by Alexander O. Onukwue

It would seem that the comments made by Senator Shehu Sani, and followed up on by the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has confirmed the thought by Nnamdi Kanu that Nigeria is a zoo.

On many other points, most people do not agree with the IPOB leader’s controversial statements, which have often reeked of violence and disdain to whole tribes and religions. But the comment about Nigeria being a zoo was easily believable, and the interpretation of the First Lady’s recent comments on hyenas and wolves, and weaker animals apparently conform to Kanu’s theories.

But if Nigeria, as a locality, is a zoo, then who are the components that make it up?

Senator Sani and Mrs Buhari, taking off from where Kanu left, subdivides us into stronger and weaker animals (and we crave the indulgence of Kayode Ogundamisi in using “us” here). Hyenas and wolves clearly are the predators who have suppressed the economic and political prosperity of this country over the years, but more importantly in our time.

These are the so-called cabal members who supposedly frustrate the good intentions of anyone who comes close to making anything good come out of the Executive. While we generalise, we may also suppose that these have been the long-running enemies of truly restructuring this country to make each region develop its resources well.

The hyenas may have used their beastly power to enthrone the Lion as the king of the jungle, but after seeing his democracy not favouring them, putting plans in place that he will not continue is not entirely inconceivable. Also, as was threatened in the Senate precisely a week ago, it would appear the Hyenas are targeting a double swoop that will displace both the King and the anointed next in line.

Ordinarily, the wider society of the Nigerian populace constitute the weaker animals here, and while that has been found offensive my some, it is reasonable to keep in mind that the so-called weaker animals can sting and manoeuvre in ways bigger animals cannot do. One of those is certainly through elections, as Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the APC could testify to.

Aisha Buhari attributes the weaker animals’ effort to prayers, and while that is useful, it belies their ultimate strength when they are united in one mission. Nigeria belongs to that mass of people, that weaker mass that can rise and reclaim their country if they want to. They would have to rise and stand up to the so-called higher animals who though are more deadly are essentially fewer and derive their “nutrition” from the lower food chain.

The weaker animals should not demand pity and stay vulnerable; they should rise and roar as one.