THE NIGERIAN DREAM: IF ONLY WE ASKED “Y”
For too long, we have been told that we are not one people; for too long, we have been made to turn against one another by those who fear what we could become and what we could do if we truly knew who we are; for far too long we have been divided by those who dread the potential of a united people, a people terrible from their beginning, for whom neither the waves of the sea nor the winds of the desert could be a limit to greatness if we could tear down the walls of division and come together as one people, as one nation, in one spirit of brotherhood. I speak of a nation on whom the destiny of a whole continent is hinged and for whose rise to greatness the whole world is waiting. This is our story – The Nigerian story.
Thousands of years ago, in response to the Creator’s instruction to humanity to disperse into and fill the ends of the earth, men, women and children began to take migratory journeys to various portions of the earth’s surface. They journeyed as families, and in groups defined by race, language and other ethnic and cultural distinctions. Each group sought for and naturally gravitated to that specific destination within the vastness of the earth’s surface, whose version of nature’s symphony was in harmony with the call of destiny in the hearts of its people; that region whose geographical features resonated with the people’s aspirations and gave meaning to their search for provision, for protection, for peace, for purpose, for glory and for God; for the Creator had predetermined the boundaries of nations from the beginning. So, while the Caucasians migrated north of the equator toward the Arctic; and the Orientals settled eastwards in the region west of the Pacific, the Negroes found home in a land mass around the equator, between the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans, in a continent that had comparatively closer acquaintance with the sun – Africa.
Among the Negroes were certain groups, each with its unique ethnic and tribal disposition including language and customs. These groups, each in its own time, found the end of their journey, the embodiment of their dreams, the fruit of their search for rest and a place called home in an area beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, away from the waters of the Nile, in the area around the Niger – a land of rivers and streams, of mountains and valleys, of hills and plains, with desert sands on one end and ocean sands on the other, and grasslands and forests in between; a land of grazing cattle and swarming fish; of hovering birds and roaring beasts; a land of ore and crude, of rocky grounds and fertile plains, with soil to nurture a rich array of crops – cereals and legumes, spices and tubers, shrubs and trees – from groundnut to kola nuts and from pepper to plantains, from yams and coco yams to cocoa and coconuts, from millet and guinea corn to rubber and oil palm; a land where two great rivers meet and flow together into the sea.
In the north, these peoples include the Kanuri who settled northeast and the Hausa-Fulani who spread east to west of the north. In the south, they include the Igbos who settled southeast of the Niger and the Yorubas who dominated the southwest. At the southernmost end, they include the Edo, Efik, Ibibio, Ijaw, Esan and many others. In the central region, they include the Jukun, Nupe, Tiv, Idoma and Igala. These peoples, together with over 250 other ethno-linguistic groups found home in the area around the Niger.
Though differing in tribes and tongues, all of these groups had significant elements in common. Besides the fact that most of these groups, at some immediate or remote point in history, shared similar ancestry, with some originating from others, they also shared the values of integrity and honesty, loyalty and community spirit, diligence in commerce and industry, aversion to subservience and oppression, resistance to tyranny and the penchant for conquest and dominion. The history of these peoples boasts of the likes of Mai Idris Aloma of Borno credited for victories in 330 wars and over 1000 battles, Mohammed Al-Kanemi also of Borno, Queen Amina of Zaria – the legendary female warrior and state builder, Uthman Dan Fodio, who spearheaded the Fulani Jihad, which, in its true essence, was a fight against oppression; Tsoede, founder of Nupe Kingdom, Oranmiyan, founder of the Old Oyo Empire, Lagelu, the Yoruba warrior, founder of Ibadan, Lisabi, the heroic liberator of the Egbas; Ewuare, Ozolua, Esigie, Orogbua and Ehengbuda – the great empire-building kings of the ancient Benin empire reputed for leading their armies to war in person; Eze Akuma, the first King of Arochukwu and the brave warriors of Igbo-land ingeniously depicted in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” in the character, “Okonkwo”. These inhabitants of the Niger area were, indeed, a people terrible from the beginning.
