THE WALK FOR CHANGE

Suleiman Hashimu or ‘The traveller’ as I prefer to call him is an indigene of Katsina state, Funtua to be precise. He was born in Osun state but lives in Ibadan.

The traveler promised two years ago to walk from where ever he is to the capital of Nigeria, Abuja if General Muhammadu Buhari wins the election in 2015.  BBC Hausa, Voice of America and Aminiya (a Hausa Mgazine) interviewed him. He was in Lagos when Buhari was declared the President-elect of Nigeria. He left Lagos at about 5am the next day and arrived Ibadan around 6pm. He went to get a police report to allow for the smoothness of his journey but couldn’t wait and so, the D.P.O. gave him his phone number. Despite several discouragement from friends and at the same time, inspiration from friends and loved ones; he continued from Ibadan to Oyo. Then from Oyo to Ogbomoso.; And from Ogbomoso to Ilorin with much hospitality at every stop.

At Ilorin, some people escorted him for some miles and he stopped at Oloru. Oloru, to border’n Sa’ada and then to Jebba. He received so much hospitality from Jebba and unlike other villages he met a lot of people who had heard of the traveller. About 20 people set off with him from Jebba and after some miles, about 18 went back but the remaining two where determined. They met with armed robbers close to Makwa and luckily, he already met one of them in Jebba and he even gave him 200 Naira for pure water. The robber told his colleagues that he was going to see Buhari and he gave him 2000 Naira and then slapped the two men with him. He continued his journey from Mkwa to Kudu and then to Kutigi. He is currently in Kutigi and will continue his journey to Bida tomorrow by the grace of God.

I asked him about his encounter with the different people and he said it was remarkable. Actually he gets more determined to move on from the people. He was even treated like a King in a village in Niger. They sang tribal songs he didn’t understand and travellers stop to provide him with food and company along the way. Most of them are familiar with him because they travel the same route daily. Sometimes up to 10 cars would stop to converse with him. News travelled with the public transports to different places on his route and people from several cities, towns and villages on his route would call to check up on him and inquire about his journey.

He doesn’t know for sure if Buhari knows of him but several of his support organizations do. He intends to reach Abuja by 27^th of May and celebrate with the new president at his inauguration ceremony.

You can reach him on his mobile: 08057333300. Please do share the news of ‘the traveller’.

Bleeding Land

I was filling a petition form on crimes against against humanity in Nigeria and coincidentally a documntary on rape victims in Rwanda was showing on aljazeera. A woman described what it was like to be raped by over four men and ending up with an unwanted child who wouldn’t quit asking about his father in a country where sexual talks is a considerd a taboo. I watched as a woman, a mother cried about raising the pain she would like to bury in not just sand, but also cover in concrete. She read a letter her son sent her from school on reasons why he wants to know who his father is when all of a sudden, her head fell on the table and she cried like we all did in primary school when our uncle flogs us for failing a class work. 

I didn't feel the tears driping from my eyes as I was lost in her world. I imagine being in her shoes; having society look down on you for being a very hurt victim of war. As I filled my form, I arrived at a box that asked why I was signing the petition…why? 

Becasuse of the 219 and many more girls that were kidnapped. Because of  the girls and mothers being raped and tortured by terrorists. Because of the women that will end up raising children they never asked for. For my brothers being kidnapped and forced into terrorism. For those who were slaughtered, burnt, bombed or shot. Because of the orphans created by this insurgency. For my people living as refugees in other countries and are still not safe. For my people in distress, struggle, pain and sorrow.

I don't have to know these people or be from the north east to sympathize with or speak up for them. I just have to be human. I jst have to be a Nigerian to feel the pain of my country men be they from my religion, tribe, or not. So I signed the petition for my country men in suffering; I signed the petiton for Nigeria. I signed the petition in the hope that the tears in my eyes will dry up soon enough for my heart to light up in joy as my great country stops bleeding.

Keep Nigeria Great

   It is good to see that Nigerians are excited about the upcoming elections. From the comments and updates, it seems like people are becoming more aware of their civil rights as the citizens of this great Nation.

    Great nation sounds ironic especially because of the current situation we are in right now. That actually is the reason for this right up. The Baga massacre was a dark, tragic and one of the worst ever experienced in Nigeria and yet, the killing is still going on.

