Before ethnicity, religion do us in

We start today’s outing on a good note. Our female national football team has just conquered Africa. Consequently, one clear benefit of unity in diversity is on stage, so visible for all to see and appreciate. Really, it is beautiful to behold the light. Suddenly the country has been in an ecstasy of the kind we saw last about 20 or 30 years ago; we have all been in joyous mood in the past five weeks that our female national team was involved in the women’s version of African nations football tournament which ended penultimate Saturday in Rabat, Morocco with our team  winning the trophy. We were happy the team was happy seeing a Nigerian side approach each game as masters, playing good football, exhibiting class and virtually demolishing every opponent on their way.

Even those hitherto considered very tough teams bowed at the feet of our gallant girls. Tunisia, Zambia, South Africa and even the host Morocco. There was this good side to our participation. We are used to fighting at home, talking down and each tribal group having very high contempt for the other. But during the competition everyone, irrespective of tribe, religion, class or creed stood behind the team. Quarrels and subversion took a back seat, virtually every citizen switched on to ‘one nation, one people, one destiny’ mode. Citizens were indeed very excited, all were glad to be Nigerian. The negative variables of tribe and religion were not just relegated, they were thrown overboard. As far as the citizens were concerned, the country was the only thing on display.  Without prompting, everyone was proud to say yes, count me in, we are Nigerians.

In the room where some of us watched the matches in the company of other very bright fellow citizens, one could hear some of us saying:  “This is what it should be, picking the team no one gave attention to quota system and its twin brother, federal character;  it didn’t matter where any of the players came from, whether Igbo, Efik, Kalabari, Yoruba, Hausa or Fulani. The administrators and coaches gave priority to what mattered most: competence, ability and currency and not yesterday’s achievements.

It was about what each player could bring to the table right away. It therefore wasn’t a surprise that the best African player of the year for about three times, Osisat Oshoala, came in as a substitute in about two or three games she played for the team during the competition. It didn’t matter to her because the outcome was far bigger than private glory. It was in her greater interest that the entity Nigeria thrived better so that her future,  globally could be situated in respect and better perspective.

The success of the country in the outing served her personal interest far better if the presidential gifts are taken into consideration. Pursuit of personal gains would perhaps introduce negative eruptions enough to cause the team to lose and fall out.  This is what collectivity can bring in the process of the making of nationhood. It bonds people especially in a very plural setting.

Unity and sacrificial disposition promotes a sense of ownership. Unity is a universal currency, it will purchase the “buy in” of anyone at very minimal cost. Unity releases passion. Do a system check of our efforts at nation building and you will find it these are the vital lubricants missing in the wheels of our national development. It is missing because those we have ever trusted to oil the machines and wheels of our development turn hypocrites and the worse of it, parasites. It is either they are telling us something different and doing entirely different things when it is operating hours or they are pilfering our funds and diverting the same for personal aggrandizement. No country so-called can operate successfully under such circumstances or conditions. Work machines must stop or experience a breakdown and production or progress would stall and soon after the people would suffer a depreciation. It is a natural sequence.

When it is the season and people fail to answer what is required, they must suffer different kinds of malady. Tribalism and religious bigotry have caused us unquantifiable harm. It is at the root of the retrogression plaguing the country and making life a song not worth singing for the far majority of the citizens. It  has taken the country to the precipice of the cliff, waiting for just one kick to tumble into the deep valley.

Off from the football matter and the rich lessons offered that is we are predisposed to learn. Our situation confirms we don’t care to learn, so history, especially the negative ones, keep repeating first as farce and many other times as tragedy. This is unfortunate.

 To the other equally very important side.There is something very crucial to note if we must make progress. It will surprise not a few to know that even though we got off the hook of colonialism about 64 years ago, we are yet to create a country. This is a bitter truth many don’t want to hear but which in reality remains the truth. Countries are created. It is established.  It is more so for a society forced to stay together by forces against their will as would be the case under messy arrangements such as colonialism.

  Colonial agents are no charity people. They are economic survivalists. Plunderers. They think of what is good for themselves in their home countries only. This is why the colonized must work harder even after what amounts to “independence” has been secured by whatever means.

Those who fail to sit and create the kind of country they want lose out or better still share company with instability of various natures.

Sub-saharan Africa offers us good examples. Zimbabwe and South Africa are very recent experiences.

We don’t have space to offer the details.  Suffice to make the point at this juncture that we have stayed around the circle of society, a copulation yet to transform into a whole. Chief among the obstacles or hindrances to having a country include wrong deployment of ethnicity and religion, variables that bond others elsewhere, in climes where reason and rigour precede serious national building efforts. 

When founding fathers of America chose federalism and in their constitution explicitly stated that all are equal they knew where they were coming from, what to anticipate and what to expect. When they made a serious issue out of liberty for all, it was certain to them after a national conference the kind of society they  desired to work towards. What is the picture of what we actually want our country to be like?

The other day AriseTV anchor men talking about Lagos made issues around Lagos, whether it was someone’s or nobody’s land. One asked the other “are you an indigene of Lagos or…”

Citizens talking in terms of indigeneship is obviously a big aberration. It is either we are one people in one country with one destiny or anyone can fill in the blank spaces. Ethnicity cleavage and religious bigotry have been at the root of the malfunction.

•…To be continued next week