I do not subscribe to the notion that the
solution to Nigeria’s
myriad of problems boils down to having a representative of all our peoples sit
around a table and talk. It’s a duplication of our senate and the lower house.
I don’t believe the SNC idea is a frivolous one either. There is a need to talk
about our problems collectively but we must realize that despite our seeming
desperation, investing all our energies in the assumption that the SNC serves
as a panacea to our problems is creating a new one. I do not think that those
who are quick to call ethnicity and religious intolerance the greatest problems
in Nigeria
have the slightest idea of what the country suffers from. I know this.
You see there really is no fault with
discussing our common problems, probing these problems and coming up with
solutions to them. None. It has been a means of livelihood for some and a
vocabulary showing off experience for others. We have had the panels, the
commissions, the senate probes and what have you. For some still these
probes/committees/councils/whatever provide a limited cathartic experience and
national TV air time. All have failed in
one major way. The only difference being the scale of failure.
What does the SNC actually intend to
accomplish?, an answer to the Nigerian identity? Splitting the Nigerian entity
around ethnic lines?, the elimination of religious bigotry?, A return to true
federalism? The questions are numerous. If
the general mood is anything to go about then paramount at the SNC is the
continuation of the project Nigeria.
The question of what exactly makes a Nigerian, where the Nigerian state is is
headed, and, so far; how has the experience of being Nigerian-civil war, oil
boom, Boko-haram, military regimes, et al, influenced the idea of a continued ,
Nigerian-ness.
Seemingly, at the front of those calling for
the SNC are those who are quick to remind us that the Nigerian state is simply
a desire of Lord Lugard’s. a mere geographical expression they scream. They
remind us that the Ndigbo, Yoruba, Arewa is a more cohesive unit than the
Nigerian state. I say this is a lie. Before a Yoruba man is a MAN and the fundamental
problem with any MAN is the corruption of his inner. Consequently, I do not
believe that any one of this new entities that Nigeria will be split into will
be more successful than the Nigerian state, in fact it will be a lot worse
because problems will be the same and then they won’t have ethnicity to blame
for it. Perhaps then the problem of the Ndigbo nation would be its Muslim
minority heh?
And then when we finally decide that we are
done with the Nigerian project (regardless of the fact that this is an
admission of defeat) do we simply just go back to our states of origins and
start anew?, at the expense of our livelihoods, investments, and such and such?
Its not as easy as they say it is. And
most importantly, its not necessary.
To say that the Nigerian state has failed to
live up to expectation is putting it mildly, to admit that the only solution is
to disband the state completely, smacks of a serious insult to those who have
given up their lives for our continued existence. It also shows why the
Nigerian state won’t work-our persistent lack of attempts at making work.
The problem with the Nigerian project has been
CORRUPTION and still is. It is the sole reason why our current state of affairs
is in such shambles. It is the singular reason why religious/ethnic violence is
at such alarming proportions. It is the reason why we have had years of murder
and strife over religion-this is not to say that religious crisis cannot occur
without corruption, it just seems that the reason why our strain of strife
waxes stronger is solely cause corruption has created a fertile soil for its growth and continued spread
and regeneration. When a politician wants to gain advantage over his opponent
he plays the religious card. When they are of the same religion he plays the
ethnic card. When they are from the same faith and location, it boils down to
who influences more political thugs, the cycle is as vicious as it is endless. It
isn’t rocket science to deduce that if our youths were better educated, better
employed, they would spend less time talking about the flaws in the other
person’s ethnic background. Little wonder why inter-tribal marriage is most
common in urban, educated Nigeria?
That positivity can only continue but alas!, our corrupt leaders engineer
discord between us. Its really like Lugard’s divide and rule tactic.
(to be continued…)