    We have citizens who can barely afford food; fathers who can't take care of their families; people dropping out of school; unemployed graduates all over the place; I could go on and on but you already know the rest.

    The Baga incident should have taught us that the world will only help us if we are willing to help ourselves. So while discouraging election violence; because let's face it, too many of us have died already. This election should be about all of those I mentioned. Tribes and religions will thrive irrespective of the candidates, those of us who have been affected in one way or the other won't.

    Vote into power leaders who will wipe the tears of our loving parents; bring back our girls; stop the killing of our countrymen;  bring our people back home; uphold the unity and restore the greatness of our country. Nigeria has always been a great country. Let's keep it that way please.

Black Friday

Unidentifiable Body parts shattered in pieces and piled up in pick up trucks, people burnt black lined like animals. The body is indeed an empty vessel without the soul. People like me and you laid dead covered in blood fathers, children, grandfathers, uncles lay helpless on the floor of passages, hallways and car parks of hospitals.

   A man from one of the video said over 500 people died from the bomb last, not counting the injured. These are people like me. Fathers like mine. Peoples brothers and uncles. Imagining the pain the victims on the floor were in alone is painful. They laid muted from pain. The pain the dead went through before they passed away! Thought of a needle going through my ears keeps me from getting more piercings. The thought of loosing a member of my family brings me to tears.

    These people humbly went to worship not knowing that everything they did before that time was their last. The cause of all these remains unclear. Is it political? Religious? Tribal? Vengeance? Lots of opinions prevail. I learnt civilisation ends savagery. Ours is a different case. Continuous ending of harmless lives for selfish purposes. 

    And the comments are agonising. Souls being taken, homes being broken and orphans being made constantly aren't conditions to be celebrated. I do not wish any of these on my worst enemy. This is the time to stand together and support the victims of this tragedy. This is the time to speak up as one.

The Day of Tribes

    Imagine a Nigeria where our differences are celebrated. Just like October 1st is Independence Day; a particular day is marked as "unity in diversity day", "cultural day", or something like that. A national holiday to be celebrated by every state. We can all go to the stadium as any of our numerous tribes.

    I will go the 1st time in a Nupe attire. To please my parents of course and also for people know what the nupe attire looks like. I will work majestically😎 in my 2 wrappers and headgear with a huge grin on my face atleast untill I get tired😢

    Another time, I will go as a Tiv woman. God I love their outfit and dance😍. Well, I probably wouldn't break and twist like they do but I'll learn a few words to hammer people when I'm approached😏. And if I end up being approached by someone who speaks fluent Tiv, I will hammer them with my charm😊. They have to show me love, I am dressed as one of them😜.

    I will enter myself into the food contest and cook either Edikang Ikong or moi-moi wrapped with leaves😋. Those can never go wrong unless a Calabar woman participates in the contest😓.

    And oh! I will be around the people of Kebbi, Kogi, Niger and Benue for some fish pepper soup😅.  It will be a perfect replacement for popcorn while I enjoy the Eyo, Akatakpa, Nike, Ijele, Kuti, etc. masquerades display. And the Juju, babalawo or Nigerian magicians perform( I know I wouldn't be a volunteer😁).

    Did I mention that I will watch the Koroso dance by the Hausas👯, hang around the Fulani tent for some Fura da Nono. And oh God! I will definitely be under the Benin tent for some groundnut soup🙅.

    I will go to the Igbo and Yoruba tent to watch the wonder that is their dance. Try on the Igala, Kanuri, Edo and Itsekiri outifit💃. I hope they dash me after I try them on🙏.

    And well, I know I will leave with a bag filled with food and various cultural objects such as carvings and jewelries💅💁. It's not awuf ooo🙈. I will also leave with knowledge and better understanding of numerous tribes👵.

Pray for Nigeria. (Happy Independence Day!).

I woke up this morning and the weather outside was mild and beautiful. The sweet, soft, cold and gentle breeze rocked the leaves and blew joy into the atmosphere. The sky was somewhat grey, looking as though it was going to rain but the clouds weren't heavy. Minutes later it began to drizzle and some peaceful rain followed. Everything about the morning was beautiful and gentle. Glory be to God! Nigeria is 54.

    So I began to pray. I prayed for God to bless my country. Bless the soil, trees, animals, people, etc. every single thing that makes up Nigeria.

