In 1885, at the Berlin Conference, the world's colonial powers sat to divide the African continent into portions amongst themselves. They created countries out of distinct and independent ethnic nationalities without their awareness or consent. These nations had their existing and thriving traditional leadership structures, values and norms, which were undermined by the colonial powers for reasons of selfish economic gain and administrative convenience.
Complex nation-states were formed and even arch enemies were brought together under one roof to exist as a country. This is exactly the case of Nigeria; an insanely diverse country, divided into north and south with over 250 ethnic groups speaking over 400 languages. This in itself is bedrock for eternal discord.
The amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorates to form Nigeria was an attempt by the the British to marry internecine entities. Both regions are unamalgamable and should never have been united. Northern and Southern Nigeria are different in many ways. The both regions are in absolute opposition in terms of religion, culture and world view.
The northern region spans through over half of the Nigerian territory and contains a significant percentage of the entire population. This divide is further highlighted by a massive religious difference, with Islam as religious majority in the north and Christianity as majority in the south.
The northerners are traditional and socially conservative. They mostly would think of southerners as lousy and savage, while the South would reserve an opinion of the North as a backward and parasitic region that feeds off the wealth of the south. The disparity in education and economic development between the two regions is equally gaping. While the south embraces civilization with open arms, the north remains perpetually suspect of western education. Indeed, it is appalling that after decades of funding and systemic allowances to accommodate the "educationally less-privileged" region, it still retains the highest population of illiterates in the nation.
Politically, the north has held unto the reins of power for 42 out of Nigeria’s 60 years of independence, but the northern region remains the poverty capital of the nation. Coming to religion, while the Christian south would adopt evangelism as strategy to gain converts, the less tolerant Muslim north would largely revert to violence in defense of their faith. The country is still currently aback in flabbergastation at the ominous death sentence passed by a Sharia Court on a Musician for "blasphemy" against Prophet Muhammed.
Southern and northern Nigeria appear to be different nations that were and are still headed in totally different directions. Nothing about these two regions project a possibility of coexistence. And the fact that these totally parallel entities are lumped together and forced into an unholy union is evil.
Some of the founding fathers who spearheaded the nationalist movements in Nigeria had made some very unsettling comments on the amalgamation of 1914. In 1948, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa who later became the Prime Minister had this to say: "since 1914 the British government has been trying to make Nigeria into one country but the Nigerian people themselves are historically different in their backgrounds, in their religious beliefs and customs and do not show themselves any signs of willingness to unite…Nigerian unity is only a British invention"
In the same manner, Chief Obafemi Awolowo commented: "Nigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression. There are no "Nigerians" in the same sense as there are "English", "Welsh" or "French". The word Nigerian is merely a distinctive
appellation to distinguish those who live within the boundaries of Nigeria and those who do not"
If the men who drove the independence movement held such opinions on the unity of this country, ignoring it amounted to foolhardiness. The consequence of the mistake of 1914 has continued to haunt Nigeria in cries for secession over decades.
Well, we are here now, right? Let's talk about going forward. It is obvious to all that we are faced with two options: to do away with One Nigeria and allow secession or to restructure. I consider two defining factors upon which any form of unity can exist.
First, a collective willingness to coexist as a nation. Yes, African nations had no say in how the states we have today were formed. Nigeria was shoved down our throats. Ghana was shoved down Ghanaians' throats. The entire continent is a colonial construct. But hey, this is 2020. We can decide to renegotiate these territories and our coexistence going forward. We must, actually.
Nigerian politicians have become fond of the phrase "Nigeria's unity is non-negotiable". This is a very ignorant thing to say. The unity of Nigeria is very much negotiable. It is not unity if we are forced to remain one. It is only unity when there is a collective decision.
Second, a reinforcing governance structure to support such decision to remain one. Nigeria today is ridden with systemic and constitutional complexities that underprops northern dominance over the south. This must crumble for any headway to be possible. Nigeria is best described as a conglomeration of distinct nations. The diversity is unparalleled and hence, an over centralized federal system such as we have today is highly unsuitable. You can keep two rivals in an apartment, but at least don’t have them eat out of the same kitchen.
To have any form of progress, we must defer to regionalism. We must revert to autonomous regional governments and take back power from this "supreme" federal government we have today, which of course, is a legacy of the military. Let the regions be created along ethnic lines; acknowledging the distinct nationalities. Each region should operate a regional constitution, appropriate the resources found within its territory and basically drive its own development. The central government that would exist should be more or less an agent of the regions, funded by taxes paid by the regions.
If due attention is not paid to the clamor for a restructuring, the issue of Nigeria's unity will continue to haunt even generations to come. Truly, an over centralized "federalism" is Nigeria's bane.
