A renowned Professor of Political Science and Security Scholar at Federal University Oye Ekiti, FUOYE, Prof. Azeez Olusola Olaniyan has recommended a high commitment to fulfilling the social contract as a panacea to solving the myriads of problems facing the Nigerian political and territorial space.
Speaking on the theme, “NIGERIA AND THE UNDYING SPIRIT OF SEPARATISM” at the 11th Inuagural lecture of FUOYE, Professor Olaniyan highlighted state responsiveness to responsibilities, total inclusion, true federalism, equity and Justice as key to lessening dissenting voices and seperatist movements across the globe.
Professor Olaniyan attributed Nigeria and undying spirit of separatism to various factors including the heterogeneous Ethnic Composition, Cultural diversity, large population, varied administrative practices, controversial/political, constitutional arrangements and absence of strong ideology during the almagamation of the Northern and the Southern Protectorates by Lord Lugard in 1914.
The current Dean, Faculty of Social Science pointed out leadership failure, state fragility, insecurity, poor bargaining strategy, lumping up of different nationalities by the Colonial masters and too much power glotted to federal government as part of the reasons why sections are frequently calling to be separated.
“Except for a few cases, Nigeria States are products of force, they are an agglomeration of different groups, the disparate groups were forcefully cubbled together by superior forces, convergence and divergence.
“All States posses varying measures, unifying and separating tendencies which means right from inception, the nation state has been under constant threat of centripetal and centrifugal forces. Centrifugal forces remained albatross of the nation state which had resulted in failure, collapse and re- arrangement of several states.
“Belgium separated from Northern Netherlands in 1830, Swedeen parted with Norway in 1905, Ireland parted from United Kingdom in 1922, Iceland broke away from Denmark in 1944, Bangladesh broke out of Pakistan in 1971 while Soviet Union splited into 15 States in 1991 among others.
“We can see that the spirit of Separatism is in every part of Nigeria, pursed, mouthed and acted on by different classes of people. The spirit of Separatism has always been alive in Nigeria.”
He X rayed separatist agitations during pre- Independence, post Colonial and the fourth Republic, and pointed out various groups that had advocated for separatism to including the Gani Adams led Oodua Peoples’ Congress ( OPC) ,MASSOB by Ralph Uwazuruike , Niger Delta militants, Boko Haram Insurgents, Indigenous people of Biafra ( IPOB) by Nnamdi Kanu and Oodua Nation by Prof Banji Akintoye and Sunday Igboho.
Olaniyan who hails from Ogotun Ekiti in Ekiti state emphasized the need for handlers of government to purposeful, proactive, responsive and responsible in state matters, good followership on the side of the citizens and adequate provision of security of lives and properties as crucial in curbing separatists’ agitations.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina represented by Prof Tajudeen Opoola, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics called on Nigerians to shun violence, unnecessary agitations and live harmoniously with one another.
