WE are all architects of our social and economic development woes. Let’s stop the blame game. Change begins with you and I. Our attitudes and unpatriotic behaviors should stop. Be the change you want to see.
Until we realize the value of our dear Nation Nigeria and the average of our values, we will keep fooling ourselves.
How did we come to this? When did we stoop this low? Who will I point with my full chest as my First Republic saviour? Who is yours?
Here, I don’t mean The First Republic ruled by different leaders representing their regions as premiers in the federation. No, the republic of some set of people with integrity, honor, and nobleness that made the republic that I so much yearn for.
Today, parents and grandparents reminisce so much about Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo, and how much goodwill they left. Some we read in history books, some we hear at lectures and political gatherings, today who is leaving that goodwill to us? I am afraid we are left with a bunch of looters.
When did The Giant of Africa crumble this low? The Heart Beat of Africa. A nation with abundant minerals, boosting agriculture, and flowing crude. The Nigeria of vibrant and friendly energy, rich heritage, and spectacular nature.
The giant of captivating destinations. Our dear country of unrivaled cultural magnificence, the home of Africa’s oldest dye pit, Africa’s oldest nobel laureate. Mother of arts and artists. Nigeria of natural wealth and peace of dignity, fertile soil, and strength.
Despite the ethnic dichotomy then, where the Yorubas boast about education and how far they’ve gone, the North had their system of government even before the coming of colonialism. The Igbos with a sense of business, each to his own.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s free education policy in Western Nigeria, launched on the 17th of January, 1955, was provided to all Nigerians living in Western Nigeria, including Igbos and Northerners Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala benefited from it. Chief Awolowo was a visionary. God’s gift to the black race.
However, Awolowo failed in politics in the First Republic because the Eastern Region went into an alliance with the Northern Peoples Congress.
We shouldn’t allow tribalism to get the better of us, with all of the abundant blessings we share as a nation.
Let’s revisit some bits of the public lecture on the benefits of tribalism by Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe at the University of Nsukka, in 1964.
He said, “some people seem to think that tribalism is an unmitigated evil, but it is not. Every linguistic group has its cultural features which can have something of value to contribute to the way of life of its country or unit thereof”.
To be continued…
Kabara, is a writer and public commentator. Her syndicated column, Voice, appears on News Point Nigeria newspaper on Mondays. She can be reached on hafceekay01@gmail.com