When
we are treating the symptoms of
a societal problem, there is a
nexus; everything under the sun
is connected as evidence-based
research shows. Those who
develop a third eye either
through research or through
illumination by wisdom see the
connections and those who don’t,
operate at their peril and get
stuck. Then when the unexpected
happens,
they
get surprised. In the past, the
nature of insecurity was mere
criminality where some people
want to take advantage of
others,
communities fighting for justice
over oil spills like in the
Niger Delta
or a sect that wants to push an
idea like the Maitatsine and the
Boko Haram insurgency but what
we are seeing today is
criminality taken to another
level, the trajectory of trying
to take down the State’s
security apparatus, the security
architecture of the country like
the past-cases in Borno axis;
and the recent case in Imo state and
some occasions in the
south-east. Attacking the
security agencies directly like
the army barracks, police post,
police stations or correctional
facilities will only make the
security agencies focus more on
protecting themselves rather
than the people and in the Imo
state case, attackers did not
just go to steal money or guns,
they attacked to destroy, to
make the state ungovernable,
challenging the security
architecture of the country in
an organized way. If law-abiding
citizens are attacked, we call
the police and if police or
military posts are attacked, who
do we call? The north-east and
north-west are facing
challenging security situations
like never before including
environmental issues, some
northerners are asked to leave
the south and the
ever-increasing agenda and clamour or agitation for
restructuring is slowly turning
into agitation for a break-up of
the country. Some have argued
that some non-state actors are
organizing and pushing the
agenda differently by different
attacks that we see today and
more are coming, they argued it
is an act of war. Well, most of
the time people will say this
and other crises is not an act
of war, but it surely doesn’t
feel like a time of peace.
Indeed, today, humanity stands
at a defining moment in history
and Nigeria is at a crossroads.
We are confronted with this
perpetuation of disparities of
contemporary youths’ problem,
which is laziness: small
work and big money,
socio-economic problems: poverty
and lack of opportunity, several
health problems which include
the likes of malaria, HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis, hypertension,
diabetes and Covid-19 pandemic;
and the issue of unity, peace
and war.
So rather than allow the
situation to degenerate and
escalate to the point of no
return let us dialogue with
reasons perhaps, some argued, a
referendum to restructure,
break-away or remain might not
be a bad idea. If we decide to
remain as one then all hands
should be on deck to make it
work, if it is to restructure
and go back to regional
governance, so be it and if we
decide that the only option is
to break away, then by all means
“Kowa ya koma gidan ubansa”.
But we must bear in mind that
Nigeria’s strength has always
been in its diversity, elected
to bring people together, not to
set them against one another and
strong because of their
differences, not despite them.
As one entity, people are
strengthened in many ways by
their shared experiences, by the
diversity that inspires both the
northerners and southerners; and
the world, and by the way, they
treat each other not the way
they attack each other. Because
it is both the right thing to do
and a certain path to economic
development, growth, peaceful
coexistence and respect for one
another, which has always, been
the bottom-line: the
relationship between all
northern and southern ethnic
tribes both Muslims and
Christians, one based on
recognition of rights, respect,
co-operation and partnership,
building a vibrant and tolerant
democracy with accountable
leadership to the people. Among
other measures, it is hoped that
the Federal Government will work
co-operatively with all
stakeholders toward the Promise
of One Nigeria, a Framework for
every community; to re-launch a
peaceful coexistence strategy,
provide quality education and
make it easier for everyone to
build successful lives and
contribute to the economic
success of all Nigerians in
general because the good people
of this country know what kind
of community and country they
want to live in.
Pessimists eliminate the option
to choose. Imagine a team that
comes to their coach, and says:
"Coach, there's only one way
that we can win!" "No! That’s
not how it works," the coach
would reply. "Your job," that
coach would say, "is to find
EVERY way to win." By the act of
Providence, the people of this
country are destined to live
together, either they find every
way to live in peace and work
together or they kill
themselves. “We must be open
always, honest to ourselves,
accepting, and generous, knowing
that accommodating and helping
those in needs strengthens our
communities and make them safer,
more prosperous places to live”.
“We know the greatness that
Nigeria can bring, and we know
and believe that our success and
unity is not only about doing
well for ourselves but also
about others doing well for
themselves too and leaving an
even better, more peaceful and
prosperous world for our
children and next-generation,”
said ACRD Chairman. As clearly
captured by the Open Society
Foundation’s theory of change,
which is rooted in the belief
that “IF well-informed citizens
can increase their participation
in decision-making
processes, AND governance
structures, processes and
regional integration mechanisms
are strengthened and function
more effectively in the best
interest of the society AND the
human rights of all its people,
in particular the poor,
vulnerable and marginalized are
respected and
protected, THEN this would
contribute to making the society
a freer, safer, more integrated,
more equitable and ultimately
more democratic and prosperous”.
As Government continues to make
real change happen, to ensure a
clean environment and a strong
economy built on greater
Nigeria, and on providing
greater security and opportunity
for all, Nigerians have a duty
and responsibility to support
them; for that is the trust they
bestow upon their leaders. The
final solution is to gain total
control all across to empower,
engage and push for the “Federal
Sphere” (this being the most
effective) approach with a
single blow, becoming a Caesar
rather than a Lenin, renewing
hope and confidence, a
springboard towards the Day of
the Awakening Nation – the
Promise of one Nigeria,
prosperous, safe, united and
confident. This is all up to us!
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