    I prayed! I prayed to God to provide Nigeria with better leaders who will exhaust their last energy for Nigeria. Leaders who view every Nigerian as their own.

   I prayed! I prayed for God to bless those who strive for my country, give them strength, will and courage to continue their good work.

    I prayed to God! I begged God to guide our leaders onto the right path and protect us against those that are far gone. 

    I prayed! I prayed that the 2015 elections will be held peacefully and justly and for the best man to win.

    I prayed! I prayed to God to bring back our girls, bring back my sisters and for Him to protect them, grant them patience, endurance and perseverance.

    I prayed! I asked God to defeat the enemies of my great country and expose them. And to grant guidance to those that can be guided.

    I prayed to God! To grant my fellow citizens who died as a result of insurgency, diseases and every other responsibility of the government; heaven. Grant health, endurance and patience to those that are affected one way or another.

    I prayed! I prayed for God to give home to the homeless, voice to the voiceless, health to the sick, wealth to the poor, food to the starving, happiness to the sad and care to the orphan and widow. I prayed to God to provide every Nigerian with anything good they need.

    I prayed! Prayed for peace and stability; honesty amongst the rulers and the ruled.

    I prayed! I prayed for God to expose every hypocrite. For Him to clear the corrupt, the launderer, the criminal, the selfish and the heartless from our path.

    I prayed to God! I keep praying for my blessed country. The land of my ancestors; the land of Queen Amina, Oranmiyan and king Jaja. I asked asked God to protect the home of Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa and Awolowo.

    I prayed to God to watch over and enrich my fatherland. And most of all, I prayed! I pray! And I will continue to pray for Nigerian unity in Diveristy!

Happy Independence Day my people!!!

Lost virtues by Al-Amin Bugaje

Where is the justice?

When nepotism is surviving

When favoritism is abounding

When autonomy is the principle guiding

When wrongs keep surmounting

When rights are being subverted

Where is the peace?

When hatred dwells in our bosom

When discrimination is termed as awesome

When with everyday comes a new sorrow

When a fight breaks out from a hocus

When harmony seize to exist in our focus

Where is the security?

When where ever you are, you aren't  safe

When your home becomes just another cage

When bombs are a substitute for natural plague

When life is treated like a minimum wage

When peace and justice only exist in a page

When you can't trust even a goddamn sage.

I believe : accepting the immutable and redressing the changeable! By AL-AMIN BUGAJE

It takes a lot of courage to believe

To profess a conviction held deep within

I close my eyes and the breath I feel,

Convinces me that I believe.

That Adam was black 

And racism is still at large.

The inevitable report of an explosive car,

And that people are afraid to go out in the dark.

I believe in the gift of life

In the unending struggle of happy and strife

It takes no much effort to be alive

It takes a deep conviction to live a life

I believe in the power of truth

To never lie even when it doesn't favor you

To give credit where it is due

To accept blame from the lapses ensued

I believe in respecting the old

And catering for the young when it is cold

That a society never succeeds

Where injustice gracefully breeds

I believe in making the plausible best of time

And the prohibition to abstain from wine

In order to get, you have to give

And sometimes it is best if you just forgive

I believe in the reality of the early morning grind

The suffering of my people that I can't feign to be blind

I believe the government is abusing power

And our hearts are so deadened that we can't protest for the lack of power

Sometimes all we can muster is a cry

A silent prayer to follow our sigh

A fake smile is all we can muster

To the harsh reality that life offers

I believe the truth can sometimes be harsh

That my people are intellectually inept and rash

That belief is a thing of the heart

And a fight never gets you that far

I believe that history sometimes forgets

And the real heroes never manifest

It takes courage to call history a lie

And that we are all afraid to die

I believe the sky is not really blue

And love stories are not entirely true

People may greatly differ in what they seek

But the truth... The truth is simply what we believe

If you walk long enough you'll get there

And this adventure, life, is fair

Every effort gets rewarded

And every action is recorded.

True strength is acting weak

And being beaten is a chance to redeem

The best result is between extremes 

And the power to change lies deep within.

I believe in enjoying a good laugh

And comforting a friend when they are sad

In enjoying a simple cup of tea

And cherishing the littlest finest of things

I believe love is the most powerful weapon

But Romeo and Juliet was only a fictional sequel

The greater good seems the driving force withal

But in the end, desire or ambition conquers all.

