Two years short of a
century since the perceived Contract Nigeria was signed (or imposed on us, as
many would like to put it), is it not time that we accept that we are an entity
and by any stretch of the imagination have achieved something? A 98-year-old
marriage, I believe, can be described as a successful one,
especially in these turbulent times. We really have no justification to
continue undermining the unity of this nation. We should roll up our shirtsleeves
and simply get on with it.
Every sovereign
country today has its own internal struggles, mirage or reality, which militate
against unity. This follows from the fact that the concept of absolute national
homogeneity is almost impossible in today’s global village because language,
social, ethnic, cultural and religious issues present certain challenges in the
quest for national unity. However, many nations of the world have done so
through equity, fairness and justice – the three unifying vehicles for national
harmony.
Our colonial masters
may have “cloned” this nation, but they did not divide us into ethnic regions.
Our creation of geo-political zones has only had an effect on hampering our
unity more than any other singular factor. These are merely ethnic demarcations
built up on political lines. Nigeria as an entity has nevertheless survived
over the years; we have Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Nupe, Ebira, Tiv, Fulani, Urhobo,
Ijaw and many others ‘residing’ in Nigeria, but Nigeria is yet to be. We are
not real. We are only diverse peoples occupying the land mass called Nigeria;
people of the ‘Niger area’ but not Nigerians.
There is absolutely
nothing wrong with acknowledging our differences. If anything, this could even
strengthen us. Where the problem lies is when our politicians duel, in deadly
fashion, with these differences in total disregard for the damage that may be
caused, whenever it serves their selfish interest. This is when we act as
complete strangers wary of each other except, of course, when there is personal
gain to be had. This is why, after nearly a century, we have not been able to
harness our potential. The real strength of a nation comes from its people. If
we want to move forward, the time to start being Nigerian is now.
A US study predicted
our disintegration in 2015. The late Libyan leader, Muammar Gadhafi, also urged
us to divide along religious lines. No doubt, his ‘advice’ was premised on his
ignorant view of us as a country made up of a totally “Muslim north and
Christian south”. It is clear that he obviously did not understand even the
changing dynamics of his own land. We should not allow this to happen here.
We must just resolve
to be Nigerians. We need to find that patriotism. We all must be included. We
need to be proud to call ourselves Nigerian. It begins with the parents who
tell their children to embrace other ethnic groups. With the father who
consents to his daughter’s marriage even though the suitor is of another land
or religion and the young man who was born and has lived his whole life in a
particular region being able to access all the benefits and attain all the
heights that an indigene can, because he is Nigerian and belongs.
Changing the status
quo has never been a painless adventure, but the success of this nation depends
on it. Most people simply accept situations. They live life in the path that
has been set for them. They are too afraid to explore any other way. The devil
that they know is better than the devil that they don’t know. Sometimes we are
not even aware why we do things in particular ways. It has always been done so,
so we continue for that reason only. But once in a while, people come along who
knock down all the obstacles that are put in our way. These people realize that
free will is a gift that we will never know how to use until we fight for it.
This is God’s real
plan for us. We should rise up as a people and fight for this right; come
together as one and build our Nigeria with love and determination.
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