A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mike Ozekhome, has observed that undue prominence given to Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba ethnicities at the expense of other ethnic groups was responsible for insurgency and agitation across the country.
Speaking in Abuja, yesterday, the senior lawyer said he was not advocating for Nigeria’s breakup but that the voice of the minorities needs to be heard.
He likened Nigeria’s greatness, as a nation, to a song by Dolly Parton, “Coat of Many Colours,” which described a dress that turned out beautiful in spite of being put together by several pieces of unique fabrics.
According to Ozekhome, “Nigeria is made of about 390 ethnic groups and not just three. If you give undue prominence to the Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba ethnicities; neglecting the other ethnic groups, you will continue to experience insurgency and agitation for self-determination.
“We need to give voice to the voiceless, let people express themselves. Whilst not advocating for the break-up of Nigeria, we must allow the minorities to have their say and let the majority have their way through dialogue.
“There’s great injustices in the land that’s why in spite of the constitutional development that commenced with the 1922 Clifford constitution to the on-going proposed amendment, we are still in search of true nationhood.”
Ozekhome advised the government to redouble its efforts towards making life comfortable for the people.
“To avoid IPOB, MASSOB, Niger-Delta Militants, Shiite Muslims, Agatu and Odi massacres, we need to practice true federalism where each region is allowed to develop according to its pace, nuances, and idiosyncrasies. Anything short of that, we are only postponing doomsday,” he added.
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