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| Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr Nmamdi Azikiwe | |
"We must recognize and uphold the balance between cohesion, all types of differences and equity.
People are brought increasingly together at the same time as they are easily driven apart. Bridges must be built between them. This geographical space that God has put together, let no one put asunder. We must understand accept our differences, and encourage all best practices" Peter Pacqueens Aisagbonhi
People are brought increasingly together at the same time as they are easily driven apart. Bridges must be built between them. This geographical space that God has put together, let no one put asunder. We must understand accept our differences, and encourage all best practices" Peter Pacqueens Aisagbonhi
Reminiscence of the historic patriotism and sense of nationalism portrayed by the Nigerian founding fathers, the likes of Herbert Macaulay, Alvan Ikoku, Dr Nmamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Alhaji Aminu Kano among others, they have made a giant stride to make Nigeria an independent, united, strong and indissolvable nation. The post independent Nigeria's generation of leaders, the likes of General Yakubu Gowon and lots more fought gallantly in the 30 months civil war, which it's aim was to divide Nigeria and carved out another country to call Biafra. They defeated the pioneers of a divided Nigeria, and emerge victorious with the Nigerian state standing stronger and united. The later generation of leaders such as General Murtala Muhammed, Gen Olusegun Obasanjo among others work hard for the sustainance of what the founding fathers put in place.
In the later years, Nigeria suffered a greater setbacks from both the leadership and the rest of the citizenry, acts of unpatriotism have become the other of the day, the leadership was not willing to act in accordance with the tenants of a just and egalitarian society, with mass discrepances in the governing system which turns out to be detrimental to the progress and development of the teaming citizens. This created a huge gap between the government and the govern, thus plunged the weakest patriots to a full pledge unpatriotic with perfection in all acts that cause destructions to the Nigerian system. This trends continue to manifest with full force especially as Nigeria turned to democratic rule. Today, full patriotism become questionable among Nigerians, ethno-religious attachments to everything is on it's rise. Media outlets were used to show how deeply divided Nigeria is, and how loyalty to ethnic and religious attachments superceed loyalty to Nigerian state. Agitations of all kinds were loudly pronounced, which if giving attention were all aimed at dividing the corporate existence of the Nigerian state. The worst part of it today is that, the young are highly brainwashed, and incapacitated with the inability to differentiate between good and bad, right and wrong, we celebrate treasury looters so long as they came from our religion or tribe, not minding the fact that it was their wickedness that plunged us and the country into the deplorable state. We castigate and rejects the good among us so long as they do not belong to one's religion or tribe, in a larger extent, a different in political party, geopolitical zone or by not sharing the same ideology. It was this bad attitudes in us that continue to cripple the long yearned and aspired developed, virile, just and egalitarian society, which we all want to live in.
For us the younger generation, the time is riped to inculcate the necessary attitudinal change, we must continue to be loyal to the Nigerian state, give our contribution for the national development, stop enmity, hatred, bigotry, bias, laziness and division based on ethnicity and religion, we must imbibe the culture of tolerance, hard work, patience, perseverance and brotherhood. Nigerian government must rise to the expectations of the citizens, to be a society where justice and equity prevail, transparency, accountability and prudence should gain prominence in the conduct of government business. The change begins with me campaign launched by the federal government and widely publicised is aimed at sensitising Nigerians for the need of an individual change, it's a laudable initiatives worth embracing. It tells more that "it's only when we change as individuals, so the society and the nation at large". Nigeria's unity lies with our resolve to change our negative attitudes and perceptions towards ourselves, with this we can make Nigeria a United State.
Umar Muhammad
mumarlere@gmail.com
08863306861
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