Lagos is a cosmopolitan mega city with major conurbations. Before Abuja, it doubled as the main economic and industrial hub as well as the seat of the federal government of Nigeria. Lagos is still the economic capital of the country; it can rightfully be described as the melting pot for major industries, businesses and trading posts which has attracted public and private sector actors from across the country.
Though the natural home to some Yorubas, Lagos belongs to Nigeria as Port Harcourt, the natural home to the Okrika and Ikwerri people in Rivers State, belongs to Nigeria. The same is true in all sections of the country. Until the the different tribal nations or geo-political regions of the country decide to go their separate ways as independent countries every Nigerian has the right to reside, work, engage in lawful enterprise, pay tax, vote and be voted for in elections anywhere in the federation.
Any Nigerian, whether they are from Oshogbo, Abonnema, Calabar, Daura, Edo, Idoma, Benin, Oyo, Lafia, Adamawa, Kano, Lokoja, Yenagoa or Onitsha etc who are resident, work or conduct lawful business in Lagos is a Lagosian. In the same spirit, there are New Yorkers, Londoners etc of different racial and cultural backgrounds but they cannot be prevented from voting in an election by any reasoning. What the constitution didn't provide for non-native Lagosians is perhaps the right to vie for customary offices in the different localities. Such offices are traditional and, therefore, based on heredity.
In October 1960 Nigeria became an independent nation of numerous tribal nations to be governed by Nigerians and for Nigerians. Was it a mistake to have struggled to keep a post-independent Nigeria united as a country? Didn't the founding fathers see or feel what contemporary tribal bigots and secessionists are seeing or feeling today which is driving their actions and utterances? How prosperous and peaceful will independent Yoruba nation or Biafra be? The problems with Nigeria is not tribe or religion; it is the individuals and the leaders who are destroying the country with tribal and religious politics.
Corruption, avarice, economic brigandage and weak institutions are not only federal government problems; majority of the stealing and failures in economic development policies are in the states and the local governments. State and local governments are the most incompetent and corrupt organs of the federal structure. There is no empirical evidence which suggests that an independent Ijaw nation or Biafra or Oduduwa Republic will automatically change Nigerians in these places to become selfless, civilised, accountable and better Christians or Moslems. There is something about the character of the average Nigerian that is the problem and the less significance we place on these invisible factors the longer Nigeria will remain the darkness it represents today.
The Nigerian project as it stands with the the many fault lines as defined by tribe, urbanized areas ownership questions, religion and resources control debates, may not be what many Nigerians would love to be part of in the near future. Nigeria is not unique as a multi-ethnic or circular nation, however, the ethnic and religious fault lines are growing wider recently and it is sad to see how this divisions are being exploited by weak, unpatriotic politicians to define the political culture of the country. A new Nigeria which is multi-cultural and circular in character will be a blessing and not a curse. Why Nigeria cannot flourish like the United States of America, Canada, Switzerland and other developed multi-ethnic countries is beyond logic.
The regionalised and tribalised politics is not new; it was evident during the numerous illegitimate military dictatorships. The unfortunate events we experienced during the 2023 election told a sad story but the good news is that the jolly days of the purveyors of tribal and religious politics are coming to a long awaited end but this end will not come without genuine efforts to bring it about. A lot of Nigerians feel hopeless and lost having experienced electoral violence, vote buying, tribal bigotry and the shameful part the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) played during the last elections. Even so, we have reasons to be hopeful and that hope must be built on patience and belief that the time is now and Nigeria has turned a corner.
How hopeful should we be and for how long should we remain patient? What would it take to turn Nigeria into a truly fair, free and safe country in which religious intolerance and ethnic bigotry will be reduced to insignificance? The country is already broken which made the 2023 election to be a crucial starting point from where to begin the tough journey towards realising the vision of a prosperous Nigeria we all know is possible. We have to make Nigeria work for all because it's our country and it's a great and naturally wealthy country. For how long should we continue to run from the challenges and from our country, Nigeria? Is there any country on the planet in which there are no challenges?
To the pessimist the vision of a new Nigeria looks impossible but I can tell you that it is very possible and the first steps have just been taken. The outcomes of the 2023 elections seem to have turned out contrary to expectations but the blanket of cloud this flawed elections threw over the country will be "rolled back like a scroll" in due time and the rightful leadership will be enthroned to lead the country towards the new destination. Nigerians shall run away to alien and unfriendly countries no more.
The problems of Nigeria has more to do with lawlessness, impunity, impatience, lack of belief in ourselves, get-rich-quick mindset, love thyself and hate thy neighbour pettiness, selfishness and the lack of love and allegiance to country. All we need to create wealth and prosperity are right beneath our feet.
God gives to a people the type of leaders they deserve - like begets like. These unpatriotic, corrupt leaders are true reflection of what the average Nigerian is - "No be my papa work" gravy hunters. If Nigerians value higher standards and expectations then the crop of incompetent rent-seeking characters we have as leaders should not last any longer than a first term in office should they get in at all. Certainly, there are no shared goals in the Nigerian project among the leaders which is why the centre is not working for all Nigerians.
Ethnicity and religion are visible identifiers among Nigerians as much as it is across Africa and the world over; especially in the developing countries. It does appear, though, that the more religious countries tend to present themselves the more evident there are problems of ethnic and religious bigotry. There is nothing wrong with being proud of one's ethnic identity; as a matter of fact every tribal group, small or large, should be encouraged and supported to showcase, preserve and sustain their history, language, culture and heritage.
In so doing, let us recognise that Nigerians have common constitutional right to live, work, conduct lawful business, own property and marry from any part of the country without constantly being reminded that they are immigrants from another tribe. The use of the phrase "go back to where you come from" should have no place in our public discourse and must be strenuously discouraged.
God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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