Nigerian- 3-Wisemen!

Nigerian- 3-Wisemen!

N

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