”Because of tribalistic suspicions and unnecessary rivalry, the country bled profusely. After the failure of the Aburi Accord, the Eastern Consultative Assembly convened on May 17 1967 and empowered Ojukwu to secede from the rest of the country…For the first time since the artificial concoction of Nigeria grim and grave realities starred Nigerians in the face unblinkingly.” Quoted in Nowata’s book, WHERE WE ARE (page 33)
Pebbles with Igbotako Nowinta
On January 14th 2015, at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Abuja, a one day sensitization workshop on Non Violence in the forth-coming general elections in Nigeria, ended with invited presidential candidates of the various political parties (running on February 14th 2015) putting pen to paper, in what we now know as the Abuja Accord.
Coming exactly one month before the all-important elections in Nigeria, the Abuja Accord is significant in many ways.
The 2015 non-violent pact reminds me of the Aburi Accord of 1967.
Permit me to first say something about the Aburi Accord. Aburi Accord is not a pleasant name or historic development in the nation’s checkered history.
It reminds me of a country that narrowly escaped the noose of death; it brings back sad memories of people’s hope , political aspirations and peace that were hopelessly shattered on the altar of cold tribalistic and ethnic suspicions.
Aburi Accord eventually and mercilessly paved the way for some of the nation’s gory chapters as manifested in the Nigerian civil war (1967-1970).
Another name for Nigeria’s civil war is unimaginable animalism and brutality, wholesale slaughters, in which the blood of innocent brothers and sisters were spilled so mindlessly.
The genesis of Aburi Accord was the January 15th 1966 coup d’état, led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, in which prominent politicians and military officers lost their lives, including Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Nigeria’s first Prime Minister), Alhaji Ahmadu Bello (Premier of the Northern region),Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, etc.
Extreme tribalism came to play in July 1966 when a counter coup was staged by predominantly officers of northern extraction. This coup flushed down General Aguiyi Ironsi (Nigeria’s first military Head of State).
One dire thing led to the other, as General Gowon who emerged as the new Head of State slugged it out with the late Ikemba of Nnewi, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu on the question of official superiority and national question.
The nation indeed bled endlessly until the major actors were dragged to a place called Aburi, in Ghana, where the famous Aburi Accord was signed on peaceful coexistence and national unity.
Unfortunately, the Aburi Accord was never implemented or respected by the then warring Nigerian leaders (Ojukwu and Gowon), which led to the civil war mentioned above.
Because of space constraint, I cannot go further on this. But tragically too, the civil war while it lasted benefited the generals both on the Nigerian and the Biafra sides, while the ordinary people met their unnecessary deaths like flies.
The Generals came out of the war with bulging stomachs and fat bank accounts, while the mass of the people were sentenced into penury and poverty.
Now, we have another Accord. Many will agree that the events that have come to play since the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan as the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in April 2011 are reminiscent of those that were thrown up after the January coup and that of July counter coup of 1966.
Some elements within the PDP and outside have since perfected the politics of extreme tribalism, ethnicism and parochial madness.
The cold politics of North/ South divide has been brought menacingly to placate the genuine issues of national cohesion, prosperity and development which democracy is supposed to be all about.
What a sad scenario! Can somebody tell me if the poorest of the poor in the northern axis benefitted anything from the political cabal that has dominated politics there? The answer is simply no!
Only if the ordinary folks of Nigeria can see between the lines and refuse to be used as cannon folders for violence will the recently signed Abuja Accord have any real meaning to me personally.
Yes! General Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr. Jonathan of the PDP and other presidential candidates have on paper willingly committed themselves to non-violence on or before and after February 14th 2015 elections.
How far can they operate practically on the ground without their supporters resorting to violence, such that we have seen in Jos and Port Harcourt recently, given the fact that most politicians in our clime thrive on thuggery and all manner of violence to have their ways?
This is a million dollar question. This is the tragic reality: most politicians are not popular because of their chronic insincerity with power and governance (when they are in office); and they want to win election by hook and crook.
Plus the electoral system still dotted with loopholes, which politicians can still manipulate. Where do we go from here?
The Abuja Accord will work if only Nigerians are able to adequately sensitize themselves to the riotous point of prevailing on the ordinary citizens not to allow their children/youths/wards to be used by unscrupulous politicians.
Definitely, if there are no foot soldiers to be used by desperate politicians violence of any form will be non-existent on or before and after February 2015 election.
We have been pulled back to 1966/67, Boko Haram is tearing the soul of the nation to ribbons in the North East; there is palpable tension in many quarters as to who will win the election on Valentine Day, but in all of these, who is winning and losing?
The answer is stark: the nation and the millions of incredibly impoverished citizens of Nigeria are the nasty losers, while a very tiny, selfish, wicked and useless set of politicians who are united in their lunatic desperation are winning. What a pity!
As we make sure that the Abuja Accord impacts meaningfully in the polity, Nigerians must ensure that an infinitely focused guy that will know no sentiment, tribe or religion, and who will be tenacious about pulling us from the bottomless pit of corruption, misgovernance, apathy and unwarranted violence makes it to Aso Rock Presidential Palace on February 14th 2015.
Nowinta wrote Where We Are: A Call For Democratic Revolution in Nigeria.
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