I believe in a life after death

And an existence before life itself

There is an overall power that sees to our affair

And we are judged accordingly, to what seems fair.

I believe in possibilities that show

There are answers besides a yes and a no.

To all the little things above

I'd say I believe in everything and nothing at all.

BROTHERS BY UMAR ABDULLAHI(Evilgenius)

Of what good are we as brothers,if we can't crave a smile on each other's face?
We can't even stand by each other as stand the pillars of the earth,of
what good are we when we can't support each other?
We seized to laugh with our hearts and close our doors against each
other,the devil laughing hysterically at us until he falls off his
throne.
Now our interests are drifted from collective ones to individual
ones,we are defeated by darkness and yet we don't seek light.
Of what good are we when we can't laugh when our brothers laugh and
grief when they do? Oh my brothers!
All we do now is look for faults in others,criticize them, instead of
picking them up,flying with them.
Once we realize what our brothers mean to us, we ll be unbreakable,
indestructible, together,we defeat the devil and his loyal servants.
I wish not to judge you my brothers but appreciate what you do and get
you on track when you are about to derail.
I pour out my heart to you,not minding what ll happen to me,because I
have found a purpose,to be there for you.

TRIBAL WARS BY UMAR ABDULLAHI(Evilgenius)

We were divided into different races and tribes,not as a barrier between us,
But a unifying force that binds us together,to understand one another,
To be as one without mistreatment of one another,
For true unity lies in diversity,it shows our ability to settle our differences,
The stars may appear distinct from one another,
Some shine better than others,illuminating the heavens,
But they're all regarded as stars with no difference,
So should we regard ourselves as being humans without any difference,
For greatness lies in being one,united we are to stand!

Nigeria! My mother

My father,

With heart as black as coal

And hard as rock.

A thief with claws for fingers.

Slaying the delicate dreams of his children.

A hen that drinks it's eggs,

Crushes it's chicks rather than guide.

My father,

Often I wonder how blind art thou

My brother's corpses drowning in their blood.

My sister's slowly ripped of their dignity

My mother clouded with depression watching with folded arms

My father,

My hero, now an enemy

Slowly crushing the labor of my ancestors.

A hypocrite stimulating instability.

An advocate of death you are!

You murder my siblings

You murder the light in my mother

You murder the dreams of my sisters

You murder the heart of my brothers

You murder the joy in my family 

Shame!

I refuse to die

The love of my mother lives on

My prayers lives on 

By chimamanda Ngozi adichie

Some of my relatives lived for decades in the North, in Kano and Bornu. They spoke fluent Hausa. (One relative taught me, at the age of eight, to count in Hausa.) They made planned visits to Anambra only a few times a year, at Christmas and to attend weddings and funerals. But sometimes, in the wake of violence, they made unplanned visits. I remember the word ‘Maitatsine’ – to my young ears, it had a striking lyricism – and I remember the influx of relatives who had packed a few bags and fled the killings. What struck me about those hasty returns to the East was that my relatives always went back to the North. Until two years ago when my uncle packed up his life of thirty years in Maiduguri and moved to Awka. He was not going back. This time, he felt, was different.

My uncle’s return illustrates a feeling shared by many Nigerians about Boko Haram: a lack of hope, a lack of confidence in our leadership. We are experiencing what is, apart from the Biafran war, the most violent period in our nation’s existence. Like many Nigerians, I am distressed about the students murdered in their school, about the people whose bodies were spattered in Nyanya, about the girls abducted in Chibok. I am furious that politicians are politicizing what should be a collective Nigerian mourning, a shared Nigerian sadness.

And I find our president’s actions and non-actions unbelievably surreal.

I do not want a president who, weeks after girls are abducted from a school and days after brave Nigerians have taken to the streets to protest the abductions, merely announces a fact-finding committee to find the girls.

I want President Jonathan to be consumed, utterly consumed, by the state of insecurity in Nigeria. I want him to make security a priority, and make it seem like a priority. I want a president consumed by the urgency of now, who rejects the false idea of keeping up appearances while the country is mired in terror and uncertainty. I want President Jonathan to know – and let Nigerians know that he knows – that we are not made safer by soldiers checking the boots of cars, that to shut down Abuja in order to hold a World Economic Forum is proof of just how deeply insecure the country is. We have a big problem, and I want the president to act as if we do. I want the president to slice through the muddle of bureaucracy, the morass of ‘how things are done,’ because Boko Haram is unusual and the response to it cannot be business as usual.

