Not Religion Dichotomy

by bnnaj22 in Politics, May 18, 2011

So after all, is that violence the reason for the president to start the plann of allowing The United state base.

We all hear about the Nigerian Election which held in April 2011 which has been described by many observers as the country’s best and most fair presidential election ever, but what a surprise! when the northerners broke up in violence after Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was declared the winner of the race which led his saying and I quote ” Our nation has spoken. At the end of intense and hard-fought campaigns by all the political parties, our people spoke through the ballot. In every city, town, village, ward and voting unit, Nigerians stood in the sun, some in the rain, some walked long distances and all waited patiently to vote. With a heart full of gratitude to Almighty God, I want to thank Nigerians for the great sacrifice and overwhelming national mandate you have just given to me, to preside over the affairs of this nation for the next four years..”
When he declared his intention to run for the office of President under the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, he reflected on his humble background and the long journey that brought him to that moment. But what caught the mind of the northerners is that during that declaration, he said; ” I had no enemies. Let me say it again, I have no enemies to fight. Indeed, I reassure all Nigerians that we would continue to run a government that is committed to fairness, equity and justice for all..” , so what causes
the incidences, violence and loss of lives and property in some parts of the country over the past twenty-four hours before the Independent National Electoral commission(INEC)’s announcement?
Most Non-Nigerians believe the reason behind it is that of Jonathan’s winning of the post and not the Former military leader General Muhammad Buhari, because Muhammad Buhari is a Muslim, moreover, the incident occurred mostly in the north that happens to be mainly for the Muslims. Concerning this, the president wrote on his facebook account that “An Islamic sect group based in the North has claimed responsibility for the Christmas eve bombings that led to the loss of lives in Jos the plateau state capital. This group has been labeled an enemy of the Nigerian state and they and their collaborators will be crushed mercilessly within a short while. While my heart goes out to the victims who lost their lives, Make no mistake about this: We will crush them mercilessly!!! GEJ.”, however, that doesn’t mean that the Muslims are enemy of progress, because majority of Nigerian Islamic scholars are preachers of peace and democracy, not to talk of The Muslim right for change(MURIC) that posted on its site and twitter account that;
“Nigerians should never again allow themselves to be carried away by sugar-coated mouths whose pronouncements do not (and are never meant to) reach their hearts. This is the time for workers to come together and demonstrate the power of the proletariat. Nigerian workers have for long been over-worked, over-taxed and under-paid. Successive regimes have ignored the plight of workers for improved take-home package and higher standard of living. Workers’ take-home pays cannot take them home.
The decay in this country’s infrastructure should be the focal point and any candidate who cannot address this is not worth the salt. Nigerians still live in darkness fifty-one years after independence. Our roads are death traps cutting short the lives of our youths in their prime. The health sector is an unmitigated disaster. Nigerian graduates are long on degrees but short on quality education. In the public sector, square pegs are in round holes. We live in fear, sleeping with one eye closed as security has gone to the dogs. There is an army of unemployed yet able-bodied Nigerians. Thousands eat from the dust-bin.
These are the criteria, not religion, not ethnicity, not North-South dichotomy, not even party politics. MURIC urges Nigerians to watch the campaign promises being dished out by politicians and try to match each promise with the pedigree of the candidate. If they match, vote for him or her. If they don’t match, reject him or her. Do not allow today’s hunger to push you into selling your voter’s card or vote for the highest bidder or to aid and abet rigging at election. You may be inviting permanent hunger and the impoverishment of your children, your grand children and your great grand children to the tenth generation.” which means; they are all supportive of change.

So after all, is that violence the reason for the president to start the plann of allowing The United state base in Nigeria?!
“We are asking the question: Why must a foreign country set up a military base in Nigeria at this point in time? Who needs it and for what? Who benefits from it and how? Is Nigeria now a satellite nation? Have we turned the country into a banana republic? Has Nigeria been sold to the hawks? If so, who sold it? Is it a military base we need now in this country or food security, power generation, good health facilities, good roads, qualitative education, etc? Is this how we are going to be rewarded for voting for Goodluck Jonathan?
Therefore appeals to the Federal Government of Nigeria not to touch the idea with a long pole. We call on the elected representatives of the Nigerian people to oppose any attempt to launch the country deeper into the jaws of neo-imperialism. We charge the Nigerian civil society to speak up now and to mobilize public opinion before it is too late. An American base in the country can be compared to sleeping in the house with a snake on the roof. Only fools dare where angels fear to tread “, lamented by professor Is’haq Akintola.
So, has Nigeria spoken? Or not yet?!
and what next?