By Viola Okpara
Does Nigeria exist?
The question appears weird - I know....
very much like a question of one in an alcohol induced stupor. But are there
people, who are, in fact through-and-through, purely and completely, simply
"Nigerians"?
Aren't the yoruba more yoruba or the Hausa
more Hausa or the Efik more Efik or Igbo more Igbo than being 'Nigerians'?
It is now fifty six years since the
Englishmen did the solemn matrimony. It would have been earlier than 1960, if
not for the late arrival of the self determination of the North in 1959. Surprisely, though the history books
show and paint the image of North with its scarce availability of capable
hands, they were still yet given the nod to run the nation. But hey.... that
has been the constant story. But is that the only problem of Nigeria? Maybe the
chief source. But what about the assumed South, where "capable
hands" are believed to be overpopulated? Has not leadership there been a
matter of appropriating the funds as much as one can? It is still the problem
of political pro fitters, those who see politics as 'oru oyibo' a whitemans' job
that needs to be and MUST be exploited.
But wait.... is Tribalism not the earl of
our woes? History shows that there was conflict between the Yoruba-led AG , the
Igbo-led NNDC and the Hausa-led NPC. But why was there that political struggle,
amidst the Yoruba led AG, between Akintola and Awolowo - with Akintola having
the support of the North? And why was the so called "Igbo coup"
brought to a halt by an Igbo - Ironsi?
But there is a more important question one
must ask. Do Nigerians recognize, that they are into a new standard of Government
and leadership, unlike before the "whitemen" came?
....Did we ever?
....Did we ever?
That appears not to be clear in our
consciousness. Maybe that is why inactiveness, passivity and listlessness have
trailed the followship history - maybe
until recently, with much lackadaisical trend. And aren't our leaders opportunists? Those who dwell in
the mental castle of "things can never get better"?
Our solemn question emanates again.....
"Does Nigeria exist"? Is there any common goal binding the people together?
Isn't Nigeria like a market already built at which so called customers that
should come to buy, come to steal instead? There appears to be no consciousness
of being one nation, not only between the different tribes but even amidst the
very tribes themselves, and even our close door
neigbours.
My humble summation is that the Nation
needs round table discussions; not just at the national level, but also state, local and
even street level "forums". The reason for us being together should be
discussed in a positive light, everytime and everywhere.
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