The mighty United Kingdom is facing the most uncertain period in its entire history since world war two and perhaps the peak of the cold war.Until about eighty years ago the United Kingdom(UK) through its empire controlled (politically) about 65% of the worlds populated land mass.
The UK came out of the second world war loosing its hold on over 80% of its colonial territories' over time Nigeria being one of them thus making the end of the British Empire.The end of the cold war was better for the UK in the sense that while it was no longer an empire, its decline was over and it had managed to rebuild and and assert itself as a world power to be reckoned with ,military politically and economically.
Britain is ;

The worlds eight largest economy after
Germany and ahead of France in Europe for
the moment .(http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)

The worlds fifth largest military ahead of
France and Germany,making it the largest
in Europe.
(http://www.businessinsider.com/11-most-powerful-militaries-in-the-world-2014-4

Those two metrics combined with the U.K.'s membership within a larger European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization give it clout the many countries twice and three times its population(63.23 million (2012) could only wish for.Things could not be better for the United kingdom but in less than fourteen days all of it could change.Scotland,the northern part of the country with roughly a third of the Land area/mass of the United kingdom (30,265 sq miles (78,387 km² ) and population of 5.3 million will be voting "YES" or "NO" to separate from the rest of the Union(United kingdom).
The vote is a culmination of years of agitation and negotiations between Scottish nationalist and the British government in London.Already so much has been conceded to the Scottish nationalists to numerous for me to list in this article but apparently not enough for the Scottish people who eventually will decide if they want remain a part of Britain or become their own country.
The lesson(s) to be learnt from this for Nigeria abound.For years various component parts of the Nigerian Federation(?) have complained endlessly about the unfair and uneven distribution of resources and political representation between the regions.On one hand they complain that for all the resources that sustains the national economy 80% is obtained from their region but the see far less investment in infrastructure and development than other regions.Others claim they want true federalism whatever that means but put the breaks on any process that will enable that for real .Yet another group justify their lot and demand more on the basis of the population their region holds claiming that the resources must be sheared equitably amongst the various regions that make up the federation.Looking at the Scottish situation,its relationship with the center (London),I am inclined to say that they the Scottish really have to complain about compared with a country like Nigeria but I remind myself that because I set a low standard for myself does not mean I should judge everyone else by those standards.
The Scotland vote is important because while a yes vote will certainly split the United kingdom and change it in ways that can only be speculated at the moment a no vote will also change the political structure of the country as the government London has committed to devaluation of powers and responsibilities(much like the restructuring we always talk about in Nigeria but never undertake).
Once the process of devolution begins,it is hard to not imaginge the other component units of the United kingdom (Wales,Northern Ireland and even England ) not demanding the same deal.Essentially the political structure of the United kingdom is about to change in many ways.
The lesson for us in Nigeria is to not think that all is well because a few more crumbs have been thrown at the agitating groups or because we have just concluded a national conference whose results and benefits are at best mediocre.
Agitations remain and those agitations are justifiable.To blatantly ignore them like we do now only to give token concessions will benefit the federation in no way.Soon enough it will become a case of armed struggle as we clearly are not civilized enough to go the way of Scotland and the end result will be bad for everyone but most especially for the "reduced" Federal republic.



(http://www.http://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/08/world/europe/uk-scotland-independence/index.html?c=intl-homepage-t&page=0

With less than two weeks to go until Scotland's referendum, polls suggest an increase in those favoring independence from the United Kingdom, with one survey for the first time putting the "yes" vote ahead.

On September 18, voters in Scotland will be presented with a simple yes/no question: Should Scotland be an independent country?

A "yes" vote would mean Scotland splits from the rest of the United Kingdom -- that is, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Activists on both sides are stepping up their efforts as the historic referendum approaches.

A YouGov poll conducted for The Sunday Times and released on Sunday showed the "yes" vote at 51% and "no" at 49%. The poll of 1084 voters excluded undecided voters and YouGov said the numbers represented "a statistical dead heat."

