know how to whip up tribal sentiments to counter any violent revolt in order to supress it. The only thing that unite them is a threat to their continued domination of Nigeria. Sofry, sofry catch monkey. Posted by Mikky jaga| 18.04.2007 13:28

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