FOR THE LOVE OF COUNTRY

BY CAISY GIDSON
November 5, 2017

The need to establish a balance amongst nationalities within Nigeria, rethinking and resolving the complexities of our Union, sequestering those things that alters the nation’s prospects and advancement are the natural obligations of the Custodians of our National Heritage.

Who are the Custodians of our Nation’s Heritage? Did history bestow on Post Independence Elites the role of Guardians in defense of our national ideals? Those who ought to craft a common national character failed to do so, leading to the state of desolation we see today? The attempt to answer these questions will trigger certain anxieties that vexed the sentiments that threaten the coexistence of all peoples within what is today called Nigeria.

First, I think the sacrifices and contributions of Political Leaders, viz.; The Right Honorable Sir Tafawa Belewa, His Excellency Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alhaji, Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and others that negotiated and led the new Country out of colonial rule into an independent State are immeasurable. This naturally confers on them the role of Custodians of our Heritage and Protectors of our national ideals.

The state of our Union today suggests that the Country is stripped off her commonalities and ideals; the promotion of the very things that divides us are been advanced, we lost the chance early on after independence to build a Nation-State that sees just one people, one that places the “Nigerianess” above all tribal identities. All we hear from all divide are blames, suspicions, manipulations, nepotism etc.

The Hausas, Fulanis, Nupes, Gwaris, Tivs and other Minority Groups inhabit the Northern Region of Nigeria with Nineteen States. The rhetoric today, a fall out of the North’s position on restructuring is that, the Region and its People are “misunderstood.” One cant disagree with this opinion, still I think it will amount to escapism if such argument is used to advance the need to de-emphasis the need to reconsider and renegotiate our Union and Nationhood.

Truly the North and her People are “misunderstood,” but the Igbos, the major tribe that populates the Eastern part of the Country is the most deprived. The South, the region where the Ijaws, the Ishekiris, the Ogonis, the Binis and others alike occupy are the most “abused.” The West, where the Yorubas are domicile appear to be the most “underestimated.” The question is who's or which Group is responsible for inflicting all these on the various Divides as enumerated above, the answer is close to home the "Elites".

Members of this Stratum are they from heaven? The answer here is no, clearly, they emerged from amongst us. Within this Class, there is a Sub-Class, the one solely responsible for statecraft, development of norms, entrenching of ideals and forging of philosophy.

Noni (1981) maintains that Political Elites are those who have influence over the fate of the Society because of their superiority. Again, Ekeh (1983) defined Elites as small minorities who play an exceptionally influential part in the affairs of Society, decision-makers who whose power is not subject to control by any other body in the Society.
The submissions of these great Minds underscores the fact that Nigerian Political Elites has failed to use their powers to direct the Country towards progress, they failed to project the right narratives that should help advance our strength and commonalities over our weakness and the things that divides us. There's only one known challenge, it is not a Northern challenge either is it a Southern one or Eastern nor Western problem, it's clearly a Nigerian problem and we must develop home grown solutions to resolve the challenges that is common to us all.

Our role as Citizens is to compel Leaders through citizenship to advance national narratives that will spur the need to see everyone as one People, placing the subjects that promote egalitarianism and justice, what we say is what we think, what we think is what we do and what we do most of the time is what we are, lets make them change the narratives to one that promote our common identity, the “Nigerianess” for the love of Country.