EXPOSED: The Connection Between Nigeria’s Partnership with BRICS and The End Bad Governance Protest
BRICS is an acronym for the powerful grouping of the world’s leading emerging market economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The primary goals of BRICS are to promote peace, security, economic growth, development, and cooperation among its member countries. They also aim to reform the international financial and political system to better reflect the interests of emerging economies.
In the last BRICS summit held from 22nd to 24th October 2024, in Kazan, Russia, 13 new countries were accepted into the BRICS as partners. These countries include: Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. One notable action about Nigeria’s partnership with BRICS is in regard to the proposed BRICS currency, where Nigeria has its name on the proposed currency written in Hausa language, which reads as “Jamhuriyar Tarayyar Najeriya” regarding why the name of Nigeria should be written in the Hausa language and not English, which is the official language of communication in Nigeria, or either Yoruba or Igbo, has raised a dust and has generated controversy. Some have argued in favor of having the name of Nigeria written in Hausa on the proposed currency, while some other fellow Nigerians have argued against it.
The interesting part of this saga is that those who have argued in favor, have not been able to give any logical reasons that are convincing, as to why such an action was taken. This development also brings to fore the issues of equity, justice and marginalization, with the Hausas seen as being the architect of the problems that Nigeria is faced with, which include the lack of unity amongst the various ethnic groups that make up the country Nigeria.
According to Linda Ikeji’s Blog, here are some of the arguments of Nigerians for and against the use of the Hausa language in the proposed BRICS currency. The former special adviser to the former president Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, tweeted, “So glad to see Hausa language proudly representing Nigeria (JAMHURIYAR TARAYYAR NAJERIYA) alongside the Nigerian flag which is prominently positioned within the yet-to-be officially unveiled BRICS currency.” Other comments in support of the adoption of the Hausa language in the proposed BRICS currency include:
“It is a good thing and we pray for the goodness of it.”
“Sentiment aside I guess they used Hausa language in the currency signifies it as the most spoken in Nigeria and second to the most spoken in the entire African nation. Other countries currency was represented by their own spoken languages but honestly the South would not be happy.”
While comments against Bashir Ahmad’s tweet include:
“#BRICS mock currency will surely be put to amendment because Nigeria is multicultural and far beyond ‘WAZOBIA’ which is the majority. So celebrating a ‘mockup’ shows the extent of your understanding and happy you pointed it out so BRICS Summit can have more time to address that.”
“This is unacceptable. It is should written with English.”
“Statements like this make you realize that the Biafra and other session agitation are profoundly justified. The last time I checked Nigeria is or was a secular nation, but the continued effort by the North to Islamize the country starting with the institutions and organs of states make you wonder if truly we are one Nigeria as claimed. It is time we truly have a serious conversation about the entity called Nigeria, no tribe should hold the monopoly to represent or serve as a representation of the entire nation. It is either we agree to recognize our multicultural and ethnic composition or we all go our separate ways. Enough of this rubbish.”
This new development may serve to establish the speculated nexus between the Russian flag that was raised during the end bad governance protest by mostly the Northern protesters and the plan of the North to win to itself, the support of Russia, in case the need arises of it to secede from Nigeria. Do not forget also, the affinity between the Northern part of Nigeria and the Sahelian countries, which include Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, who are currently in a relationship with Russia after both the France and American troops have been sent parking from these countries.
These deceptions are what obtain in situations where those in position of power are themselves deceptive. Recall also that there have been agitations in both the Southwest and the Southeast, over marginalization and attempts being made by the North, especially the Fulanis, for ethnic cleansing. The escalation of what came to limelight during the 8th year tenure of the former President Muhammadu Buhari and was manifested in the form of the Fulani herders and farmers’ clashes, which claimed thousands of lives of innocent Nigerians in the Middlebelt of Benue and Plateau States, as well as in some other parts of the Southwest. It is of recent and lately that we began to hear about the North’s preparedness for the restructuring of the country and with some unknown undercurrent that may go beyond restructuring to secession.
The proposed BRICS currency for Nigeria which has the name of Nigeria written in Hausa may be another important aspect of the preparation of the North to do the unimaginable. It is worthy of note that clandestine steps are being taken by the federal Government towards restructuring Nigeria, and some of these include: the planned introduction of State Police, the establishment of the ministry of livestock development, and the newly established ministry of Regional development. Take cognizance of the fact that State Police is one of the structures of restructuring. The ministry of livestock development may not achieve its desired objectives, while the ministry of regional development is a pointer to a step in the direction of breaking the country into regions. The question now is, why can’t Nigerians be made to sit together and have a conversation on how to forge ahead as an entity, or introduce important modifications to the existing structure with a view to enhancing developments and progress in the country?
Instead of the proposed National Youth Conference, where the Federal Government plans to have youths from the 36 States of the country, represented and brought under the same roof for 30 days, instituting a National Conference with the sole aim of discussing Nigeria, its problems, and how to better situate the problems, by Nigerians, will be a step in the right direction and a sure way of nipping the major problems that the country is confronted with in the board once and for all.
Nigeria, as a country, needs to be discussed sincerely and genuinely and with a view to taking bold steps that are capable of addressing the fundamental problems of the nation. It is not unexpected that since the vantage position that the country’s colonial masters created for the Northerners as a compensation for their unalloyed support for the colonial rule, has begun to wane, that as the water will always find its course, the Northerners cannot but try to chart a new course that will grant them the required legitimacy and freedom needed for self-actualization. The military is gradually losing its grip in the affairs of countries as military coups are no longer in vogue and are frowned at, being seen as an aberration in democracy.
The country Nigeria needs a total overhaul and this can only be achieved where openness, transparency fair play, equality and justice are ‘sine qua non’ to the emergence of a new Nigeria. Be advised that when things go wrong, we are not to go with them. Nigerians should not also be oblivious that partnering with the BRICS is not without implications, especially because the action would be considered as an affront against the West of which America is prominent and plays a key role. The BRICS is another scramble for the domination of Africa, and to this end, anything worth doing at all is worth doing well, especially because Nigeria had, hitherto, remained as a non-aligned country.
Tough government policies that are not addressing the fundamental problems plaguing Nigeria’s existence and peaceful co-existence, no matter how impressive and promising they may be, constitute a clog in the wheels of the country’s progress and development. The kind of a leader that Nigeria needs now, is such that can take the bull by the horns and consider the overhaul of the entire system as a matter of priority, demanding urgency and proactiveness.
Nigerians are admonished to know that “we are all idealists. We are all visionaries. Let it not be said of this Atlantic generation that we left ideals and visions to the past, nor purpose and determination to our adversaries. We have come too far we have sacrificed too much to disdain the future now. And we shall ever remember what Goethe told us- that the ‘highest wisdom, the best than mankind ever knew’ was the realization that ‘he only earns his freedom and existence, who daily conquers them anew’.”- John f. Kennedy
Whether or not the partnership of Nigeria with the BRICS is a stepping stone for the North, is a mystery to be unraveled and time will tell. Please feel free to leave a comment on what you think is wrong with Nigeria and what can best be the solutions.
By Samuel Tunji Adeyanju
It’s totally unfair to single out one language to be used to represent a nation where that language have never been spoken in vast area of the country