I want President Jonathan to communicate with the Nigerian people, to realize that leadership has a strong psychological component: in the face of silence or incoherence, people lose faith. I want him to humanize the lost and the missing, to insist that their individual stories be told, to show that every Nigerian life is precious in the eyes of the Nigerian state.

I want the president to seek new ideas, to act, make decisions, publish the security budget spending, offer incentives, sack people. I want the president to be angrily heartbroken about the murder of so many, to lie sleepless in bed thinking of yet what else can be done, to support and equip the armed forces and the police, but also to insist on humaneness in the midst of terror. I want the president to be equally enraged by soldiers who commit murder, by policemen who beat bomb survivors and mourners. I want the president to stop issuing limp, belated announcements through public officials, to insist on a televised apology from whoever is responsible for lying to Nigerians about the girls having been rescued.

I want President Jonathan to ignore his opponents, to remember that it is the nature of politics, to refuse to respond with defensiveness or guardedness, and to remember that Nigerians are understandably cynical about their government.

I want President Jonathan to seek glory and a place in history, instead of longevity in office. I want him to put aside the forthcoming 2015 elections, and focus today on being the kind of leader Nigeria has never had.

I do not care where the president of Nigeria comes from. Even those Nigerians who focus on ‘where the president is from’ will be won over if they are confronted with good leadership that makes all Nigerians feel included. I have always wanted, as my president, a man or a woman who is intelligent and honest and bold, who is surrounded by truth-telling, competent advisers, whose policies are people-centered, and who wants to lead, who wants to be president, but does not need to – or have to- be president at all costs.

President Jonathan may not fit that bill, but he can approximate it: by being the leader Nigerians desperately need now.

- Chimamanda Adichie is the award winning author of Half of a Yellow Sun, Purple Hibiscus, The Thing Around Your Neck and Americanah

Stand up for peace!

       Here is the truth, the blame game is a very terrible idea at this point in time. I mean, even if the fingers point at the actual person or people at fault, it wouldn't change the past; it certainly will not correct the present and will most certainly ruine the future.

       You find things like 'the north refused to debate for independence', 'the civil war must be revenged', 'the various coups that led to the murder of dignitaries is the problem', 'no, goodluck caused instability in Nigeria', 'it can be traced to obasanjo', 'or IBB'... Seriously what solutions do all of these offer?

       It is good to know your history, know where things went wrong and try to correct them. The blame game will only result it chaos. People are hungry, suffering and dying. Do you really want the separation at this point? If you were one of the Chibok girls, their parents, a victim in Jos, Abuja, Kano, yobe, etc. how would you feel if your fellow country men not only don't show sympathy but don't care an atom about you?

       There are so many people that are greedy, careless, selfish, heartless, worthless, it just goes on and on. But would you just take your actions based on these people? What about those who sleep under the bridge in Lagos; the widowed mother of 5 in Enugu; the crippled almajiri in Kano, the father whose only source of income(taxi) got destroyed in Abuja; the orphan with cancer in Asaba; the girls in Sambisa forest? These are people worth fighting for. People whose voices are not heard.

       So i say if you must argue, argue for unity in diversity, speak for your poor countrymen who have been oppressed for decades. If you must speak, speak for peace.

How to cultivate peacebleness and homogeneousness in Nigeria

Just as necessity is the mother of invention, so is ambition the mother of achievement and the father of both of them is opportunity.I am elated to be given this oppurtunity through a medium that almost everyone depend on.....Nigerians have seen enough to know that it is not somebody’s “tribe and tongue” that matters but what they have to offer. If a leader is doing well in office, Nigerians hardly discuss the sectional issues. I know in my heart of heart that what Nigeria needs is a leader that can make things happen – the real issue is not North or South, man or woman, Ijaw or Fulani. We know this very well. We only pretend not to know because of political sentiments.

