One Nigeria: A slogan or affirmation of belief?

These days, there are fervent efforts by the politicians to declare allegiance to the unity of Nigeria, otherwise called; One Nigeria. It is an affirmation as well as a pledge. As some still believe that Nigeria will one day work as a unified nation, many have lost hope in the country. But these pledges have not been made to the people to improve their lives but to a slogan on which the country has witnessed unity and division.

Nigeria, home to about 300 ethnic groups has had its unity questioned and challenged at most times. There is little to lack of effort towards nation building as well as cultivating sense of patriotism among the peoples of the country.

Dating back to history, it has not been believed that Nigeria can operate as a unified entity or the peoples to have or experience national identity. In fact, the major players in Nigeria have at a time played both as believers of One Nigeria and as well cast doubts in the possibility of One Nigeria. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe had remained steadfast in the One Nigeria project. This could have controlled his decisions and actions that have brought him opprobrium as some people blame him for the woes of the country based on his pursuit of One Nigeria.

Nigeria is an amalgamation of many ethnic nationalities that are distinct with different languages and ways of life. Sir Arthur Richards, then Governor-General of Nigeria, in 1948, informed Royal Empire Society in London that, “it is only the accident of British suzerainty which has made Nigeria one country. It is still far from being one country or one nation socially or even economically. “Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, in 1947, told Nigerian Legislative Council that, “Since the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern provinces in 1914, Nigeria has existed as one as country on paper, it is still far from being united. Nigerian unity is only a British intention for the country.”

Knowing all these differences, the elites worked to secure Nigeria’s independence from Britain. In his first speech as the Prime Minister in 1957, Sir Abubakar Tafewa Balewa appealed to Nigerians to work together. He said, “I appeal to all my countrymen and women to cooperate with me and my colleagues to create a better understanding among our peoples, to establish mutual respect, and trust, among all our tribal groups, and to unite in working together for the common cause…I am convinced, and I want you also to be convinced, that the future of this vast country must depend, in the main, on the efforts of ourselves to help ourselves. This we cannot do if we do not work together in unity. Indeed, unity today is our greatest concern, and it is the duty of everyone of us to work so that we may strengthen it.” The unity is still the greatest concern till today.

It was expected that after independence, the people will work to diminish the fault lines of differences and work towards nation building but days after the independence, Sir Ahmadu Bello said, “The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate of our grandfather, Othman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We must use the minorities in the North as willing tools and the South as a conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us or have control over their future.” This statement did not show a commitment to One Nigeria project but a statement that has become an ideology on which ethno-religious supremacy was birthed which has been ‘ruthlessly’ pursued alongside the preaching of One Nigeria.

In his book, Path to Nigeria freedom which was published in 1947, Chief Obafemi Awolowo said that, “Nigeria is not a nation; it is a mere geographical expression. There are no ‘Nigerians’ in the same sense as there are “English” or “Welsh” or “French”; the word Nigeria is merely a distinctive appellation to distinguish those who live within the boundaries of Nigeria from those who do not.”

These have shown that at the foundation of the country, One Nigeria was not a belief.

In recent times, One Nigeria has been stressed that it can be said that these affirmations have become a political tool to exploit and to entrench sectional and sectarian interests. It has become a reason for instituting ethno-religious supremacy rather than build national interest and the actual unity.

Without developing and nurturing national, political, or even ideological identity, where the peoples are on equal status of justice, equity and merit, Nigeria cannot attain national unity. The complexities of the nation have not been well managed, and politicians have continued to exploit them for their self and regional interests.

One Nigeria is not negotiable

In 2017, President Buhari stated that the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable. Nigeria’s unity can be negotiable. Human beings make laws for themselves and improve same laws when they see it is unworkable or have some loopholes. That is why laws are amended to suit the times but why is the question of One Nigeria always set on a caveat not to be touched?

The five majors searched for what will keep Nigeria one and struck. There was counter coup. An agreement was reached at Aburi and was abrogated, and war was fought to keep Nigeria one even federal character was adopted to “reflect the federal character of Nigeria” but up till this time, Nigerians are still in search to make Nigeria one.

Many Nigerians have died for this in the midst of sloganeering of the term; One Nigeria, which serves political convenience at the expense of the many lives lost and the living.

While some regions want a conversation to achieve a workable system that can sustain One Nigeria, those who share President Buhari’s belief, think that One Nigeria is not negotiable. They are resisting and doing all they can to suppress the advocacy and agitations. Could it be said that the fight to keep Nigeria One is to achieve the goals of making Nigeria an ‘estate of Othman Dan Fodio?’

To really make Nigeria one; the pursuit for ethno-religious supremacy must be set aside, let Nigerians come together and develop for themselves a constitution and a system that can work for all based on equity, justice, merit and freedom.

 

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