Nigeria is said to be a State (Country) comprising 371 ethnic groups spread across the 774 Local Government Areas in 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
As a State, certain things are presumed to be in existence, which makes other States in the world to relate with Nigeria and even trade with Nigeria. Nigeria is presumed to be a Nation (a large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular state or territory). The presumption of the Nationhood of Nigeria has spared her citizens of the basic necessities of life and has also spared her leaders from the scrutiny of other Nations. While, the citizens are crying daily for an intervention from above for their liberation from the tyranny of the few; the Nations of the world are assuming that the citizens of Nigeria are just fine!
As a Nation, Nigeria is presumed to be UNITED; however, many people in Nigeria know (through the things they hear and see daily) – from the Drama in National Assembly to every other detail across the country; that we are actually far from being united.
As a united people, the problem of one part is expected to be the problem of the whole. However, based on the evident reality, some parts of Nigeria are not willing to solve their own problems; therefore holding back other parts on the journey towards progress.
While many Nigerians are looking towards other Nations for salvation; I am of the opinion that each Nigerian must take responsibility for the Nation of his or her dream. We cannot continue to assume all is well, when we are far from it. How can the Maze of the National Assembly be snatched in a broad day light inside the chambers of the Senate, and we claim all is well.
Enough of this self-deceit we have inflicted on ourselves; if we refuse to speak for justice and fairplay, we will also perish in time and leave our children with the problems we refused to solve. However, if we all speak up and rise up to challenge the mediocrity of the few (who perhaps hijacked the political scene); we may live.
Nationhood is not expected to be attained easily; but there must be a visible progress, which am not seeing in the case of Nigeria. Until we speak up, we will not change anything – no matter how painful things maybe. I rest my case!