The maintenance of peace in the multi-ethnic and multi-religious country of Nigeria is very vital to its development..........With more than 250 ethnic tribes and various religious beliefs divided across geo-political lines - of Muslim North and Christian South,the nation's unity is being woefully threatened by ethnocentricism, sentiments and religious fanaticism. Recently, religious radicalism has exploded in the Northern part of the country causing more harm and hatred among the overall Nigerians. Following are some tips on how to maintain unity in Nigeria:Sentiments Must Be Stopped as

Sentiment is one of the major problems that are threatening the cause of unity and harmony in Nigeria. The war of words and tribal feuds are been squabbled by Nigerians all over the country. We must stop making sweeping generalization on other ethnic tribes, and begin to reserve our emotions toward other ethnic groupings if peace and unity must reign in Nigeria.Love should be the bedrock of peace and oneness in a multi-cultural nation like Nigeria. Nigerians of every race, gender, and religion should love and respect each other as one family. We should learn to love our fellow countrymen. If we're challenged by a problem, we should round ourselves on a negotiating table and not to dwell in finger-pointing and wicked sentiments. If we love and adore ourselves as Nigerians, peace and unity will forever thrive in our country.Thirdly Sense of Brotherhood which is a very important and vital factor not only in maintaining unity in Nigeria, but in upholding peace and tranquility among Nigerians. Nigerians should regard all and sundry as one. Parents at home and teachers in school should orient the kids about the importance of equality. Let the Nigerian people know that they belong to one family. The notion of "we" vs. "them" must be stopped for Nigeria to stay stronger, safer and more united.Fourthly All Nigerians must Lock their Religions in the Closet,Religion is a good thing, but its practice. should be private -- only between you and your God on whom you believe. Its practice should be within the confines of your church or mosque; your home and your family. We should learn to leave our religion at our homes and not try to carry it along and enforce it in our public square.Fifthly,To maintain peace and unity in Nigeria, massive enlightenment must ensued. The Federal Government must step-in to enlighten the general public, especially the ignorant and illiterate population about unity and peaceful co-existence among the citizenry, with the central theme of equality and oneness. This can be relayed through the channels of media so as to reach the mass population.

Nigeria was built on the foundations of tolerance and solidarity. As Nigerians, we should uphold the Nigerian dream of unity in diversity and stay strong, peaceful, and united despite the bitter challenges that are facing us today.Diversity is not about how we differ but It is about embracing one another’s uniqueness.The future of this vast country of Nigeria must depend on the efforts of ourselves to help ourselves. This we cannot do if we are not working together in unity. Indeed unity today is our greatest concern and it is the duty of everyone of us to work to strengthen it. Bitterness due to political,religious and tribal differences will carry Nigeria nowhere and I appeal to all political leaders,islamic leaders and traditional rulers throughout the country to try to control their extremists. Nigeria is large enough to accommodate us all in spite of our differences.

Football: Uniting us as one Nigeria

The World Cup is an event that unites entire populations. For a month, we put aside our differences politically, socially, religiously, culturally, and we forget about our judgments of people who root for one political party, social group, religion, culture, language, with the ones we root for. For one month, we throw on our jerseys, flags and colors of our country and unite as one giant support system for those 11 men on the field. Strange, but when there’s national pride for your country at stake on the world stage, you set aside your differences and become one.

As our first game was being played against Iran, four years of anticipation of the World’s biggest tournament culminated with the realization that, no matter how much you follow or enjoy other sports, there is nothing that can be compared to the magnitude of the impact football has on Nigerians, and it’s about more than just the game; it’s about more than just culture, it’s about passion and love for your country, your history, pride in who you are and where in the world you hail from. And whenever the Super eagles are on the pitch, they unite us all as one Nigeria, there is no Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba or any other tribe, there is no Christian, Muslim or any other religion, there is no PDP, APC or any political party, there is only one Nigeria. 

Football brings Nigerians together to share a common interest and celebrate the country they hail from. It’s a reason to shout our country’s name, belt out our National Anthem (which is the best in the world) with pride, and take on an “it’s us against the world” mentality. And while only one team can win, everyone takes away something special from watching the game, none more obvious than we can live and coexist together as one country without any hindrance or socio-political barriers not only for the ninety minutes of the game, but forever. If that doesn’t sum up what the football can do to bring Nigerians together, there is no other way to describe how important of an event this world cup has been in making us realize despite the insurgencies, the differences, the disputes we proudly unite as a Nation.