These different groups interacted with one another, through trade and sometimes through wars, in the process, transferring culture and language forms and, in some cases, bloodlines through intermarriage. They existed in a compact such that they interacted more with one another than with territories and peoples outside that geographical area – a pointer to their destined union though a natural union looked impossible. And so, the Creator sent taskmasters – the British colonialists – to facilitate that union. Our fathers resisted gallantly but the colonialists prevailed because a divine agenda was in process. When a name was to be given to this group of peoples, the name “Nigeria” was chosen, meaning “the area around the Niger.”
Thereafter the creator sent the wind of amalgamation and began to bring these different groups together until 1914 when the Northern Protectorate and the Southern Protectorate were amalgamated to form the framework of the destined Nigerian nation. The colonialists thought it necessary for economic gains, but the Creator had in mind the great nation that was to be formed.
Thereafter, the union was subjected to tutelage under colonial rule. But, when the period of tutelage drew to a close, the nationalistic spirit was stirred up in the hearts of our heroes past – the likes of Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello and Tafawa Balewa who became the arrowheads in the battle for independence. Then at last, in 1960, the independent Nigerian State was born through the selfless labours of our founding fathers.
When the founding fathers of our nation, Nigeria, spearheaded the course of her independence from colonialism and the consequent socio-economic and political subjugation, they had a dream of a great nation built upon the foundation of equality and justice, and established upon the pillars of integrity, honesty, hard work, and selfless service; one nation bound together under God in freedom, peace and unity; a land whose peoples, though from different tribes and tongues, would stand together in the spirit of brotherhood to build a great nation where no one would be oppressed, and where peace and justice would reign. These fathers dreamt of a nation where no man would face humiliation due to the inability to cater for his household; where no woman would have to resort to prostitution or begging to make ends meet; where no child would be denied the right to quality education or be shamefully sent to the streets to beg or hawk due to poverty; a land of opportunity where young men and women would be provided the platform to labour with a sense of dignity and in the process, not only earn for their families and themselves a comfortable living but also contribute towards building the economy of the nation to great and towering heights. These ideals of our founding fathers were expressed in creeds written into our founding documents, composed into the lyrics of our founding anthem, and reenacted in the pledge by subsequent generations to be faithful, loyal and honest, to serve Nigeria with all our strength, to defend her unity, and uphold her honour and glory. Our founding fathers never ceased to believe that the destiny of the African continent was intertwined with the destiny of the Nigerian state and that Nigeria was destined to lead Africa to her essence and greatness. Nationhood, nationalism, patriotism, inter-ethnic and inter-religious tolerance – these were the ideals preached by our founding fathers.
Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe said in 1960, “As a young man I saw visions: visions of Nigeria becoming a great country in the emerging continent of Africa; visions of Nigeria offering freedom to those in bondage, and securing the democratic way of life to those who had been lulled into an illusion of security under colonial rule. … I trust that I shall dream my dreams amid the peace and ever-increasing prosperity of the people of my native Nigeria. The motto of the independent federation of Nigeria is “Unity and Faith”. I pray that we may guard our unity and keep our faith.”
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, inspired by the success of the American nation said “In less than 200 years, this great country (America) was welded together by people of so many different backgrounds. They built a mighty nation and had forgotten where they came from and who their ancestors were. They had pride in only one thing —their American citizenship… I am a changed man from today. Until now I never really believed Nigeria could be one united country. But if the Americans could do it, so can we.”
Sir Ahmadu Bello, promoting religious tolerance said: “Here in the Northern Nigeria we have People of many different races, tribes and religions who are knit together to common history, common interest and common ideas, the things that unite us are stronger than the things that divide us. I always remind people of our firmly rooted policy of religious tolerance. We have no intention of favouring one religion at the expense of another. Subject to the overriding need to preserve law and order, it is our determination that everyone should have absolute liberty to practice his belief according to the dictates of his conscience…”
Perhaps the most romantic articulation of the Nigerian dream was done by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in his poetic piece, “Duty to Nigeria”. In his words,
It is a duty that we owe
To our great dear motherland
To enhance her and to boost her
In the eyes of all the world
Egalitarianism is our national watchword
Equality of good fortune
Must be to each sure reward
Liberty and brotherhood
Are the goods for which we’ll strive
Plus progress plus plenty
And all the good things of life
Up Up Nigeria
And take thy rightful place
It is thy birthright and thy destiny
Afric’s leading light to be
But decades later, the state of our nation is a far cry from the ideals of our founding fathers.
