Nigeria is truly a giant which is endowed with so much human, minerals and natural resources that are largely untapped.
It has huge potentials that are currently stifled by its dysfunctional situation. These include uncertainty, instability, mutual distrust and lack of acceptability of one another in each other’s territory.
There are so many people from Nigeria in the Diaspora that are pioneers in different fields and are willing to bring their wealth of knowledge and expertise to invest back home in other to benefit their nations trapped in this soap bubble created by the British, but are too scared to do so for lack of guaranteed security.
Some argue that we are better together as one big country.
But my question is:
Is Nigeria bigger than the former Soviet Union (USSR)? No.
The Soviet Union concluded its amalgamation in 1922, but today it is no more. From the ashes of the Soviet Union has emerged several new nations, which happen to be in line with the definition of nations.
The breakup of USSR gave birth to so many different countries. Including the present-day Russia, which is a world super power.
Why are we afraid of the breakup of Nigeria? The trapped Nations know their physical boundaries. Nigeria is a collection of countries in one, which is too big as a people to remain one if it has to develop.
Nigeria can breakup in peace. The world today is engaged in technological advancement like Artificial Intelligence (AI), as clearly seen in the recently held World Economic Forum which took place in Switzerland.
Nigeria claims to be the giant of Africa and she is no-where to be found in the AI research and development industry. Yet, some of the best brains in the world of scientific research and development, innovations, medical science, law, businessmen and women are from Nigeria.
Nigeria is one huge land mass that consumes everything and produces almost nothing. In agriculture, farmers still use primitive tools and produce very little that can hardly feed a few. Yet, these farmers are under attacks by the Fulani herdsmen who have no regard for life and property.
They want to re-colonise Nigeria in the 21st Century to take it back to the Old Stone Age of primitive cattle rearing by demanding for cattle colonies in all the 36 states of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory.
Cattle rearing in advanced countries are done in ranches and the output is maximised.
This further heightens the fact that the amalgamation is not working. It needs to be dissolved as soon as possible to make way for the emergence of new Nations, so we self-determine our developmental pace.
The emerging new nations can cooperate with each other bilaterally and mutually to develop, but still retain their individual identity.
A sense of respect for each other’s wishes, dreams, aspirations, and goals will be better served separately.
What is a nation?
A nation is a large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language inhabiting a state or territory. (Google.co.uk,2018)
The people of Nigeria do not share the same language or culture. We are a collection of different nations with lots of potentials which can only be harnessed for the betterment of its people when we dissolve the amalgamation and go our individual ways, within our defined physical boundaries.
We speak many languages, with sub-sects within. These can make the group to become Nations of their own. This further heightens the proof that we are not one and are not united by language.
A nation share a common language. For example, the UK has four nations in one and they all have their individual languages. In England the people speak English, in Ireland they speak Irish, in Wales they speak Gaelic and in Scotland they speak Scottish.
They have their own Houses of Parliament and their own different currency. Even as a developed country they still share the view of development by allowing change and if it is by breaking up, they are prepared to do so.
This was demonstrated a few years ago on Thursday the 18 of September 2014 when a Scottish referendum was held. The people were allowed to decide their future. The Scottish Referendum is still ongoing. (Google.co.uk,2018)
This is also echoed in the recent U.K. Brexit referendum and the people decided to exit the EU. Which was held on Thursday the 23 of June 2016. (Google.co.uk,2018)
The phrase “One Nigeria” is the biggest fraud ever. If you say the people caught in the soap bubble called Nigeria love themselves, it is the height of deception and self-denial.
The domination by certain nationalities over the others have hindered effective development in African and this is very prevalent in Nigeria.
We are quick to say we love ourselves, but the truth of the matter is that the Igbo man wants to appoint his own people over merit. So are the Yorubas, the Tivs, Niger-Deltans, and so on and so forth.
So why do we keep deceiving ourselves that there is “One Nigeria”?
There is nothing wrong with the dissolution of the unworkable and failed amalgam called Nigeria, but rather, it will hasten development within the emerging Nations from the dissolved amalgam.
Since 1990 which is in less than 28 years, the world has given birth to 34 new countries. (ThoughtCo, 2018)
The recent referendum held in Spain over Catalonia is a Testament of evolution of countries.
Already developed countries are constantly looking for change, which is constant and yet African nations are stifling and hindering change, which is one of the key players in a nation’s development.
The size of a nation doesn’t determine its developmental power or pace.
Luxembourg is a tiny nation in the Netherlands but it is a country of its own.
Liechtenstein one of the smallest country in the world has a population of less than 38,000 in 2016. (Google.co.uk,2018). Law enforcement is carried out by 91 police officers and 34 civilian staff. (En.m.wikipedia.org, 2018)
The smaller we are as a nation, the easier and better we are to develop, checkmate crime and corruption.
It is the politicians who are overpaid that are stalling the emergence of new Nations within the amalgamated Nigeria for their selfish gains, as they are among if not the highest paid in the world. That is a topic for next time.
Great Britain, the creator of this failed amalgam, is not as large as Nigeria, but is a huge player in world affairs, science and technology, trade and industry, and military might.
The smaller we are as nations, the better for us and the more opportunities we will have on world platforms to be represented at the UN, AU, Olympics, Football World Cup etc.
For example, in each of these sports, the UK gets four opportunities to be represented and NOT as one big country like Nigeria is. So why are we hindering our own opportunities?
My stand today is for dissolution of this failed contraption and amalgam called Nigeria. It has never worked, and it never will.
Written by Kenneth Divine, a Financial Consultant based in the United Kingdom.
