Nigeria: Search for Union beyond Amalgamation

@muhsin234

The elections were over. The winners (and losers, too) are known, and Nigerians await their inaugurations on May 29th. However, the repercussion of the elections is far from over. Igbos, whose undaunted, though paranoiac, doubt of Hausa-Fulani leadership forbade them to vote for Gen. Buhari, are still being brazenly abused, esp. on cyberspace. And they respond in crudest kind by calling their attackers with unprintable names. This is but one case out of many that are raping Nigeria along ethnic lines.

It’s sadder that the indigene-settler dichotomy is still existent even within our constitution; mobility freedom of citizens seldom crippled by arrests of northerners in the south; the so-called quarter system truncating chances of getting job. I don’t forget the far more horrible, countless ethno-religious crises in many cities and villages like Jos, Zankuwa, etc that claimed lives of thousands. It tears me up inside. I am often left asking: are we truly amalgamated yet? Or at least, when can we get over this nauseating disunity and move on?

I was born and raised in Hausa populated vicinity in Kano. But since my childhood, I know we have neighbours who do not speak our language, or practice our religion, or share our culture, etc. I didn’t know all this by instinct. I learned about it from my parents and school. All Nigerians should have this 001 Cosmopolitanism basic education.

I was actually moved to compose this piece by a fresh experience I observed here in Punjab, India. As customary as it almost is, people from the same places abandon all the differences they have back at home and unite whenever in the abroad. But it’s largely not the same to Nigerian students here and, perhaps, elsewhere. Often, a Yoruba would befriend only his fellow Yoruba, ditto Hausa, Igbo and the rest. A few others are nonetheless detribalized. They have recently formed a Nigeria Students Union.

One World, Divided Country
Our university organizes a yearly festival called One World. As the name suggests, it aims to show our world as it is: ONE. Students from different countries exhibit their music and dance, arts, culture and cuisine. Moreover, paintings, sculptures, artefacts, maps, architectural designs, etc. are displayed in various stalls within the university for two days. Whereas several, if not all, countries have a common symbol appreciated by all of them, Nigeria has virtually nothing of the sort.

The snag arises when choosing what should be put on view and whatnot. The Hausas, for instance, would prefer their music to be played and not Yorubas or Igbos. As the theme of this year’s festival is women’s empowerment, Nigeria’s stall is stalled with a lot of women’s pictures including Chimamanda Adieche, Stella Obasanjo, Queen Amina, among others hanged atop. Needless to say, you can see the reflection of our ethnic consciousness in the select women. This, to my perception, kills the vitality of the festival. Tribalism is certainly one of the albatross of Nigeria at home and abroad.

We ought to find a common ground for a truly amalgamated Nigeria. This is what I call “union beyond amalgamation”. The sadistic and corrupt politicians and other top-ranking government officials fuel the ambers as we have seen in the campaigns of the just concluded elections, while they don’t care a bit about their ethnic or religious affiliation when it comes to thieving and sharing our wealth as ‘spoils’ among themselves. I think Nigeria Police Force pension scam is a clear-cut example.

Therefore, it is up to us, ordinary Nigerians to get over playing religious and ethnic cards. We know we can’t bury that as it is embedded in our psyche. But we can forget and forge ahead, especially in the foreign lands. We shouldn’t flash our nudity everywhere. Heterogeneity is intriguing and diversity is interesting. But for our differences, life would have been mundane. Nigeria is one and it belongs to us all. The country would love to see us belong to her (as sons and daughters from the same womb). We shouldn’t thus deny it the right.

The government has to intervene. Nigerians have a whole lot of hope for the incoming government of Gen. Buhari. Therefore, we expect it to do everything possible for the reconciliation of the all Nigerian citizens and for a genuine (re)unification of the country.

Long live Nigeria!

Nice one bro still looking forward to when a christian becomes emir of kano or sultam of sokoto when an igboman becomes president why wont they be objective of buhari when almajiri's cant stand a gej or christian president if only buhari load credit of 100 or use mtn extra time borrow credit call goodluck and congrat him about 1million nigerian's will have witnessed his victory they muslims play religious card more than all the granted igbo man has ethnicity in his system a bit "MORE" than others but why wont he since he is living amongst enemies even ss hate igboman no other option than to love ursef since no does yes i know they push it to far in the west with the NO MANS LAND aspect let me leave you nigerians's have you shown an igbo man true national/brotherly love? If ur termed the black sheep of ur family how will u react cos we lost a war of survival forced upon us leaving us to perish with £20 for our efforts and term us money lovers if you lost all u owned and got only £20 i wonder how much love you will have for money we only dazed others by staging a comeback within 20 years 10% of obj's time frame of vanquished ppl all over the world it took 200 for a conquered ppl to regain stability but the igbo did that in less than 20yrs next they term us ritualist if rituals is easy everyone for don do am now you think any igbo man who feeds his family is a ritualist what a country there was until igbo man becomes part of that country he will always seek a country with solid foundations a country whose foundation was laid by GOD LONG LIVE THAT COUNTRY BIAFRA IS ITS NAME

When will the ibos stop discriminating against themselves?

When will the Osu caste system stopn in iboland ?

IHEJIRIKAisBOKO:
When will the ibos stop discriminating against themselves?

When will the Osu caste system stopn in iboland ?

when your mama go in labor with your own child ...


arrows of god south west novel.

IHEJIRIKAisBOKO:
When will the ibos stop discriminating against themselves?

When will the Osu caste system stopn in iboland ?

when your mama go in labor with your own child ...


gods are not to blame , south west novel.

Can you tell me the crime any igboman did in this country that can not be forgiven for God's sake

Can you tell me the crime any igboman did in this country that can not be forgiven for God's sake

TRIBALSTOOGE:

when your mama go in labor with your own child ...
gods are not to blame , south west novel.

Can you tell me the crime any igboman did in this country that can not be forgiven for God's sake

Emyogalanya:
Can you tell me the crime any igboman did in this country that can not be forgiven for God's sakeCan you tell me the crime any igboman did in this country that can not be forgiven for God's sake

forgiven what ? we igbo's are not begging for forgiveness


we will get all our right back

Emyogalanya:
Can you tell me the crime any igboman did in this country that can not be forgiven for God's sakeCan you tell me the crime any igboman did in this country that can not be forgiven for God's sake

oh shit that was a friendly fire bro .

oooops

TRIBALSTOOGE:




forgiven what ? we igbo's are not begging for forgiveness


we will get all our right back

not about we begging sha but these guys are filled with so much hatred to the point of death it seems any child born in nigeria today is cultured to think that an igbo man is his enemy imagine a girl of about 8yrs saying she so much hate this igbo ppl if her parents are not the one who cultured her so what encounter has she had at 8yrs to make her make such statement and this is made by someone from ss the so called "igbo brothers" only God sustains us