Restructure Nigerians, not Nigeria!

Map of Nigeria Showing the Geo-Political Zones

Many have come out to boldly call out for the restructuring of the country. They claim its a way out of the myriads of problems confronting us as a Nation. Lot of notable names have lent their voices to the regionalizing of the country so as to give each part full control of its natural resource especially the Niger  Delta Region. Many have stood up to claim that the country as it is now has derailed from its past glory when we had it regionalized. Nigeria doesn't need to be fragmented further or restructured in order to live up to our status as the giant of Africa. This article is all about how we can achieve greatness without further compartmentalization, but by addressing some common issues which we haven't paid closer attention to as a Nation.

Tribalism in Nigeria now is at a very saddening high. We see different parts of the country label those of other tribes with derogatory names. The youths are worst hit by this tribalism epidemic. We are ever ready to conjure a plethora of inhumane appellations for our brothers and sisters from tribes that are not ours especially on various platforms of the social media.

Another issue to be addressed is lack of the spirit of Nationalism amongst the Nigerian polity. Majority of Nigerians are only Nigerians by nomenclature and not by the heart. Nigerians do no longer believe in the Nigerian project. I bet most Nigerians would readily change their nationality to any country with better prospects who offers such opportunity. This is partly why Nigerians prefer to patronize foreign goods and emphasize all the bad things about made in Nigerian merchandise. The death of Nationalism gave birth to and is responsible for the growth of tribalism.

 

I love Nigeria
 

 

 

This is why a Nigerian would first identify himself as an Igbo, a Yoruba or Hausa man including the over 250 ethnic nationalities before identifying as a Nigerian. The death of Nationalism also took another casualty and that is, the spirit of patriotism. Very few Nigerians are patriots. Most Nigerians wouldn't go the extra mile for the country if there's nothing in it for them. This is further shown in how Nigerians treat government property and even how politicians treat government infrastructure and institutions e.g. dilapidated schools, stadiums and poorly equipped hospitals and death trap roads that abound in the country.

 

This is also responsible for the wanton destruction of oil and power installations especially in the South south because they do not feel as part of the Nigerian project . Government at all levels should embark on a major campaign to eschew away the spirit of tribalism and ethnic sentiment and for all to embrace nationalism . Government should also introduce the history of Nigeria into the curriculum of schools in the country.

 

Nigerians need to know the story of the independence and how the dreams of our founding fathers can be actualized. Nigerians need to know the story of the Civil War. We need to know the sacrifices made from all divides for our unity and what lessons we can learn from the war. Nigerians need to know the great political icons that have made positive and meaningful contributions for our sustained growth and how the upcoming generation can draw strength from their determination .

 

Nigeria Flag

Nigeria can be better if it conquers corruption. If the current crop of our greedy, selfish, wicked and uncreative leaders were at the helm of affairs when we had the regions, I bet we would not have anything to say about those past glorious days. Fellow Nigerians rather than restructuring our nation, we need to restructure our values. We need to evaluate what's important and what's not and this must start from the very foundation of every society-the family. It should be of note that leaders during the regional times in which Nigeria flourished were a product of a balanced family system which promoted the right values and virtues of hard work, honesty, creativity and selflessness.

I've heard many a Nigerian youth complain bitterly about how we've been short-changed by the older generation in our social contract. The older generation deem us unfit to handle Nigerian affairs aright. There are more than 30 million of us roaming the streets jobless and hopeless. When it comes to election times, we shy away from doing the needful or even accept to short-change ourselves by taking peanuts from the older generation to install their crook friends in power instead of we taking charge. Dear Nigerian youths, the older generation would never give us a chance if we do not SPEAK TO BE HEARD.

 

We speak to be heard when we do the needful during electioneering-vote credible people and defend your votes. We speak to be heard when we say no to stomach infrastructure and request for developmental governance. We speak to be heard when we submit ourselves to serve our fellow compatriots. Most Nigerian youths are ignorant of the fact that we are truly the leaders of tomorrow. when the older generation is gone, we have to take the lead but the truth is we are not ready and we don't really care and with that fact, the future of Nigeria still looks gloomy. If we do not collectively desire and work towards a new Nigeria, we have no future to look up to. The youths of today are the Nigeria of tomorrow just like our inept leaders of today were once irresponsible youths of yesterday.

Nigeria belongs to we all whether we like it or not . What ever we make of it will be borne by we all whether we like it or not . Let us all eschew tribalism. Let us show love to and support our brothers in the north east and donate towards the young ones starving and dying off there . Let us plead with our brothers in the Niger Delta region to quit bombing oil and power installations and sheath their swords because the use of violence will destroy more than the good we can ever achieve. Let us all demand for accountability on behalf of our Niger Delta brothers from the political elite in the region to tell us how the billions invested there has been spent.

 

Let us demand for justice from our political class that cannot pay pensioners and salary earners but can still afford to live in stupendous wealth. Let us demand for a new Nigeria brothers and sisters. Nigerian youths obey the clarion call and seize your own future. Nigerians, old and young let us restructure our mind-set, eschew tribalism and embrace nationalism, shun corruption and start believing in the Nigerian project because without restructuring Nigerians, restructuring Nigeria will only be an exercise in futility.

 

Tolu Olakanmi
toluolakanmi007@gmail.com