NIGERIA'S UNITY: A FARCE OR REALITY? - Episode 2

Nigeria the most populous country among the black nations is naturally endowed with resources adequate for her needs. Unfortunately the reverse is the case and this particular situation is not unconnected with sixteen years of uninterrupted corrupt political activities.

The questions now are:

Where is our moral value?
Where is our Sense of oneness?
Where is our heritage?Where is our pride?

The independence of 1st October was not achieved on a platter of gold but for the selfless effort of or heroes past. The tried to hand over to us, a banner without stain, but how can this be;

When we always bear ethnic/tribalistic sentiments as our major identity.
When sycophants sing praise to the man in power.
When we do not read the handwriting on the wall as Nebuchadnezzar did.
When 'Nigeria will not disintegrate under my watch' is now a tale by the moonlight.

Sadly, even some of the so called nationalists not minding their efforts were so corrupt that the military had to intervene with sole aim of restoring sanity and handing over back to civilians, owing that the joy of having increases by having, the military having seen power refused to hand over to the civilians although this was brought about due to the failed coup. Countless coup followed suit as the military continued to maim and cause the country great injury.

From the present situation of Nigeria, it can be deducted that Nigeria can never learn from history. One of the amalgamation laws states that if the amalgamation fails to work after 100 years, let disintegration take over. Our leaders have adamantly paid deaf ear to that, we have seen what militants are capable of, yet we still cast our votes to the ex-militants. We have tested the fruits of agriculture before the emergence of crude oil, yet we have ignorantly and stupidly turned away from agriculture. All the Igbo people lost everything they had and received just N20 after the war, yet we have continued to forget our home land and develop other part of the country. Without history, we are blind and will be eternally lost in neo-colonialism and instability.

So, how can we say that there is unity in Nigeria where there is constant bloodshed, when there segregation, ethnic chauvinism are embedded in the system, when we cannot do without bribery and corruption and most especially, when we are swimming in violence without the enjoyment of relative peace.

FOR THERE TO BE UNITY IN NIGERIA.....

For a start, Nigeria is not practicing true federalism. Therefore, for there to be unity in Nigeria we should import the practice of true federalism whereby each state will be left to control their economy towards the development of their state. But more perfectly, we should import con-federal system of government (confederalism). A situation whereby the states or regions are very strong while the federal or the center is weak. When this done, unnecessary struggles and clashes among the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria will cease and reasonable peace will be restored gearing towrads the happiness of all.

Conclusively, if we tell gently, all that we shall one day have to tell, who will hear our voices without laughter, what heart will listen to our clamouring in the black depth of our plaintive throats. If only we could be sincere with ourselves, If only we could retrace our lost sense of oneness and come together as one, only then will Nigeria be seen as a country bounded in unityand a better dwelling place. If not, we shall all say with a laud voice without mincing words, TO YOUR TENTS OH! NIGERIAS