By Theo John-Philips
How do nations come to be? How are nations formed and what guarantees the identity of a nation? I will use Israel as a point of reference for a nation established by God, if we are to go by biblical accounts is the one nation guaranteed by God himself (Romans 11 *1-10*). The Abrahamic covenant, The Land (Deuteronomic) Covenant, The Davidic Covenant, The New Covenant, The Remnant Promise and The Future Promise..(Ref. Charles E. McCracken).
My other reference of course will be another nation that also styles itself as being founded by men but established on Gods promise that man should seek, find, conquer, procreate and dominate; I speak of The United States of America and arguably the most powerful and the wealthiest nation on planet Earth. I take quick look at the constitution of the US and one thing strikes me… Written in 1787, ratified in 1788, and in operation since 1789, the United States Constitution is the world’s longest surviving written charter of government. Its first three words – “We The People” – affirm that the government of the United States exists to serve its citizens.
In its preamble, The preamble sets the stage for the Constitution (Archives.gov). It clearly communicates the intentions of the framers and the purpose of the document. The preamble is an introduction to the highest law of the land; it is not the law. It does not define government powers or individual rights.
Establish Justice is the first of five objectives outlined in the 52-word paragraph that the Framers drafted in six weeks during the hot Philadelphia summer of 1787. They found a way to AGREE on the following basic principles:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. (Wikipedia).
My focus is on ONE WORD that for me is the foundation of the failure of Nigeria at nationhood but underscores the failure of successive governments in Nigeria since our independence in 1960 to forge a united nation. That one word is AGREE. Do the ethnic nationalities that make up Nigeria AGREE to be a united nation with a common and binding vision??? The answer is a big NO and is exemplified in the utter breakdown of security in Nigeria and the pockets of communal and ethno religious crisis all over the country.
DID WE EVER AGREE ON ANYTHING??
Yes! We all agree on the turn by turn looting of the resources of the country depending on which ethnic group governs at the center.
Nigeria is the most populous Black African country and the largest expanse of space occupied by the black race but beyond that, what else are we? I am a Nigerian and truly, individually we excel and do great things. Bayo Ogunlesi is a good reference of a Nigerian doing great things but could he have excelled if he had stayed back in Nigeria??
Over the years, there have being promises and more promises of a great nation but what we have bred as national leaders are Ethno Religious warlords who are born of our ethnic rivalries, religious supremacy battles and nepotism. This was better exemplified in the last government that exacerbated our differences and fanned the flames of every divisive sentiment in our body politic.
It seems over the years, the walls that divide us seems stronger and higher than the bridges that connects us. We are a people with different ideology not willing to give way to peaceful coexistence. The average Nigerian believes more in his ethnic nationality than a Nigerian nation. By the way, it sometimes seems that Nigeria does not give you any chance to be anything but a tribalist. Everything we do is often viewed from a tribal or ethnic perspective.
Air Peace, the much awaited game changer for Nigerians to get better pricing for international air fares had barely started business before some started a campaign that the clothing of the air hostesses showed an Igbo slant. If indeed we are a nation of people with an interest in economic growth and better quality lifestyle for our people, Air Peace should be commended for celebrating our cultural values and heritage but here we are narrowing down a beautiful idea to rather myopic and clannish thoughts.
One will struggle to understand how Nigeria wants to grow economically with such thinking amongst us and these thinking seems to be growing.
The effort and energy that Nigerians put into discussing issues on ethnicity, tribal politics and divisions, if these energies can be used for nation building, we would be a great nation.
Every tribe in Nigeria has its peculiarities, strengths and weaknesses…all that add up to the beautiful diversity we all have experienced.
I believe it’s time Nigerians move on and leave the ethnic bigots/ jingoists amongst the ruling class who have nothing else to offer and their blind supporters.
I usually have a hearty laugh when I read this usual hysteria about our “three famous fault lines”- ethnicity, religion, politics.
I have long realised that whereas people like us- ‘common folks’- hit our heads on the wall about them, and hurl insults at one another, the elite (read: the bourgeoisie, capitalists, favoured intelligentsia, politicians) and their ilk give no damn about these three things.
They loot, connive, contrive, etc, etc, in unison, without giving any consideration for those three…They are connected by them and cry blue murder ONLY when their “feeding bottles” are threatened and/or withdrawn.
Make we continue to dey make noise for social media…😊 SHIOR TO ALL OF US.
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