There was no Nigeria until the British and, perhaps other European explorers, in search of economic interest for their various countries arrived this part of the African continent. The nations in today Nigeria lived peacefully apart, practiced their various religious and traditional belief systems. They were making progress technologically according to their education and understanding. They traded among themselves without any hullabaloo.
Nigeria was fused together in 1914 by the British without involving any of the parts in a discussion or agreement. The British understanding the sophistication of the peoples of the southern Nigeria played the special adviser role for the northern oligarchy. They were and have remained solidly behind the peoples of northern Nigeria for their own selfish interest. It is not basically because of the interest of one united, peaceful and progressive Nigeria.
The north is predominantly Muslims because of their early contact with the Arab Muslims. While the south are majorly Christians because of their early contact with European Christian missionaries. The groups making up Nigeria have their distinct history, belief, religion, culture and tradition. Yet, it didn’t matter to the British. Their major concern was and still remains the rich natural resources endowed in this part. They just cannot take their soul and eyes off it. So, to have great access to these resources, they established Nigeria by every means.
The southern politicians of Nigeria first began the clamour for independence. It was much later their northern counterparts joined in the demand. That was counted against the southerners especially the easterners by their British colonial masters. When eventually Nigeria was baptized in 1960 as an independent country, they did not leave without setting bumpy traps on the way. And, our nationalists fell for it.
Our leaders failed woefully to organize themselves and their people to build one indivisible, indissoluble and prospective country. Our leaders were more engrossed in the selfish rewards of office and living large. Religious and ethnic bigotry gained supreme in the way and manner the country was governed. In truth, there was no country, there has never been, it was and still a ‘mere geographical expression.’
Rather than build a country like Asian Tigers of the world did, our leaders focused more on individual acquisition of political power, wealth and property. While the larger percentage of our people lived and lives in penury.
The bad leadership by our people led to the war after the first and second coups of 1966. Several millions of our brothers and sisters were callously murdered. If indeed, we wanted a country, should we have allowed the mass killings of the people we wanted to be part of? Why engage in an avoidable war? Why would government of the federal side that wanted one united country support and encourage genocide? My findings have not convinced me on why Nigeria should have approached the South East with such venom. Nigeria, to me, is erected on the pillar of injustice and unnecessary waste of blood. Something has to be done to correct the imbalance for Nigeria to make meaningful progress.
To recover Nigeria back, we must sincerely demand that JUSTICE be done. These crop of political leaders cannot correct the inequality because it would affect them. They would all lose their political relevance. But things cannot remain the same. Nigeria must be saved from annihilation. Running the country without speaking and acting truthfully will only continue to set us back.
The military was in power for several years but failed to advance the country. They became worse than the civilian government they pushed off the political seat. Our economic wealth was mismanaged and frittered away. Our military class became richer than the businessmen. They established multi-billion naira businesses within and outside the country for themselves.
These military gangs control billions in the financial houses today. While the generality of our people wallow in abject poverty, suffer undue economic hardship, cannot send their children and wards to school, are unemployed and underemployed, die of simple sicknesses. This is the story of a country blessed with abundant human and natural resources.
For years now, the country has lost count of number of persons killed by bandits. Daily persons are kidnapped, whether ransom is paid or not is no longer guarantee for the victim’s release. The sad side of it, is that government and security officials are also involved in negotiation and payment of ransom. There is nothing fundamentally the government or security agencies are doing to curb the rise. It has been accepted as a norm. What a country!
Today, there are no elections in Nigeria. There is now systematic rigging process ably established and executed by the national or state electoral commissions. Yet, multi-billions are voted for the planning and conducting of elections both at the federal and state levels. Why this country would continue on this trajectory without fallen off the brink may need divine interpretation.
The leadership of Nigeria must agree to atone for the many sins the past leaders had committed against the citizens and country. There is no point pretending. Nigeria has been unjust to its peoples. The resources of the oil rich region has been shared and squandered and, its people put into suffering, their lands destroyed. The South East region crudely denied of development and presidency of the country they must be part of. The innocent children of the north forced into the streets to beg.
The resources of Nigeria has been deliberately stolen, and mismanaged by the leaders. Innocent bloods had been shed for no just reason. Lives maimed and shattered. Dreams stunted. The peoples of this country plunged into suffering, hardship and poverty because of the wickedness of the ruling elites.
When we continue to look away as if nothing has happened, we are further putting the future generations into bondage. The best this present leadership can do for Nigeria and its children is to take away these stratum of debt the country has entered into. It is complete hogwash to hear that we have about $50 billion debt hanging on our neck? Where and how was the money used?
Nigeria cannot continue to be paddled in this stormy atmosphere, it will sink. Except, something drastic is done to correct the imbalance. We need a steady weather (an organized system) for the ship (Nigeria) to continue the direction God has destined it. And, it is the responsibility of our leaders devoid of shenanigans to do so.
God bless Nigeria!
Uzodinma Nwaogbe
