No war is pleasant. Wars bring needless human suffering, decimate cities, halt development and make life unbearable for millions. Beyond the physical destruction, wars leave deep psychological, economic and generational scars. And yet, history continues to repeat itself.
War, in any form, is rarely justifiable because peaceful alternatives always exist. Diplomatic channels, negotiation tables and international mediation are available but often ignored until violence becomes the loudest voice. The recent Israel-Iran war is a painful reminder of this reality. Its sudden onset, preemptive nature and sheer scale of destruction caught the world off guard and sent shockwaves across regions.
For us in Nigeria, there are sobering lessons to be learned from this unfolding tragedy. Regardless of who is “right” or “wrong,” one truth remains constant: when war erupts, everyone becomes a victim. Even those who are not directly involved suffer economic, emotional and social consequences.
The long-term implications of the Israel-Iran conflict will be significant. Political realignments, economic disruptions, social displacements and environmental damage will ripple across the Middle East and beyond. Yet one striking feature of this crisis is the level of patriotism and unity displayed by citizens of both countries. Despite ideological differences, political disagreements and even internal dissent, citizens of Iran and Israel have shown a willingness to defend their nations with unwavering determination, even at the cost of their lives.
This is a powerful lesson for us as Nigerians. While our country continues to battle Boko Haram, banditry and a rising tide of criminality, we remain fractured along ethnic, religious and political lines. Instead of uniting against a common enemy, some groups offer covert support to insurgents for reasons rooted in ethnic or religious bias.
A prominent northern cleric once accused the military high command of deliberately deploying Christian soldiers to fight and kill Muslims in the North. Such reckless and unfounded claims stoke division, deepen mistrust and risk igniting dangerous sectarian conflict. This kind of rhetoric undermines national unity and distracts from the real enemies: poverty, extremism, illiteracy and corruption.
Too many Nigerians place their loyalty in their tribe or religion, rather than in the country. That’s not the way forward. National interest must supersede parochial loyalties, if we are to survive as a nation.
Meanwhile, countries like Iran are making remarkable progress in education, science, technology and economic development. In contrast, millions of Nigerian children, particularly in the North, remain out of school, wandering the streets and begging for alms. These children become easy targets for terrorist recruitment and, during elections, they are exploited by politicians as foot soldiers of violence.
The story is no different in the South. There, a growing army of unemployed youth commonly referred to as “area boys” thrive who engage in petty crime, kidnapping and political thuggery. They too are often hired by unscrupulous politicians to disrupt elections, protests and public events.
All of this reflects the deeper issue: a failure of leadership. The general incompetence of our governing elite is legendary. Their inability to solve the nation’s core problems in the areas of security, education, healthcare and economic opportunity is both disheartening and dangerous.
Let’s be honest: if Nigeria were to face a war on the scale of the Israel-Iran conflict, we would be woefully unprepared. Our military is underfunded and overstretched. Our people are divided. Our institutions are weak. And, worst of all, we lack a shared national identity that can inspire citizens to put the country above their individual or group interests.
The Israel-Iran war is a tragedy, but it is also a mirror reflecting what unity, sacrifice, and national resolve can look like, even in times of crisis. For Nigeria, the path to lasting peace and progress lies not in emulating their violence, but in learning from their cohesion.
Until we prioritise nationhood above tribe, religion or region, we will continue to be our own worst enemy.