I have often wondered why Nigerians systematically deconstructed most of the smartest British constructs in Nigeria. Not to eulogise British rule, but some of those constructs enabled them to successfully run Nigeria as one nation. Those constructs have now been supplanted by utopia through the years.

British constructs
(1) The former national anthem : "Nigeria we hail thee,,  though tribe and tongue may differ in brotherhood we stand"
(2) The 3 regions drawn along ethnic and socio-cultural homogeneity lines
(3) The parliamentary system of government which suits a rancorous political culture

Nigerian constructs
(1) National anthem: Arise o compatriots, Nigeria's call obey! (Sworn tribal enemies compatriots?, . Who obeys Nigeria's call?)
(2) 37 odd state or quasi-state structure (with weak economic bases always running to Abuja for hand-outs which leads to nationalised corruption)
(3) Presidential system (Ours is a caricature of a system carefully designed for people of one language and heritage with enough power devolved to states and local authorities)

I often get depressed when people on NL echo this utopian chant of "oh we are one, bla blah blahh", but in the dead hours of the night, they connive to sell off national assets to elements of their own tribe. They pick up arms when a non-indigene assumes a leadership position in their lands as happened at UNIBEN recently.

If Nigerians can't even admit their tribal proclivities, how can anyone be seriously talking about the existence of one nation?