Nigeria At 100: Congrats, But…

Senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial District of Adamawa State, Senator Bindow Jibrilla (3rd-right), with some traders, during his visit to Mubi Central Market to console the traders over recent robbery attack tn the market last Thursday. Photo: NAN

The country with the highest number of black
people, Nigeria is 100 years old this month.
It is believed that one out of every four black persons across the globe is a Nigerian. This was made possible by the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria by Lord Fredrick Luggard in 1914.
While the debate over the propriety of the amalgamation may not end too soon, some things have become facts that no one can change. It is a fact that Nigeria is about 54 years old as an independent nation and 100 years as an administrative entity. It is also a fact that Nigeria has survived as a country all these years.
In spite of all the odds, past and present, we feel gratified that Nigeria is able to make it to the legendary age of 100. We are also pleased to join millions and millions of well-meaning persons across the globe to congratulate Nigeria and Nigerians on the feat and to point them to a greater future. To say the least, Nigeria has come too far to break up.
The Tide is surprised that in a country where people celebrate birthdays every year, in some cases, at such great cost, some Nigerians have allowed themselves to argue over the need to celebrate or mark this wonderful epoch in the history of the country and its people.
Knowing the importance of the date and the things the country have gone through, it is only natural that every Nigerian in the land of the living would give thanks to God and pray for a better future. The only progress, we dare say, is for the country to remain united, peaceful and God-fearing.
The other alternative is to break-up into tiny inconsequential countries that cannot influence anything. Such countries will suffer weak currencies, weak defense and even weaker economies. They will become more fragmented along ethnic lines and become the laughing stock of the civilised world. This is what only the devil would wish for Nigeria.
Those who preferred to look at the prediction of a possible disintegration of Nigeria in a positive light have come to the conclusion that the prediction was not done in bad faith, but to warn Nigeria of a possible danger. Without a doubt, given the population and quality of the average Nigerian, a better half of Africa will be in trouble if Nigeria boils.
Those who beat the drums of disunity fail to look at the bigger picture. The people of the country have been so delicately and intricately connected in marriage, business and religion in ways that would make any division merely artificial and of no value. New maps can be drawn, but the people cannot be forced apart.
No one can deny the fact that in the past 100 years all have not been well for Nigeria. There have been coups and counter coups; there have been civil wars and reign of corruption; there have been religious extremities and economic failures; there have been military misadventures and political suicides, but the country has stood strong.
Through the period, the country recorded some changes. Owing to the judgment over the Bakassi Peninsular, Nigeria lost some land areas at the Cross-River State area to the Camerouns and gained some communities in the northern part of the country. The country also moved from being three regions to 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Within the period, the dominant qualities of the Nigerian were discovered. In addition to being mostly patriotic, the Nigerian is greatly resilient, resourceful but painfully gullible. The ordinary people from the ethnic and religious divides get along well, but their politicians constantly engage in imaginary wars.
Some of the conflicts have been caused by the deliberate disregard for the founding dreams. Nigeria is supposed to be a federation that is being run as a unitary system. The concentration of power and wealth at the centre attracted the ants, the vultures and the hyenas.
Thankfully, the nation has decided to have a national dialogue for the constituent ethnic groups. If all the dialogue would achieve is the recognition of each other’s interest, the implementation of true federalism and the enthronement of the rule of law, Nigeria will make a quantum leap towards her destiny. Indeed, the number of states must drop as they were created to draw from the national treasury and not to add.
So far, the reservations over fiscal federalism, state police, autonomy of the constituent units among others have not helped any group. Although Nigeria sees a ready example to follow in the United States of America, a selfless approach would have raised our own brand of democracy that would make the US envious.
It is not an accident that Nigeria is talking about a national dialogue at a time the country is 100. It is not an accident that a person from the minority south would be President at the time. It is no accident that the unity of the country would be under pressure at the time. It only requires that Nigeria takes advantage of this time to plot the path to a glorious future for the country.