                                      By Mubasheer 

Religion, Politics & Nigeria's National Unity By Paul I. Adujie Lawcareer2007@aol.com New York, United States

All human lives are sacred. Nigerian lives, are especially sacred to me. This means that the taking of a life, a Nigerian life, by anyone, is the ultimate heresy, the ultimate blasphemy and the most egregious sacrilege! A Nigerian taking the live of another Nigerian, is the most unpardonable blasphemy, heresy and most damnable sacrilege!

 

What then could possess any Nigerian to kill another Nigerian? Why do we kill ourselves in the name of any religions? Or in the name of cults or shrines? Speaking for myself, personally, I find the fact that I am a Nigerian worth all the celebrations in the world! I am bashful in my Nigerian-ness, it is for me, actually stronger than any form of  organized religions, or any of the usual formal religions. It is stronger than any faiths, cults or shrines!

 

 Nigerians have been proclaimed as the most religious people on earth! But what is Nigeria's benefit in this? How be it that Nigerians are feverishly religious, some Nigerians are quick to display their passion, their fervor, emotional and emotive reactions to religious issues and debates? Some Nigerians are even known to display such emotive expressions and tones, about religious matters, bearing on the irrational and fanatical.

 

Some Nigerians are known to gyrate so ferociously about religious matters, and yet, they would not do the same for Nigeria's national interests? They would not show similar or identical fervors and passions regarding the protection and preservation of Nigeria's national unity! But why?

 

Nigeria is unarguably permeated with high rate of crime and insecurity, there are reports of armed robberies, there are these cases of intractable corruption phenomenon, there are cases of 419ers that have given Nigeria a public relations black eye on the world stage.

Where then, are the majority of Nigerians who are very deeply religious people? Where then is their positive influences on public morality and public policies?

 

Are some of them faithless in their ostentatious claims of religiosities and moral certitudes? Is what we have then, merely, proclamations without practice of norms?

 

Some Nigerians kill other Nigerians because of religious fervor and religious fanaticism? And, I surely have no patience for any Nigerian that would kill another Nigerian, for religious “reasons†more like religious unreason!

 

How can anyone or I, reconcile religious fervors and passions that are frequently on display by Nigerians, with unthinking killing or murder of fellow Nigerians in the name of any religion? Isn't that like loudly proclaiming your virginity, while carrying visible pregnancy?

 

I do not know of any holy book, that encourages crime or immorality. All religions seem to have obvious auto response in the advocacies of moral and ethical life styles for its adherents. So, one may rightly ask, from which populace do corrupt Nigerians come? Would a good Christian, a good Muslim, give a wink and a nod to crook? 419er or looter?

I would hope not! How then does any true Christian, true Muslim, explain our malaises?

 

Nigeria's national unity is crucial for our national development. Just as crucial as the elimination of corruption. I constantly therefore get very impatient with issues that separate us as a people of one national citizenship.

 

I have always wondered, what it would take to create a stronger and indivisible bond between all citizens of Nigeria. Would a foreign war do the trick? During the schism between Nigeria and Cameroon over Bakassi Peninsula, I wanted Nigeria to prevail in the dispute with Cameroon over that territory. At some point, I wondered whether a war, as undesirable as wars are, I wondered whether a war by Nigeria with Cameroon over Bakkassi Peninsula would have spurred Nigerians to love Nigeria and each other more?

 

My rationale or reasoning was that, Nigerians and Nigeria, faced with an external enemy, may actually, forget and jettison petty squabbling between Nigerians, based on the politics of religion, region and ethnicities. I have always wondered, whether facing a national catastrophe, national disaster or cataclysm of immense proportions, could stimulate our sense of oneness, nationalism and patriotism.

 

Nigerians in my experience, have in the past been united by grief, tragedies and catastrophes. I remember how Nigerians from every conceivable religion, region and ethnic backgrounds, rallied and united in sympathies and commiserations with fellow Nigerians in Bakolori, Sokoto State, as Bakolori farmers, during President Shagari's administration, had become victims of government's forceful actions, against these Nigerian farmers who had resisted the confiscation of their lands for a federal project

 

It will also be recalled, how our nation rallied in sympathies and mournfulness, in support of victims of Ogunpa River, when it had overflowed and breached its banks, killing scores, and damaging properties extensively. Nigerians mourned as Ogunpa River breached it and flooded communities, killing many Nigerians in scores, Nigerians were united.