Decades later, lines of division run through the fabric of our nation.
Decades later, the very foundation of our national existence is threatened.
Decades later, we still have the amalgamation intact, but we cannot lay claim to true nationhood.
It began in the days of our founding fathers when ethnicity crept into politics and politicians began to whip up ethnic sentiments to win the votes of their kit and kin. And then, contrary to the ideals of good governance and servant leadership, leaders began to lose touch with the ordinary people and to live larger than life, and thus paved the way for the first military coup. That coup led to the killing of some of our leaders and, in retaliation, to a counter-coup. Eventually, these events resulted in a pogrom in which innocent men, women and children were massacred – brothers killed brothers simply because of language and tribal differences. And then threats of secession brought upon us a civil war in which many precious Nigerians lost their lives. Where was our sense of nationhood in all of these?
Indeed, these events happened years ago, and the people should have been healed, reconciled and united in one spirit of nationhood by now. But unfortunately, we cannot say so. Even though the amalgamation is intact, the question still is, “Where is our sense of nationhood?”
Where is our sense of nationhood when Yoruba and Hausa neighbours treat each other with contempt and both of them cannot trust the Igbo man next door who, in turn, has created stereotypes for all Yorubas and Hausas from the weaknesses of just two people? Where is our sense of nationhood?
Where is our sense of nationhood when, as public officials, our offices are staffed with mainly people from our tribes such that if an Edo man is in charge, more than half of his staff would be Edos whether they are qualified or not? Where is our sense of nationhood?
Where is our sense of nationhood when membership of our places of worship are determined by the tribe of the clergyman in charge such that there are so-called Ibo churches and Yoruba churches while Hausas and Yorubas sometimes do not pray in the same mosque? Where is our sense of nationhood?
Where is our sense of nationhood when, during football matches, a mistake by a Seidu Kaita or a Garba Lawal becomes an opportunity for us as Ibos or Yorubas to insult all the so-called “abokis” who we think only found their way into the team through quota system while a mistake by an Okocha or an Obafemi is what it is – the mistake of just one player? Where is our sense of nationhood?
Where is our sense of nationhood when we won’t allow our son, Kelechi marry an Adenike, nor would we give our daughter, Amina to a Chinedu in marriage because of tribal differences? Where is our sense of nationhood?
Where is our sense of nationhood when our political decisions are based not on merit but on ethnic and religious considerations such that a Chukwuka will not cast his vote for an Abubakar but for an Emeka even if Abubakar is ten times better than Emeka while a Musa will not vote for a Maduka but will chase him away with stones when he comes to campaign in Sokoto if his opponent is a Mustapha? Where is our sense of nationhood?
Where is our sense of nationhood when we create a dichotomy between indigene and settler such that a man who was born in Kano State, has lived his entire life in Sabongeri and has embraced the language and culture of the people cannot be governor of Kano State simply because his name is Nnamdi, and a woman who has lived her entire life in Onitsha in Anambra State can never dream of becoming even a counsellor in Onitsha South Local Government Area even if she is qualified to be a governor, simply because she is the daughter of an Adamu or Adefemi? Where is our sense of nationhood?
Where is our sense of nationhood when innocent people are slaughtered, property destroyed and a whole village raised to the ground in the name of indigene-settler conflict? Where is our sense of nationhood?
Where is our sense of nationhood when innocent men, women and children are maimed, hacked to death or burnt alive in the name of politics simply because they belong to another tribe, political party or religion? Where is our sense of nationhood?
Even if we lack a sense of nationhood, even if we fail to see ourselves as one people of one great nation, where is our sense of common humanity, where is our sense of brotherhood? Where is our conscience? That milk of human affection? When armed men would rob, rape and plunder the innocent and ask their victims to lie face down on expressways to be run over by moving vehicles? Where is our sense of humanity?
