Who Is Foolish?: A Rejoinder To Aregbesola Calling The Secessionists In Nigeria, Foolish, By David Adenekan.

"Is it not correct to say the influence of power and money has blurred Ogbeni's vision?.... Adenekan.

"Again, is Ogbeni not been intoxicated with the influence of money and power? Nitoripe koye mi ni o. (I can't get it)".

"Ogbeni Aregbesola, se oro ologbon ni e so yi? Interpreted, this means; "our veteran Comrade, is there any wisdom in the words, secessionists in Nigeria are foolish?

Hmm! “Nje ki se pe epo alakan ti ko si ogbeni lo ju, ko je ki won ri ran dada mo? Is it not correct to say the influence of power and money has blurred Ogbeni's vision? 

Again, is Ogbeni not been intoxicated with the influence of money and power? Nitoripe koye mi ni o. (I can't get it).

Paradoxically, a brief history of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in the struggle for nation building has counter posed his assertion that the current secessionists in Nigeria are foolish. 

Was Aregbesola a foolish man when he joined the pro democracy movement to fight against the military junta during the dark age of Abacha military administration? 

In addition, was Aregbesola at a time not a member of PRONACO, a pro democratic organization that was clamoring for a sovereign national conference to discuss how we want to be governed? 

One of the foremost leaders of PRONACO, Baba Omojola of blessed memory was Aregbesola's mentor. 

Hmmm, history does not lie. 

What has changed between then and now and who is foolish in this instance? 

There is a proverb in Yoruba land that says, "ti eniyan ko ba ti ni owo lowo, iwa o ni wa ni o ma ma wu". This is interpreted as a man who is poor, will only exhibit another man's behavior and you can only see the true behavior of a man when he has money". Sadly, this analogy fits into Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola's current behaviors. 

Moreover, there are fundamental questions that one needs to ask Ogbeni Aregbesola as the country's polity is heated-up with argument for and against secessionists. 

One: Is it only by going to war that our people can achieve a Yoruba nation that they are clamoring for? Did the defunct Soviet Union not disintegrate without a gunshot? 

Did Ireland and Scotland not become a sovereign nation without waging war against the British? 

Did Eritrea and Southern Sudan not become independence through referendum conducted and supervised by United Nations? 

However, one may say in these two instances (Eritrea and Southern Sudan) there were little armed struggle but the end justifies the means. 

Historically, there are many countries in the world that gained their Independence without a gunshot and, in all of these instances, were the people foolish to demand for self-determination? 

Is the right for self-preservation and determination, not enshrined in the United Nations for Human Rights Constitution? 

Were the leaders of the world, foolish when they enacted the law for self-determination and were embedded in United Nations Charter For Human Rights? 

Suffice to say, with all of these historical understandings, who is foolish here?

 

Two: None of the secessionists are clamoring for war. They are only demanding for self-determination and largely, it is been pursued in a peaceful manner. The IPOB in the east or Oodua in the West have not gone beyond his or her territories to fight anybody.

Therefore, why are they foolish in fighting for a legitimate cause within the orbit of the international law? 

Three: Is it not the Fulani Federal Government that is bringing war to the Indigenous People and how do we rule out issue of armed struggle in this instance? Is self-preservation not the first law of nature? 

Will the Indigenous people not protect and defend themselves against the so-called marauders? 

Are they now foolish for refusing to be slaves of the Fulani?

Four:  "Orun ma wo ki se oro enikan". Interpreted, this can mean, the effect of any war in the contraption called Nigeria will not spare the Northern Oligarchy. This is because vast majority of their economic interests are located in the southern part of the country. Who do you think will be foolish to start any war in this instance? 

Yes, the likes of Aliko Dangote and the Sultan of Sokoto have a lot lose. 

Five:  "Mi o de le ku kan ki je oye ile Baba e"! "If you are not ready to die and take rightful possession of your inheritance then you will lose your inheritance and become a slave to the invaders". 

Similarly, if our forefathers did not take a bold step to fight and defeat the Fulani army at Osogbo in 1840, the Yoruba nation would have gone into extinction and the likes of Ogbeni Aregbesola will not have been the Governor of Osun state.

Six: What is wrong with the likes of Aregbesola that are creating unnecessary fear and intimidation in the minds of our people? 

The war in Nigeria today is not going to be like the civil war of 1967. The country is highly polarized and agitation for secession is gaining momentum in four out of 6 regions namely, BIAFRA in the East, Oodua Republic in the West, MOSOP in the Niger Delta and self determination movement in the North Central. 

How do you now think Yoruba people will be a scapegoat in this instance? 

Do you think it is going to be similar to the civil war of 1967 that the others five regions clamped down on the Ibos and killed about five million of them? This is far from it.

What genocide!

Again, this is not 1967. Not at all!

Seven: Many in the North East and North West are now saying the country should divide because they are equally feeling the heavy pains of bad governance.

Who is now foolish?

In summary, may I ask Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; who is actually foolish in all of these scenarios? Will you say it is those political actors from the South as officials of the Fulani administration and slaves to the Fulani oligarchy? Or, the secessionists, who are prepared and ready to take the bull by the horn, and fight for their freedom?

Only time will tell!

 

David Adenekan writes from Chicago, Illinois.