If Nigeria disintegrates today, the biggest losers will be Fulanis, and the biggest gainers will be Hausas. But Africa’s richest man, the Hausa billionaire Aliko Dangote might not see it in this light. His focus might be fixated on what might happen to his investment scattered around Nigeria. What will happen to the advantages that he has enjoyed from the Hausa-Fulani marriage where Fulanis are Emirs and Hausas are followers, and an insignificant percentage of Hausas like himself enjoy the largesse from the dwindling oil wealth from the Niger Delta.

The truth is that Hausas and other ethnic groups in northern Nigeria that are bearing the rampage of Fulani Herdsmen and bandits will be the greatest beneficiaries if Nigerians form nations or autonomous governments from the 6 geopolitical zones, and they are freed from the marriage of convenience with Falunis. For starters, the groundnut pyramids among other agricultural breakthroughs will return and Hausa’s remarkable knowledge of trade and commerce will be used in liberating the region from poverty. This will put an end to the Hausa-Fulani marriage that is based on the concept of unite and rule. This concept works where one ethnic group, in this case, Fulanis conquers another ethnic group and then uses a shared or introduced system like religion to unite them but maintain leadership. This concept is at work across the world from the United Kingdom to India.

After conquering northern Nigerian Kingdoms except a few like Borno, Fulanis used religion to unite the region for full assimilation and exploitation. Today, a few Hausas benefits from this union. But this benefit cannot be compared to the devastation and deprivation that has happened in Hausaland. This devastation is carried from generation to generation. This is one of the reasons history is not thought in Nigerian schools. The conquest and rich cultural heritage of Hausas with the notable mention of heroine like Queen Amina of Zaria are shrouded in secrecy to continue this concept of unite and rule.

Ata Ukuta, Editor, www.towncryyers.com