 

The same can be said of Nigerians reaction recently, during the President Obasanjo administration, when the federal government exercised it's strong arm and might, in dealing with situations in Odi, then Zaki Biam etc, the government received robust criticisms from a welter of Nigerian critics, who rallied to support, the recipients of government tough stance policies.

 

National unity, has also been exemplified and replayed, after every successive air disasters and successive defeats at international soccer games, even though is dirges, but united, nevertheless! 

 

These assertions that I make, are not so, because I want to be flippant or careless. Instead, these assertions arises from my keen observations of Nigerians over an extended period of time. I have for instance observed that Nigerians tend to bandy together when there are crises, crises that affect us Nigerians as a collective in interests and aspirations.

 

Imagine the wonderful Nigeria that would result, if Nigerians, all focus on a common purpose? As opposed, to, parochial, limited and shortsighted divisive purposes?

 

These observations that I have made, have led me to conclude that a great number of Nigerians seem to owe unflinching and unalloyed allegiance to their religion, and then ethnicity, and region, in that order.

 

I have observed how frequently, Nigerians have reacted with extraordinary strong emotions and opinions, to matters Nigerian, in particular, issues that have religious undertones and flavor. But why does parochial matter have the advantage, over national issues and national interests?

 

Similarly, Nigerians are quick to jump and leap, in defense of their ethnicity or region, when matters affecting such geographical affinity, to some Nigerians, you would see ferocity, vehemence and audacious reactions in defense of, in retaliations against perceived targets or opponents or proponents.

 

If a Nigerian writes an article, for instance, about how Nigeria can harness the immense benefits of modern technology and its information superhighways, or how Nigeria could place Nigerian scientists on the surface of the moon, in say, ten years, or if anyone bash Nigeria, the response would be assuredly, tepid and terse, spiced with snickers of laughter and jest, at the writer's dare at such positive audacities!

 

Conversely, if anyone writes about a particular religion, or shrine in the East-North-West-Central and in-between of Nigeria's geographical land-space, or if anyone writes about the Christianity or Islam, assuredly too, there will most probably be, a ferocities of flurry of responses. There will be a deluge of attacks. As well as a flood of threats of sanctions and harms to the writer.

 

Before I became a semi retired Catholic, I left the Catholic church and joined a semi Catholic church, Marble Collegiate church in midtown Manhattan in New York City. This church is where the late Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, the author of the famous book, “The Power of Positive Thinking†He held court as an all inclusive congregation preacher reverend, he preached as the resident Bishop for over fifty years, until his death at 93 years of age as the head of this Dutch-Reformed, Catholic without the guilt-church.

 

At Marble Collegiate church, the practice of religion is liberal, very liberally inclusive. It regularly, invited Imams of Islam, Rabbis of Judaism, animated Pastors of Pentecostal, as well as Baptist churches, and, Gay and Lesbian ministers to preach regularly, at Marble!

 

Marble Collegiate church in my view therefore, practice tolerance, practice diversities par excellence, in doing so, it weaved a true unity of fabrics of its congregants into a spiritual cloth for members of the congregation, irrespective of their race, nationalities, religious backgrounds and leanings, and sexual orientation. The choir leader of Marble at a time, was a hired Jewish female Rabbi equivalent.

 

This Marble Collegiate analogy, is just the same way, in my opinion at least, that Nigerians can weave the different and very wondrously diverse fabrics of our Nigerian-ness, into a national unity cloth, for the benefits of all Nigerians

 

If I have my way, I would convince Nigerians to reverse the order above, in which religion, region and ethnicities, as parochial as they are, are however put over and above, as priority, against Nigeriaâ€کs national interests! Nigerians should love Nigeria first and foremost, then love hometowns and region, then religion and other things. But Nigeria first and foremost and all other things, as the biblical injunctions say, all other things will be added to Nigerians and Nigeria.

 

I was opposed to sovereign national conference, I remain opposed.

I have been called various unflattering names for believing unflinchingly, in one, indivisible Nigeria.

 

Reference: Please also see related materials

1. Why Must We Kill Ourselves? 

2. Nigerian Citizenship Should Be Redefined 

3.  This is: A Moral Issue, a National Issue, an Election Issue! 

4. www.ngex.com/personalities/voices/padujie051703.htm