Patrice Hemery Lumumba, an undisputed important figure in the Congo’s struggle for independence; who advocated for a strong centralized government in Congo. He once said: “Third world is a state of the mind and until we change our attitudes as Africans [NIGERIANS], if there is a fourth, fifth and even sixth world, we will be in it.” Patricia Lumumba positive about mindset clearly established the whole essence of the issue of Mind Restructuring.
Similarly, a pioneering pan-Africanists, a nationalist, the leader who led the “Gold Coast” drive for independence and first prime minister and former president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah. One of his greatest achievements was to win the right for black people in Africa to have e vote and to determine their own destiny. He turned a dream of libration into a political reality. He was the leader of Ghana who urged Africans to shed the colonial yoke and who inspired black people’s emancipation proclamation. He was the first African to achieve world recognition. Nationalism and Pan-Africanism at its finest hour.
In the same vein, our own “ZIK” of Africa, Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe; a Nigerian lawyer, political scientist, journalist, political activist, former president and statesman. Zik, was born in Zungeru northern Nigeria, on November 16, 1904 to Igbo parents. Zik of Africa in his words…
“My parents are natives of Eastern Nigeria, the arsenal of republicanism in Nigeria. Although I am Ibo, yet I speak Yoruba and I have a smattering of Hausa.
I am now Premier of Eastern Nigeria, the land of my fathers, which lies five hundred miles from Lagos and almost a thousand miles from the place of my birth in Zungeru, in Northern Nigeria.
Each of our three Regions is vastly different in many respects, but each has this in common: that, despite variety of languages and custom or difference in climate, all form part of one country which has existed as a political and social entity for fifty years.
That is why we believe that the political union of Nigeria is destined to be perpetual and indestructible.”~Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.
Flowing from the above, I dare say that, the issues confronting us as a nation bounded in unity is much more than separation or physical restructuring. It is more of mindset and patriotism, however, it is not lost on us that issues of gross mismanagement of resources and our diversity should not be down played. Therefore, we shall continue to emphasize the importance of Mind Restructuring.
ARISE ‘O COMPATRIOTS
Richard Odusanya is a Social Reform Crusader and the convener of AFRICA COVENANT RESCUE INITIATIVE ACRI
