By Sharifatu Ja’afaru (400 Level)
Nigerians may be wondering the strength around national unity and cohesion. Unity is strength. When there is team work and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.
A renowned German Human Right Activist, Joy Bell once said that we are all equal in the fact that we will never be the same. We are united by the reality that all colours and all cultures are distinct and individual. We are harmonious in the reality that we are all held to this earth by the same gravity.
We don’t share blood but we share the air that keeps us alive. I will not blind myself and say that my black brother is not different from me. I will not blind myself and say that my brown sister is not different from me. But my brown sister is she as much as I am me.
National unity called for nationalists to draw up a blueprint of a united Nigeria. Nigerians should be united despite our diversities. Let the values of universal brotherhood prevail. Love for one’s neighbor and the golden rule of treating others as one’s self.
Diversity is one true thing we have in common. Government legacy should be that they do everything possible to unite the country. If you think about what the call for national unity suggests, take a look at how it has been implemented in the past, you will realize that this is actually a call for submission to the official state ideology. This is not a call for submission based on the voluntary choice of the people, it is obligatory to observe the call if a united Nigeria must be actualized.
Let the vision of our independent founding fathers like Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Aminu Kano and others, shine brightly as we strive for a better life for our nation. Let the demonstrated love for our nation be the bridge that connects our pride and vision.
In my view, it is time for us to unite. We need to unite to restore hope for our future. Nigeria is a country for everyone from east to west and from north to south. What is happening today in Nigeria is a humanitarian disaster by all account requiring us to defend our country and stand together against a handful of enemies of the homeland before it is too late.
I am now only a girl fearing to be stateless. The situation is worsening by the day. We must first surmount many hurdles by doing away with tribalism, religious sentiments, ethnicity, nepotism and prejudice or else the ill health of the nation will only go from serious to critical.
I allude to new English translation of 1 Cor. 13:11 which states, “when I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish ways”. I write as a humble citizen who has read the history of a 53-year old independent nation of hardworking and responsible citizens. Let us set aside childish ways, learn from our past mistakes and resolve to walk with purpose to our promised land.
Nigeria has over the years faced division and fragmentation due to ideological and political conflicts. Citizens have been deceived. Over the years, you have voted leaders into office on the basis of religion, tribe or political sentiments, but the question is: how have these people impacted on us as individuals who share the same faith, tribe or political beliefs with them?
A time has come for Nigerians to reason beyond what they hear and see. I see no reason why I should vote a non-credible leader into office on the basis of religion or tribe. Over the past weeks, the entire country has been enmeshed in politicking, filled with enthusiasm to advance self acclaimed reasons to see their different candidates elected into the various positions.
A call for a unified country should be reinforced and actualized when politicians are making their usual promises. Now that the 2015 general election is fast approaching, this promise should focus on youth employment, training our youths in seeing the immense employment opportunities in the various sectors of the economy.
Unity can be promoted among Nigerians through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Recently, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan described the NYSC as a true symbol of national unity bringing together young people from various institutions and diverse parts of the country. Jonathan explained that “the bond of friendship formed during the service year creates opportunities for success in life, and facilitates national integration and development”.
Organizing sporting activities among diverse cultural and religious groups is also one of the ways to promote national unity. The President in his speech at the National Conference said “we need a new mind and a new spirit of oneness and national unity. The time has come to stop seeing Nigeria as a country of many groups and regions. We have been divinely brought together under one roof; we must begin to see ourselves as one community. We are joined together by similar hopes and dreams as well as similar problems and challenges. What affect one part of the community affects the others”.
Nigerians must come together and not allow the antagonists of unity and togetherness to prevail. We must work ceaselessly to remain one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity as our National Anthem says.
