Nigerian- 3-Wisemen!
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igeria is a multi-complex country blessed with abundant
natural and human resources, and also the most populous black nation on earth!
Nigeria is equivalent to about twice the size of California
State and stretched from the Sahara-Sahel in the North to tropical border in
the South Atlantic Ocean.
The country has three major climate types: the Tropical
monsoon in the south, Tropical savanna in the middle-belt or central part and
the Tropical Sahel which predominate in the northern part. However in reality
these climate types are not crystal clear, as various parts may experience
similar weather at times.
Nigeria has many languages or tribes, however the three
major types are: Hausa/Fulani, Igbo (Ibo) and Yoruba in alphabetical order.
In terms of natural resources, Nigeria can pragmatically be
liken to a land flowing with milk and honey; apart from petroleum, Nigeria's other
natural resources include natural
gas, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc and arable
land. The oil and gas sector accounts for about 35
per cent of gross domestic product, and petroleum exports revenue represents over 90 per
cent of total exports revenue.
Major crops include beans, sesame, cashew
nuts, cassava, cocoa
beans, groundnuts, gum
arabic, kolanut, maize (corn), melon, millet,
palm kernels, palm
oil, plantains, rice, rubber, sorghum, soya beans and yams among others.
In
spite of all these natural and human endowment, unfortunately as is typical of
any land where human beings inhabits, there have been series of manipulations,
intricate and inherent suspicion originating from political mediocrity as a
result of divergent views that have not been adequately harnessed to bring
about the greatest potential of the country as the true Giant of Africa and a
socio-economic and political powerhouse in the world!
Rather
than lament about the past opportunities that we have collectively failed to
take advantage of, I am more concerned about the lessons learned and how we can
translate some of our strength into a kinetic force and help move our nation
forward.
In
order to translate our potential forces into a reality, we must embark on the
greatest quest of soul-searching our priorities in a fashion that protects the
weak, helpless and defenseless, while at the same time empowering the powerful
to support national growth with the mindset of patriotism, nationalism and
humanity.
FIRST REPUBLIC
From
a political perspective, I am of the opinion that if the Three Wise men of
modern Nigeria (Sir Ahmodu Bello, Dr. Benjamin Nnandi Azikiwe and Chief
Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo) were with us today, they will be visibly appalled and
absolutely disappointed, at the level of socio-economic, and political
animosity we have directed at one another!
The
prevailing status quo where our politicians exploit of differences, fear and
mutual suspicion to win elective offices at the detriment of nationalism,
patriotism and humanity, with near complete disregard of the African culture of
Extended family system have pragmatically and fundamentally eaten into the
fabric of our national consciousness to such a level that unlike the picture
shown in this article where the Three Wise Men of Nigeria are seen smiling
irrespective of political and ideological difference, contemporary Nigerian
politicians have not been photographed together per say smiling and mingling
with opposition leaders.
What
can we learn from these Three Wise Men? And how can we apply their attitude to
our current political dispensation?
In
the First Republic Alhaji (Sir) Ahmadu Bello, who was also the Sarduna of
Sokoto (1910 -1966) was the leader of the Nigeria’s northern region and helped
established the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) in 1951. Sir Bello was also a
Knight of the British Empire (1959). He worked tirelessly to protect the
interest of the region under his jurisdiction.
Chief
(Dr.) Benjamin Nnandi Azikiwe (1904-1996), was born in present Niger State and
one of the three leading figures of modern Nigerian nationalism. He was the
Head of State of Nigeria from 1963 to 1966 and also the first President of
Nigeria. Azikiwe entered into politics, co-founding
the National Council of
Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC)
alongside Herbert Macaulay in 1944. He became the secretary-general of the National
Council in 1946, and was elected to Legislative Council of Nigeria the
following year.
Chief
Jeremiah Obafemi Oyeniyi Awolowo (1909-1987) was among the three leading
figures of modern Nigerian nationalism. He is most notable as the outstanding
first premier of the Western Region but was also federal commissioner for
finance among others.
He founded the Action Group in 1951, which was the dominant
political party in the western region of the country.
The amalgamation of Nigeria has its inherent challenges, but
is there any country without heterogeneity? None! And take for instance the
United States of America and the United Kingdom; these countries are not a
composition of a homogenous people, but rather the conglomeration of people of
diverse ethnicity and culture.
SECOND
REPUBLIC
Without much ado, the Second Republic attempts to correct
some of the inherent representations of political parties based on tribal line
as opposed to ideological diversity, by providing Nigerians with the
opportunity of having more than just three political parties as was witnessed
in the First Republic.
This experiment led to the emergent of President Shehu
Shagari (North-West) and Vice President Alex Ekweme (East) respectively. Unlike
in the First Republic, the opposition parties were not limited to the West
alone, but North-East and North-Central. In my opinion this was a move in the
right direction as far as diffusing the politics of ethnicity and tribalism.
THIRD REPUBLIC
The
political gain of the Second Republic was very short-lived in the contemporary
dispensation to a greater extent. While the emergence of two political system
of casting vote has its advantages especially uniting Nigerians under two major
ideological block and helping to rely more on opinions than on ethnicity and
tribalism, it nevertheless created another set of limitations; the zoning of
the various political offices.
In
part as a result of the transition of Bashorum MKO Abiola, of blessed memory,
General Olusegun Obasanjo (West) became the President of Nigeria and General
Yar’Adua (North) was the Vice President.
President
Musa Yar’Adua succeeded Obasanjo and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan (South-East) was his
Vice-President. Following the untimely death of the President Yar’Adua,
Jonathan became the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Shehu
(North-Central) was his Vice-President.
President
Mohammed Buhari (North) is now the President of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, with Professor Yemi Osimbajo (West) as his Vice-President.
Throughout
our political history, Nigerians have always found a way to work things out;
from the naïve arrangement of the three geo-political region of the First
Republic, later leading to the creation of the Mid-western region and to our
contemporary six geo-political arrangement and thirty-six States, and the
Federal Capital Territory.
We
as Nigerians must now challenge ourselves to carrying on the good legacies of
our modern founding fathers of Nigeria nationalism by emulating what the
picture attached to this article portray; namely that of the Three Wise Men
that put aside their regional interest, selfishness and ethnicity to showcase
what unite them together- Nigeria!
For
the sake of Nigeria, we too can treat those we oppose politically and otherwise
with respect and humanity.
For
the sake of Nigeria, we can help to make our country and her leaders better by
supporting their desire to make the country better than the met it!
For
the sake of Nigeria, we must always find a way to enhance of union, rather than
exploit our differences for cheap political gain.
The
spirit of these Nigerian- 3- Wise men should help us to forge ahead, not in
oblivion of our differences, but rather to explore our diversity in such a way
that we can build the country most desirable for next generation. Amen!
Thanks,
Peter
Odeh
