Despite their professed nationalism, many of our elites are, at their core, concealed tribalists and ethnic jingoists. Squeeze them a little, and their true colors emerge.
Their rhetoric reveals that over a century after the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914, tribal affiliations still hold considerable sway. We proudly align with groups like Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Middle-Belt Leaders Forum, Ijaw National Congress (INC), etc.
Deep down, there’s lingering anxiety about the long-term sustainability of the Nigerian project. While feigning commitment to nationhood, we find ourselves embroiled in mini tribal wars, led by unelected warlords.
A recent controversy erupted over the relocation of certain departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos. The reaction would make you believe that secession was imminent.
In reality, these moves affect just a fraction of the numerous federal agencies. So, why the fuss over matters of administrative convenience in a couple of organizations? Politics, sheer political mischief!
On January 12, the CBN announced plans to decongest its Abuja head office, citing overcrowding challenges. This prompted a heated debate, with conspiracy theories abound. Former Deputy Governor of the bank, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, clarified that the CBN’s Lagos office, inaugurated 12 years ago, had been underutilized, and the relocation aimed to address Abuja’s overstaffing issues.
The controversy heightened when FAAN announced its headquarters’ move back to Lagos. The opposition to the relocation ignores the wasteful use of public resources since the 2020 move. This lack of concern for financial prudence contradicts the professed love for the country.
What’s particularly provocative is how this controversy is spun as an attack on a specific region. ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba, claims it’s part of a plot to under-develop the North. This narrative raises questions about how the movements affect the North and whether Abuja is the capital of Nigeria or a specific region.
This sense of ownership may stem from the fact that, for over 40 years, only Northerners have been Ministers of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). If people want to make a political issue out of something as simple as the movement of agency departments, they invite awkward questions.
Does the country’s provision require all federal agencies to be located in Abuja regardless of operational peculiarities? Why are the majority of the nation’s defence establishments located in the North without causing controversy?
The ACF’s position has received backing from the Northern Senators Forum (NSF), rejecting the relocations and claiming the 2024 budget is unfavorable to their region. However, their sudden realization seems disingenuous, given their participation in approving the budget.
In trying to inflame passions or bully the rest of the country, the ACF, NSF, and their co-travelers risk starting something they cannot finish. Their parochial agitation is a distraction the country doesn’t need at this time. Instead of mischief, they could focus on bettering the lives of their people.
