The stench of putrefying carcass permeated the atmosphere.The year was 2001,in the tin city Jos.That year,the vultures suffered from constipation from over feeding;a fall out from the bloody bloodletting that had been consumated in the home of peace and tourism.Ten years down the line,the crisis has taken on an entirely new dimension with bombs become one of the weapons in the arsenals of the villains.2 days ago,a friend of mine,one very close to my heart,miss Fatimah Ngremeh was caught in the cross fire.That gave me food for thought and I pondered hard and long.I wanted to know the factors involved.On investigation,I unravelled three distinct dimensions to the crisis-
1.Historical perspective
2.Religious perspective
3.Indigene vs Settler perspective
While the first two perspective held that their is animosity in some quarters over the failure of the Uthman Dan Fodio jihad to advance beyond the Benue-Plateau and achieving the objective of 'planting the koran from the desert to the sea'.On that,I beg to differ.From my analysis of the situation,the Jos crisis is more of conflict of indigenes vs settlers,one that has bedevilled this country and a thorny issue that is yet to be resolved.Let me go down memory lane briefly.The year was 1957,the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe had just won the elections to become the premier of western Nigeria,a position that was denied Him on the basis of indigeneship.Since then,even after the constitution clearly spells it out,giving credence to citizenship,it remains an uphill task for anyone to contest and win an election in any state that isnt the one he hails from.In Jos,even after issuing indigeneship certificate to settlers,they went ahead to say it was null and void.Rubbish!If this nation is to move forward,then we must put to rest this issue of indigeneship.One should be free to be be an indigene of any state where he is born or has been domiciled for years,as long as He/She is a Nigerian citizen.Till then,I dare say a future of peace in the tin city is bleak!
1.Historical perspective
2.Religious perspective
3.Indigene vs Settler perspective
While the first two perspective held that their is animosity in some quarters over the failure of the Uthman Dan Fodio jihad to advance beyond the Benue-Plateau and achieving the objective of 'planting the koran from the desert to the sea'.On that,I beg to differ.From my analysis of the situation,the Jos crisis is more of conflict of indigenes vs settlers,one that has bedevilled this country and a thorny issue that is yet to be resolved.Let me go down memory lane briefly.The year was 1957,the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe had just won the elections to become the premier of western Nigeria,a position that was denied Him on the basis of indigeneship.Since then,even after the constitution clearly spells it out,giving credence to citizenship,it remains an uphill task for anyone to contest and win an election in any state that isnt the one he hails from.In Jos,even after issuing indigeneship certificate to settlers,they went ahead to say it was null and void.Rubbish!If this nation is to move forward,then we must put to rest this issue of indigeneship.One should be free to be be an indigene of any state where he is born or has been domiciled for years,as long as He/She is a Nigerian citizen.Till then,I dare say a future of peace in the tin city is bleak!
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