Where is our sense of humanity when militants and extremists destroy innocent lives through carnage and bomb blasts? Why have we failed to heed the words of our founding fathers the likes of Sir Ahmadu Bello who preached religious tolerance? Where is our sense of nationhood?
We have failed to unite as a people because we do not know who we really are. We have failed to come together because we have lightly esteemed the things that unite us. We have failed to embrace the spirit of nationhood because we do not understand the essence of our common history, the mysteries of our common geography and the greatness of our common destiny. We have failed to unite because we have failed to read between the lines. If we could only read between the lines, if we could only look beyond the surface, we would uncover mysteries that point to our nationhood.
It is no coincidence that this nation is situated in the area around the River Niger. It is no coincidence that this nation derives its name from the River Niger. It is no coincidence that this nation is the meeting point between two great rivers before their waters pour into the ocean. Even if it were mere coincidence, like a great patriot once said, coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous for it is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but it is the glory of kings to search it out. The invisible purposes of the Creator are discernible from the visible creation such that one can draw wisdom lessons from nature.
Rather than our ethnic and religious disagreements and conflicts, and debates over our nationhood, all that the Creator wants from us is that we ask one simple question – WHY? For if we take a look at the map of our nation Nigeria, at the two rivers, Niger and Benue, that meet at the confluence in Lokoja and travel down to the ocean what we would see is the letter “Y” formed by the meeting of these two rivers. We have it as a symbol on the banner of our coat of arms, but we never ask WHY? We display it on the walls of our offices, schools and public places but we never ask WHY? Sometimes we ignorantly place it in the middle of our flag, but we never ask WHY?
If only we asked why the Niger is one of the most mysterious rivers on earth, we would find that in its features are hidden depths of meaning that give clues to the essence of the Nigerian nation. The Niger has one of the most unusual routes of a major river with a shape that European explorers could not understand for a long time. It has its source in Fouta Djalon High Lands in Guinea, merely 150 miles away from the Atlantic Ocean. It could have simply flowed with ease into the ocean from Guinea without passing through Nigeria, but it doesn’t do so, rather it runs away from the ocean onto the Sahara Desert, then takes a sharp right turn in Mali, heading southward through the northern border of Benin Republic into Nigeria. It then integrates with the River Benue at a confluence in Lokoja, before returning to the Atlantic Ocean through the Niger Delta, in the process forming the symbol of the letter “Y” within the Nigerian map and covering a distance of over 2,600 miles.
If only we asked “Y”, we would have seen that integration and unity in diversity are all around us, for the Niger must integrate with the Benue before pouring into the ocean. If only we asked “Y”, we would have seen that like the Niger and the Benue flowing from the west and from the east and meeting together at the centre, Western and Eastern civilizations, represented in Christianity and Islam, can meet together to forge one great nation, Nigeria, in order to bless the whole world represented by the ocean. If only we asked “Y”, we would have understood why it was that neither the jihadists nor the colonialists could impose any single religion on the entire Nigerian state; if only we asked “Y”, we would have understood the role of a heterogeneous Nigerian state in a conflict-torn world in desperate search for peace in the midst of diverse interests; if only we asked “Y”, we would have seen that just as the Atlantic Ocean receives the integrated waters of the Niger and Benue, so is the world waiting to receive solutions and lessons from a united Nigerian nation – solution to terrorism and religious extremism, lessons in tolerance and unity in diversity. If only we asked “Y”!
If only we asked “Y”, we would have seen that the course of the River Niger teaches us that greatness comes only by going through the full course rather than taking shortcuts, indicating that cutting corners through corruption and mediocrity is alien to the true Nigerian spirit. If only we asked “Y”, we would see that the Niger and the Benue have enriched humanity and supplied food, water, transport and energy to millions of people and, in the process, have shown that greatness comes only from service to humanity. If only we asked “Y”, we would have understood that the River Niger flows into the ocean not through Guinea where it began nor through Mali nor through Benin Republic but through Nigeria, because this nation is destined to bless the whole world and to lead other African countries to global greatness. If only we asked “Y”!
