Renowned and respected Kaduna .based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has again taken to facebook to discuss the viability or otherwise of Nigeria breaking up into North and South. Such discussions have reached a heightened state especially after it was made known that the legal instrument amalgamating Northern and Southern protectorates into one country provided for dissolution of the union after a 100 years which would be in the year 2014.

Below is the argument if Sheikh Gumi. You may also read it directly from his facebook page by clicking here.

Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi
SHOULD NIGERIA DIVIDE OR NOT?

Even though the chances that Nigeria will split or disintegrate into pieces as claimed by pessimists seem slim, the pertinent question still remains. Should the nation divide? Many are asking. Those that want the nation to break will surely be disappointed. The basic reason is that the nation is not so homogeneous enough to divide on tribal or religious divide, the main factor for such successions.

It is a fact that there are substantive insuppressible population of both Muslims and Christians in both the north and the south of the country. Another reason is that the oil money has brought sudden wealth to many citizens in the oil producing states which have enable them to acquire assets in Abuja and have economic interest and advantage in the hinterland. They will only be foolish to relinquish such assets for a depleting fossil fuel that may also be later discovered elsewhere in the nation.

With such chances slim. What the nation dearly needs now is a president that can stir and maneuver the nation out of the turbulent waters. A President that is acceptable both in the north and south. Also acceptable to both the Christians and Muslims. Vibrant, intelligent and focused on what is good for all. A President that has no criminal records, and is honest and incorruptible.

A President that has no dictatorial instincts or one that display ostentatiousness. A president that loves people and people oriented programs like free education, subsidized health and housing projects. A president that will bulldoze and tackle the electricity problem head on, and improve the road networks for efficient safe transportation. A president that will take the problem of sewage drainage, disposal, and environmental cleanliness his baby. A president that will build at least five ultramodern international airports, in Abuja, Kano, Enugu, Port Harcourt and Lagos.

A President that will modernize the armed forces and police, and make them truly reflect our diversity. A president that is not a member or supporter or an advocate of armed bandits or militants but one that will crush all rebellious group, neutralize all forms of militancy.

What is needed is a Nigerian president. A president for all Nigerians, not one representing any tribal, religious or economic interest. Not one representing militants or caucuses or foreign interests.

Such a president will bring peace and tranquility to the nation and the whole world by extension. In such an environment of serenity will Allah, The God of Creation be worshiped. Allah swears by the Covenants (of security and safeguard enjoyed) by the tribe of Quraish. The Covenants (that allows them to cover) trade journeys by winter and summer. Allah said: “Let them Adore the Lord of This house, Who Provides them with food against hunger, and with security against fear (of danger). Q106/ 1-4

May Allah in His infinite mercy protect us from Hunger and insecurity. Ameen

Well, you should spend more of your time looking for such a President for Northern Nigeria while we are ok with what we've got, we'll choose our own leaders.

Mstweee!

A President that will never come...

The man is sounding like he will cry if the country breaks up. The sweetness of oil money!

This Sheik Gumis' kumbaya epistle is all well and good, but i'm afraid it amounts to nothing more than building a castle in the sky.....especially given the present realities we face as a country. If he feels Nigerians would reject calls for the disintegration of the country, why doesn't he call for a referendum?

At the barest minimum, what this country needs -if we seek to put an end to all this madness in all facets of our national life- is a sovereign national conference, baring which there will continue to be strident calls for disintegration from all who seek a better/safer life for their kinsfolk.

One Nigeria no be by force abeg!

the man na retired military man so he has to be diplomatic, what he is basically saying is its either such a man or... as for me o, a northerner, I'd rather division, oil money or no, we are just not the same people!! finish

Who is afraid of the breakup, pls let happen.
Majority in the north who are farmers and contented with the little they have won't feel the impact but the few elites benefitting from the oil money (i.e. the real cause of southern resentment).

On the other hand, Arewa would jejelly watch as the new emerging smaller southern nations implode driven by greed among their ppl for more and more resource control - maybe even down to village level. After all, the main agitation for separation is largely about greed and inability to share and cooperate, it is also this very selfish syndrome that would continue to be the bane of southerners.
Southerners would also be exchanging the relative security offered a big nation such as Nigeria for insecurity of smaller (banana) republics they'll become, vulnerable to external invasion and manipulation because of the rich resources they'd have but less able to protect.
Of course they'd also be inheriting the same lootocratic leaders (of the likes of Ibori, Alams, GEj & co)who had been robbing them blind and to whom it would continue to be business as usual, the only difference being they'll no longer be able to deflect away the blame from themselves to the usual much maligned northerners, they used to enjoy referring to as parasites - because by then the real parasites would be known.

Besides, who says oil will not eventually be found in the north in the light of recent finds in neighbouring border countries like Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

Yeah, who is afraid, let it happen come 2014 or whenever.

Me_Aboki: Who is afraid of the breakup, pls let happen.
Majority in the north who are farmers and contented with the little they have won't feel the impact but the few elites benefitting from the oil money (i.e. the real cause of southern resentment).

On the other hand, Arewa would jejelly watch as the new emerging smaller southern nations implode driven by greed among their ppl for more and more resource control - maybe even down to village level. After all, the main agitation for separation is largely about greed and inability to share and cooperate, it is also this very selfish syndrome that would continue to be the bane of southerners.
Southerners would also be exchanging the relative security offered a big nation such as Nigeria for insecurity of smaller (banana) republics they'll become, vulnerable to external invasion and manipulation because of the rich resources they'd have but less able to protect.
Of course they'd also be inheriting the same lootocratic leaders (of the likes of Ibori, Alams, GEj & co)who had been robbing them blind and to whom it would continue to be business as usual, the only difference being they'll no longer be able to deflect away the blame from themselves to the usual much maligned northerners, they used to enjoy referring to as parasites - because by then the real parasites would be known.

Besides, who says oil will not eventually be found in the north in the light of recent finds in neighbouring border countries like Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

Yeah, who is afraid, let it happen come 2014 or whenever.

10000000000000likes i'm a yoruba but i also believe dat even d north dat is refered to as parasite only few 100 hundreds are d culprits and also their southern ally united in looting and in d end its d masses dat suffer,dats where d pain comes from,even if nigeria divide dat will be good cos there wont be oil money to share btw fashola and tinubu and other yoruba elites so then i can only hope dat dey get their facts right or die prematurely,lol cos dey only serve themselves and dey are only there cos there is no viable option.as d man said all nigeria need is d right man to lead d country but realistically dats almost impossible in dis present day nigeria,can only hope for change.