The danger of ethnic collectivism in a multi ethnic nation. By Eke O Eke

With the deterioration in the national polity, the temptation is for people to retreat into ethnic enclaves. This is usually the first step in societal disintegration.

I will say it again, we need to play above board politics and avoid narrow minded, ethnic and self interest focused politics. This is why it is important that people are allowed the freedom that the law still allow them, no matter how polarised the society.

While it is important to be clear about the type of society we want as a people, I continue to say that it is imperative that people are allowed the freedom to pursue it in whatever way or means they choose.

Some may want to achieve it within the existing contraption by working for change in the way the country is governed, while other may wish to achieve it through struggle for an independent nation. Both must be allowed to flourish, while allowing democratic process to determine which wins.

This is why it is important to define what we want in terms of the value we cherish and the type of society we seek.

Our position, while we remain a part of Nigeria, should be on principles, which accommodate all.

The idea that we can outsmart the north in ethnic nationalism and sectarianism is a mistake.

Our strength is our acute sense of justice, commitment to civil values and broader outlook to life.

Our level of enlightenment and emancipation as a people is such that our goodness should go beyond and not bound by the primitive identity of ethnicity.

We are republicans by nature. We respect authority, but do not worship kings. That is just who we are. We forget this at our peril.

Therefore, our struggle must remain a struggle against, injustice, discriminations, unlawful and unconstitutional actions committed in Nigeria, which affect our people and others.

Our aim therefore, must include a free society, where people irrespective of religion or ethnicity are free to pursue happiness under the rule of just laws.

In this way, we will acquire the moral high ground we need to take this struggle to the world and gain allies.

This means that we do not only condemn and show outrage against wrong, when it is committed against a member of our ethnic group.

We must widen out struggle so that all oppressed people in Nigeria, including the long suffering Christian minority villages of southerner Kaduna and emasculated communities of middle belt will benefit from the victories we achieve.

On this note, I condemn the attempt to frame Senator Ike Ekweremadu for a crime he did not commit as reported.

If it true, it is yet, another example of how far the federal government of Nigeria is prepared to go to silence those who oppose her excesses, crimes and violations.

I call on the government to conduct an independent investigation into this allegation and all previous allegations, including the attempt by the same security agency to frame IPOB for murder of some fulanis, which the group did not condemn.

We forget that some people in the present government have sinister motives at our peril.

We must remember that the Fulani herdsmen, who committed all the crimes and atrocities we have witnessed so far, are still around with their weapons.

I must remind us of the poem of
Martin Niemöller(1892–1984) a prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camp.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.