For that destiny to be fulfilled, our motherland has been searching for leaders – leaders who possess the true Nigerian spirit – a spirit of tolerance, integrity, accountability, probity, and selfless service to humanity – men and women who will lead this nation to greatness. Men and women who like our forefathers will lead their people to battle – the battle against poverty, the battle against disease, the battle against corruption; the battle against insecurity, the battle against underdevelopment, the battle against fallen educational standards – common enemies that have overrun us because of our failure to unite. Leaders who will face the enemy headlong rather than live in fortresses far away from the battlefield, disconnected from the sufferings of the people. And so, our motherland has been searching for true leaders. She tried some with power and watched with grief as they got intoxicated to the point of killing to keep it. She tried some with wealth and wept as she saw them throw dignity and honesty to the winds, driven by greed and inordinate quest for accumulation. She tried some with responsibility and her heart was broken as with negligence they let the flock stray away to the paths of the wolves while jailing, torturing and killing those who corrected them.
But in the midst of darkness, there are those who have kept alive the Nigerian dream – heroes who when theirs was called a wasted generation, stood out as shining lights in the midst of darkness and beacons of hope to our generation and made us believe that the trying times will one day pass and a great nation shall soon emerge. They include parents- fathers and mothers who denied themselves the luxuries of life to ensure that our generation and future generations live in a nation better than the one they have lived in; teachers who labored to educate the Nigerian child even in the midst of poor pay and poor working conditions; corporate executives and civil servants who stood out and chose to win by righteousness rather than give or take bribes and rob the nation and enrich themselves corruptly; detribalised leaders and politicians who fanned the flame of nationhood and laboured to keep the fire of unity burning against the winds of ethnic and religious divisions; freedom fighters who rose up to defend their people against the forces of marginalisation, and patriots who fought to ensure that Nigeria remains one nation; soldiers who distinguished themselves among their peers and became the embodiment of integrity and professionalism on the battlefield and in public service; democrats who defied ethnic and religious divisions to win free and fair elections; journalists who were incarcerated, tortured or killed because of the torch of truth that they bore; civil rights activists who stood up against oppression at the risk of their lives and a prophet who sounded the alarm against injustice and took the battle for national transformation from the pulpit to the streets and from the streets to the podium.
I have mounted the shoulders of these patriotic fathers and mothers, and I have seen the Promised Land – It’s a great nation where no one is oppressed and where peace and justice reigns – a land of unity, a land of peace, a land of faith, a land of progress. On that mountain, I took an overview of the dream nation, in her was found no place for ethnicity and tribalism. I looked around for nepotism but there was no trace of her. I searched for negligence and disorder but no one in that land looked like them. I called out to violence and insecurity to find out if they were there, but no one responded. In that land, a Yoruba man who has lived among the Hausa people and has embraced their culture can be governor in Kano, and a Hausa woman likewise can be governor in Enugu. An Igbo man can be governor in Oyo, and an Ijaw woman can be governor in Katsina, for though tribes and tongues abound, there is only one united Nigeria in which the best, the brightest, the fittest and most competent are given the opportunity to serve, and there are neither indigenes nor settlers. The resources of the people are used for the development of the people of the land because that nation is structured on true federalism.