YouGov President Peter Kellner said a 2-point gap was too small to predict the outcome of the referendum but demonstrated that support for the "Better Together" campaign had fallen "at an astonishing rate." Four weeks ago YouGov put "no" at 58% and "yes" at 42%, Kellner said.

"The Yes campaign has not just invaded No territory; it has launched a blitzkrieg," he said.

Kellner said voters from the Conservative party had continued to oppose independence but that all other voters had moved closer toward a breakaway Scotland.

Meantime a Panelbase poll commissioned by Yes Scotland and also released Sunday suggested that 48% of voters supported independence -- excluding undecideds -- while 52% wanted to remain united.

A "poll of polls" compiled by ScotCen put the "yes" vote for independence at 47% and the "no" vote at 53%. The company, which describes itself as an independent social research center, said those results were based on three polls from YouGov, two from Panelbase and one from Survation.


It also suggested that the "yes" vote was gaining momentum, while the "no" vote was losing it.

Negative campaign?

The Scottish government, led by the Scottish National Party, says this is a "once in a generation opportunity" for Scotland's people to take control of the decisions that affect them most. A "yes" vote means that "Scotland's future will be in Scotland's hands," it says, and that life will be better and fairer for its people.

Scotland's first minister and SNP leader Alex Salmond has been a vocal proponent of independence.

British Prime Minister David Cameron wants Scotland to remain part of an undivided United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He says that it is a decision solely for the Scottish people -- but that remaining part of the United Kingdom will give them security and strength. "There will be no going back," he warns.

YouGov said voters felt that the Better Together campaign had been negative, while Salmond was "offering an optimistic future."

"It may be that some voters are finding the prospect of voting for positive and well-presented vision of their country's future as more attractive than the negative mood coming from the No camp," ScotCen commented.

Pound sinks

The British pound sank on Monday, with CNNMoney reporting that it reflected uncertainty over the outcome of the Scottish referendum and an increased risk of a "messy divorce."

Salmond has said he wants Scotland to continue to use the pound in a currency union with the rest of the United Kingdom.


But the three main parties in Parliament -- David Cameron's Conservatives, their coalition partners the Liberal Democrats, and Labour -- have all said that won't be an option.

The referendum could end Scotland's 300-year union with England and Wales as Great Britain and see it launch into the world as an independent nation of some 5.3 million people.

The Scottish government anticipates it would become formally independent in March 2016, ahead of elections in May of that year.

Scotland has long had a testy relationship with its more populous neighbor. The Act of Union in 1707 joined the kingdom of Scotland with England and Wales, but many Scots were unhappy at being yoked to their longtime rival south of the border.

Since 1999, Scotland has had devolved government, meaning many, but not all, decisions are made at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh. In May 2011 the nationalist SNP, which had campaigned on a promise to hold an independence referendum, surprised many by winning an outright majority in the Scottish Parliament.

In October 2012, the UK and Scottish governments agreed that the referendum would be held, and the question to be put to voters was agreed on early last year.

OP. Thank you for this piece. I think our problem is lack of identity. The Scots despite 300 years in the union still hold strong to their identity,ideology and history. Can we ever be this civil in Nigeria. People saying somethings are not possible. If it's possible in the UK why not Nigeria. I seek knowledge.

ndu_chuks

That is exactly the point. what is our problem in Nigeria that people dont want to answer to their father's name, A progressive union such as United kingdom is breaking up, then what the FFUCK are we still shouting one Nigeria for with all this hopelessness rampaging the country.

Stupid amalgamation! Carry people that knows only how to bomb merge with people that knows how to curse at the pitch of their voice and answers phone call like motor jam their earpiece come merge am again with the ones that will do anything to get money and are only self cautious come merge together! Lord lugard your case dey Hague for committing the worst crime ever known to man by the name Nigeria! If uk breaks what is stopping this failure from breaking?