Arise on compatriots
Nigeria’s call obey
To server our fathers land
With love and strength and faith
The labour of our heroes past
Shall never be in vain
To serve with heart and might
One nation bound in freedom
Peace and unity
[b][/b]
Recently there has been a call from Scottish First Minister for the independence of Scotland. The First Minister is the Leader of Scotland chosen from among members of the parliament. In simple terms, Alex Salmond, the First Minister, wants Scotland to be sovereign independent state. A state that would fully operate without any influence from the United Kingdom. They want to be on their own!

Scotland is clamouring to become an independent sovereign state because they believe that most of the decisions in the United Kingdom are taken mostly by the English people which has been to the detriment of the Scots. Although they have a Scottish Parliament, which was created just thirteen years ago, they fully want to take charge of their country. The First Minister who is also a member of the Scottish National Party has made this issue a front-burner in his tenure. The Scottish National Party (SNP) has been on this struggle for over sixty years even before Harold Macmillan gave the popular “Wind Of Change” speech.

Scotland is a country located in the Northern Island of the United Kingdom with about 5.2million people. The Scots are believed to have originated from the Picts and Gael, which of-course is an entirely different background from the English. They have a different law, religion and culture which is different from other parts of the UK. For instance, the Scottish law says a child becomes an adult at age 16, whereas its 18 in England. Without considering the differences in culture, the King of Scotland signed a Treaty that brought Scotland and England together. Scotland joined England in 1707 amidst a widespread protest which of-course is an indication that the masses didn’t oblige to the union treaty.

Three hundred years and still counting, the problem still subsists. Currently, the Scots are demanding for a referendum where they would vote for their independence. Polls conducted reveals that 70-75% are in support of the referendum which is likely to hold by 2014. Oil was found in Scotland in the 1970s and they seem not to have profited much from the billions of pounds amassed by the United Kingdom. Records show that approximately £200 billion have been amassed from the North Sea’s oil which lies in their territory.

In 1914, Nigeria was birthed. The Britons brought the southern and northern protectorate together to form Nigeria. Ever since the union of this two extreme protectorates, this country has been suffering. The Britons did not look deeply into the foundational diversity before forging-ahead with the union. The difference between a southerner and a northerner is as vast as the number of days they have spent together. I have found it very difficult to see just a pinch of similarity in both cultures unlike the Scots and the English who share some values. The belief system, values and religion of the North and South are two extreme ends. Didn’t the Britons know that there will be constant strife when two extremes amalgamate? Were they comparing our treaty with theirs - the one that formed the United Kingdom which is even about to break? Didn’t they forget that our fathers were still slaves who needed some refreshing and re-orientation before being integrated into such a society? Only God knows the number of people who have died due to ethnic differences in this country. Only God can give us the actual estimate of southerners that have been butchered by the Northerners all in the name of “differences”. Cultures die hard, and people can invest so-much ego into their beliefs to the extent that it makes a fanatic out of them.
Oh! What a mistake.

It is almost a hundred years and the pain still lingers. The bones of the dead lion still lies in the jungle. The past still haunts the present and we keep wallowing in explosions and deaths, week-in-week-out. Just yesterday, another explosion killed some people in a St. Finbarrs Church, Jos. Explosions in any part of the country gives an average Nigerian migraine because it reminds him that there is no safe haven anywhere. But there is more to come because we still believe in “One Nigeria”. One Nigeria is idealistic. The past and the present shows that this country cannot last together. Let the Southerners take a stand like the Scots. Oil was found in the South about the same time it was discovered in Scotland and what has happened to yields? The Southerners own the oil but the Northerners have lavished and embezzled the profit made from its sales.

Let us learn from history and not ponder anew. Solutions might even be tucked away in the past! We all want our President to perform well but what foundation is he standing upon? The military rulers have ripped this country of its fortunes. They have made government a sole proprietorship business with corrupt dealings. The money accrued from the oil has been sunk into the pockets of these never-do-wells. So-many claptrap have been made in the past which is having domino effect till date. Many of them, with less than $2,000 when they came to power, have become the richest men in the world within less than a decade. The foundation we are building upon is shaky and we must all right the wrong.

Now is the time we must discuss the change! Yes, the change. The future of our country lies in our decisions. Nigeria must split and go back to its roots as it used to be. The President, if he knows what he is doing, should also put this on the minds of his people. Just like Scotland, let the Southerners hold a referendum. Let them forward their request with audacity and sense of purpose. The explosions and bombings and unrest will cease. Let all foreign debts be paid by 2014 and split this country at its 100years birthday or latest 2015. If this can be done, the last two lines of the anthem above will be sang in each individual country with all pleasure.

Source: http://pingphilip.blog.com/2012/03/15/article/