But who will take responsibility and take our nation to the Promised Land? If we read between the lines, once again, we would see the symbol of the letter “Y” – made on the map of Nigeria by the River Niger and the River Benue signifying those who must take up responsibility. It’s no one but “You – the Youth”. As the letter Y begins the words “You” and “Youth”, so the Y symbol made on our map by those two rivers point to the truth that for this nation to become great, it begins with you – the youth of this nation – those who are young in age, full of strength, and those who are young at heart, full of faith. It begins with you. It begins with you seeing yourself not as Hausa or Fulani, not as Igbo or Yoruba, not as one of the co-called minority tribes but as a Nigerian; it begins with you seeing yourself not as a northerner nor as a southerner but as a Nigerian. It begins with you refusing to be sectional or regional but national in orientation. It begins with you treating your neighbor not based on his ethnicity or religion but based on our common humanity; it begins with you embracing the values that will help build a great nation; it begins with you refusing to cheat in examinations. It begins with you saying no to cybercrime and Advanced Fee Fraud and all the things that put us in bad light in the eyes of the world. It begins with you choosing to work and earn rather than to rob and plunder. It begins with you choosing the dignity of labour over the indignity of prostitution. It begins with you taking responsibility rather than taking drugs. It begins with you refusing to be used as thugs by selfish politicians. It begins with you refusing to sell your destiny to opportunistic politicians for a morsel of bread; it begins with you participating in the governance of our nation. It begins with you casting your vote for permanent principle rather than for temporary profit. It begins with you making political decisions not on the basis of ethnic or religious sentiments, but on the basis of merit. It begins with you holding your leaders accountable. It begins with you demanding good governance from those you have elected. It begins with you presenting yourself to vote and to be voted for and living a life that qualifies you and not one that disqualifies you for service. It begins with you possessing the Nigerian spirit – the true Nigerian spirit. It begins with you!
And what, you may ask, is the Nigerian spirit? It is that spirit that makes us the wonder of the world. It is expressed in the newness of vigour and the never-give-up attitude of our football teams that can bounce them back to victory from 4 goals down. It is seen in the inspired works of our Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning literary geniuses and in the creativity of our movie industry. It is expressed in the energy, the passion and the swagger of our musical artistes. It is seen in the generousity and magnanimity of our philanthropists. It is seen in the resourcefulness of the Nigerian woman in a typical Nigerian village, who, with one hand, nurtures the baby strapped on her back, and with the other, turns the pot of soup boiling over pieces of firewood after a tedious market day., defying the odds of a turbulent economy. It is seen in the inventiveness of our artisans and the intelligence of our professors. It is what attracts people all over the world to the Nigerian economy in spite of the challenges of insecurity and infrastructural decay. It is the attractive smile on the face of the average Nigerian that once gave him the reputation of the happiest person on earth. That is the Nigerian spirit – Encoded in the acronym NIGERIA. Newness, Inspiration, Generousity, Energy; Resourcefulness, Intelligence and Attractiveness – that is the Nigerian spirit and change begins with every Nigerian possessing that spirit. It begins with you unleashing the Nigerian in you.
Finally I say, Let this song fill every heart and every mouth in every part of our nation – that we are one people and we are one nation, bound together by a common destiny.
Let Zuma Rock amplify it and let Aso Rock embrace it.
Let it echo from every mountain and every hill: from the Mandara Mountains to Jos Plateau and from Udi Hills to Mambilla Plateau.
Let it flow through the Niger and through the Benue, through every river and every stream, to all the nooks and crannies of our dear motherland.
Let it become the lullaby on the lips of every nursing mother and the admonition from every father to every son.
Let it give hope to every student burning the midnight oil and courage to every youth serving the motherland.
Let it inspire the corporate executive and the civil servant working to build a great nation.
Let it water the fields of our farmers and increase the profit of our traders.
Let it inspire our soldiers fighting to defend our nation against insecurity.
Let it motivate our ambassadors and our sports teams as they fly our glorious flag – the green white green – in the community of nations
Let it sound over and again in the lyrics of our musical patriots – the likes of Tuface Idibia and the likes of TY Bello. Let Tuface serenade this African queen called Nigeria and let TY Bello sing again of a land that is lush with green.
Let it become the lesson of every teacher, the sermon of every preacher, the melody of every singer and the rhyme of every rapper.
Until every Nigerian – Hausa and Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba, Kanuri and Kanembu, Edo and Itshekiri, Ijaw and Ogoni, Efik and Ibibio, Tiv and Jukun, Nupe and Igala, every Nigerian; from the beach sands of Lagos to the desert sands of Sokoto, from the plains of Maiduguri down to the clean streets of Calabar, every Nigerian will be able to say with all certainty that we are one nation and we are one people bound together by a common destiny. Then we will have fulfilled the Nigerian dream and taken giant strides from the amalgamation to the making of a great nation.
Thank you, God bless you, and God bless our dear country, Nigeria.
Leave a Comment