By Adefolarin A. Olamilekan
The last couple of weeks has witnessed the wide Nigerian state clapped down, neutrized, and arrest and re-arrest condemned enemies of the state. From, successful
neutralization of ISWAP and boko haram in the north-east to decimation of bandit and kidnappers in both north-west and north –central. To the re-arrest and re-arraigning of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, even has his foot soldiers Eastern Security Network (ESN) suffers huge mugging from the Nigerian State security agencies. In the same vein, is the recent invasion of self acclaimed Yoruba activist Sunday Igboho residence in Saki area of Ibadan Oyo state, were catchment of arms, charms, foreign passport, foreign currency and suspected members of his Oduduwa Republic Movement arrested. Undeniably, the Nigerian state signaled a renewed determination to clap downed on those seeking the breakup of country. Nonetheless, there have been perceived public condemination, from people having sympathy and soft-spot for Igboho and MNK and there form of itinerary.
Instructively, the central intention of this polemic is that disunity is nurtured in Nigeria and this has unfalteringly robbed off what could been authentically and straightforwardly a tolerable freedom frontier movement for peaceful dissolution of the Nigeria entity if all citizens buy into this course. And one thing we must not deny a future generation is the right to know that current separatist regional mobilization for secession and self – determination has not been well managed. The reasons been that secession and self –determination is “Misunderstood” by both leaders of the movement and failure on the part of supporters and collaborators to interrogate such movement beyond their tribal and ethnics sentiment.
As a matter of facts the objective of my weekly opinion articles on topical national issues, as always is to help chart the way forward. And this way forward as always entailed a radical resolution from an unorthodox thinking (Heterodox) and this precise Marxism Specifically, an opinion piece is good if it takes a clear position on a subject of public interest and clearly states and defends that position in its merits. In the direction of this, the contradiction that exists in secession and self-determination as currently displayed would be distinct. My scheme come within the reach to explore this topic would be thematic rather than sequential. For avoidance of doubt, my title for this polemic means exactly what is says, seccession and self-determination has been Misunderstood.
Secession according to Cambridge English Dictionary is the act of becoming independent and no longer part of a country, area, organization, etc. On the other hand self –determination is the right of a nation or people to determine its own form of government without influence from outside says Collins dictionary. Thus, the definition of both secession and self-determination are very clear-cut for comprehend, though the approach to bring it culmination matters a lot. Nevertheless, there must be a clear distinction between seccession, self-determination movement and criminality, unlawful and hatred against fellow human being.
Importantly, the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria as amended does not recognize the rights of any of the federating units to form its own independent government or secede from the country. Even though, the Nigerian state subscribed to the 1948 United Nation Declaration Character for self-determination.
Significantly, section (1) (1) in the first schedule of the constitution, assert, that the Nigerian constitution 1999 as amended is supreme in the extent that it shall have binding force on all authorities and persons throughout the federal republic of Nigeria. Explicitly, sub (2) of the constitution further provides that the federal republic of Nigeria shall not be governed or allow any persons to take control of the government except in accordance with the constitution.
Consequently, section 2(1) of the constitution also provides that the country shall be one indivisible and indissoluble.
Thus, the stipulation of constitution of the Nigerian state does not agreed to seceding and self-determination by separatist MNK and Sunday Igboho along sides there collaborators and supporters. For that reason, the attempt for seceding and self-determination is resisted, not just as the Nigerian state dare; both globally every capitalist democratic state has always fight back dangerously .Conversely, the Nigerian state administration show the existence in government of ailment that is without delay in need of restore to health.
Unfortunately, the Nigerian state is stuck in political and economic quagmire since independence from the British in 1960s.Cries of marginalization have persisted along hegemonic politicking.Contemporary,political economy climate is perceived to be skewed in favor of certain region of the country as claimed by champion of secession and self-determination separatist. Regrettably, the current government has been accused of flippancy against killer herdsmen and alleged Fulani militia terrorizing the southern part of the country.
Neverthelsss, the system remained a drain on national resources and constraints to national development. The damaging effect from the system even though the secessionist and self determinist were unable to tell us is the system synonymous with corruption, misappropriation of state resources at the same time as development take backwaters of priorities.
Besides, there are no prospects for a misunderstood secession and self-determination path. The insight from such is divisive tendencies. The hypocrisy of secessionist is obvious, that why radical minds must be guarded not to be sweep away by the ethnic tribal coloration of nationalist prone from secessionist and self-determinist’. So if the secessionist and self determinist succeed what form government or political status would they bestow on their people, that would be different from what is currently obtain and offer by the Nigeria state?
As Karl Marx, say, the “state is never neutral but always directly or indirectly the state of the economically dominant class and its primary function is the preservation of the existing social and economic order”.
