One Nigeria, Our Nigeria, Whose Nigeria?
One of the earliest subjects every Nigerian that schooled in Nigeria must study is social studies. A subject dedicated to teaching Nigeria history, how to become active citizens and also encourages participation in social and civic duties. We have a subject in the Nigeria educational system taught right from primary level of education that targets the root of the nation’s problem, yet we are asking whose NIGERIA?
The last line of the national anthem says “One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity” but all what the country is bound with is “insecurity, unemployment, corruption, bad leadership, bloodshed, hunger, tribalism and the list goes on. Tell me, whose Nigeria? Is it a country in which its government prioritized the wants of its 1% citizens over the interest of the remaining 99%? Whose Nigeria? Or a country where the average man has to double-check his surroundings before he can sleep?
How can we forget the case of bandits and kidnappers. The average Nigerian cannot travel by road without fearing for his/her life. Indoor, or outdoor, nobody is SAFE!!!!!! Is Nigeria still for us? Hausa against Igbo, Igbo against Yoruba, Yoruba against Fulani, Fulani against Igbo!!!!. These tribal wars are gradually becoming the new norms.
Where then is the oneness we keep talking about? We are now at the point where checking political leaders isn’t based on credibility but on, “He is my brother”, “we come from the same state”, ”She practices my religion”. Who is this brother?, a candidate without a vision, empty promises and unrealistic manifesto. That is the person we are now electing to build a NIGERIA we want? Can this mindset give us this change?
Karl Popper, a philosopher, wrote, “It is wrong to ask who will rule. The ability to vote a bad government out of office is enough. That’s democracy”.
Can you and I vote for a government based on credibility and not favoritism, nepotism or tribalism? Can Sulaiman from Kano vote for Obonomamwam from Edo because he believed in her vision and Iremide vote for Chinedu from Enugu because she knows he has the right skills for that position?
We have a dream which is to see a better NIGERIA. Until we become intentional about who we elect into the political offices, we have a long way to go.
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