State of Occupation-FULL VIDEO : South East Senators Protest against Multiple Roadblocks in ...

The Buhari administration since coming to power in 2015 has relentlessly pursued a ruthless policy of Exclusion, Exploitation and Expansionism treating the people of the South-East with distrust, perhaps percieved enemies. Beside running an ethnic and regional government, the South-East Nigeria has been subjected to routine heavy military and security presence despite the country's security challenges that is more prevalent in the Northern Nigeria.  By excluding the people of the South-East from the country's top security architecture, the people of the South-East view this as a bad omen. The level of atrocities and hardships their people encounter on a daily basis in the hands of security personnel manning these numerous check-points is horrendous and worrisome.  In the words of Mr Yinka Odumakin, Afenifere National Publicity Secretary; "It will only take a Nigerian that is naive to see the trend the Buhari's government is going as if the entire South is conquered territories of the President and the Fulani and this is very dangerous for the unity of the country". I think the current government in Nigeria has proven that Nigeria is not a united country and has strenghtened the case for regional autonomy/ethnic federalism. Ethnic/Regional autonomy remains the only solution in a climate of suspicion and even hatred as its the case for Nigeria. According to Gurr, 1993, etal, "exclusion or maltreatment of minorities explains ethnic groups' rebellions around the world". True federalism in Nigeria is long overdue. People should be given more 'leeway' to govern their own affairs and take their own destiny in their own hands. This is the only way to eradicate fears of invasion and colonisation with legalized occupation and its horrendous consequences of 'genocide, economic exploitation and moral decadence'. Lastly in the words of Benny Hinn, American Televangelist, "the notion that Nigeria is a united country has been proven to be false based on past and present realities facing the country. The country is not only divided along ethnic and religious lines but throwing religion into the mix makes the gulf even more wider. The Buhari administration since coming to power in 2015 has done more harm than good to the unity it says is non-negotiable"
Uche Okeke is the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation. He lives in London.