Ifeanyi Chukwudi (2020)
Complex nation-states were formed and even arch enemies were brought together under one roof to exist as a country. This is exactly the case of Nigeria; an insanely diverse country, divided into north and south with over 250 ethnic groups speaking over 400 languages. This in itself is bedrock for eternal discord.
The amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorates to form Nigeria was an attempt by the the British to marry internecine entities. Both regions are unamalgamable and should never have been united. Northern and Southern Nigeria are different in many ways. The both regions are in absolute opposition in terms of religion, culture and world view.
The northern region spans through over half of the Nigerian territory and contains a significant percentage of the entire population. This divide is further highlighted by a massive religious difference, with Islam as religious majority in the north and Christianity as majority in the south.
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| Source: Nigerian Infopedia |
The northerners are traditional and socially conservative. They mostly would think of southerners as lousy and savage, while the South would reserve an opinion of the North as a backward and parasitic region that feeds off the wealth of the south. The disparity in education and economic development between the two regions is equally gaping. While the south embraces civilization with open arms, the north remains perpetually suspect of western education. Indeed, it is appalling that after decades of funding and systemic allowances to accommodate the "educationally less-privileged" region, it still retains the highest population of illiterates in the nation.
Politically, the north has held unto the reins of power for 42 out of Nigeria’s 60 years of independence, but the northern region remains the poverty capital of the nation. Coming to religion, while the Christian south would adopt evangelism as strategy to gain converts, the less tolerant Muslim north would largely revert to violence in defense of their faith. The country is still currently aback in flabbergastation at the ominous death sentence passed by a Sharia Court on a Musician for "blasphemy" against Prophet Muhammed.
Southern and northern Nigeria appear to be different nations that were and are still headed in totally different directions. Nothing about these two regions project a possibility of coexistence. And the fact that these totally parallel entities are lumped together and forced into an unholy union is evil.
Some of the founding fathers who spearheaded the nationalist movements in Nigeria had made some very unsettling comments on the amalgamation of 1914. In 1948, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa who later became the Prime Minister had this to say: "since 1914 the British government has been trying to make Nigeria into one country but the Nigerian people themselves are historically different in their backgrounds, in their religious beliefs and customs and do not show themselves any signs of willingness to unite…Nigerian unity is only a British invention"
In the same manner, Chief Obafemi Awolowo commented: "Nigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression. There are no "Nigerians" in the same sense as there are "English", "Welsh" or "French". The word Nigerian is merely a distinctive
appellation to distinguish those who live within the boundaries of Nigeria and those who do not"
If the men who drove the independence movement held such opinions on the unity of this country, ignoring it amounted to foolhardiness. The consequence of the mistake of 1914 has continued to haunt Nigeria in cries for secession over decades.
Well, we are here now, right? Let's talk about going forward. It is obvious to all that we are faced with two options: to do away with One Nigeria and allow secession or to restructure. I consider two defining factors upon which any form of unity can exist.
First, a collective willingness to coexist as a nation. Yes, African nations had no say in how the states we have today were formed. Nigeria was shoved down our throats. Ghana was shoved down Ghanaians' throats. The entire continent is a colonial construct. But hey, this is 2020. We can decide to renegotiate these territories and our coexistence going forward. We must, actually.
Nigerian politicians have become fond of the phrase "Nigeria's unity is non-negotiable". This is a very ignorant thing to say. The unity of Nigeria is very much negotiable. It is not unity if we are forced to remain one. It is only unity when there is a collective decision.
Second, a reinforcing governance structure to support such decision to remain one. Nigeria today is ridden with systemic and constitutional complexities that underprops northern dominance over the south. This must crumble for any headway to be possible. Nigeria is best described as a conglomeration of distinct nations. The diversity is unparalleled and hence, an over centralized federal system such as we have today is highly unsuitable. You can keep two rivals in an apartment, but at least don’t have them eat out of the same kitchen.
To have any form of progress, we must defer to regionalism. We must revert to autonomous regional governments and take back power from this "supreme" federal government we have today, which of course, is a legacy of the military. Let the regions be created along ethnic lines; acknowledging the distinct nationalities. Each region should operate a regional constitution, appropriate the resources found within its territory and basically drive its own development. The central government that would exist should be more or less an agent of the regions, funded by taxes paid by the regions.
If due attention is not paid to the clamor for a restructuring, the issue of Nigeria's unity will continue to haunt even generations to come. Truly, an over centralized "federalism" is Nigeria's bane.
Ifeanyi Chukwudi (2020)
Thoughtful
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