I often wonder why Nigerians only always seems to adjudge themselves in the zero-sum views of each other. We, Nigerians, are not the only people that ever had a civil war. Starting closer to us, Cameroon was birthed at independence in civil strife, today they are peaceful; South Korea underwent one of the worst civil strifes in human history today she is one of the worlds leading economies; the United States was born of blood, she rose to become the greatest power the world has ever know in its history of civilisations. Imagine if the side that lost the civil war, the Confederate States, still goes on hating, where would these United States of America have been? Yes, bad things happen in war; but it was not as if one side was so evil while the other side was saintly. Ojukwu too has a lot to answer for. Looking back at history with a spectrum of hate will not help anyone. It is this carry-over of hatreds that made the Balkans a region of strife and wars ad infinitum. Imagine in the old Yugoslavia people were stll grumbling about what happend to who in the 10th century! And, I remembered the fanfare with which the NYSC was set-up by Gowon in the 1970s. Those who thought when youths serves in other parts of Nigeria was a good idea would be kicking their heels this morning. Between 1970 and now is a generation going to another. Our value system need to change. Even in our religions we are as hateful. At times, I wonder why Nigerians are not just idol worshippers. The adherents of the two Abrahamic faiths are as hateful of each other as satan could have wished for. The faultline now is the encroachment of politics into every aspect of our lives. And Nigeria is NOT blessed with good political leaders. What we have are regional and local champions: divide-and-rule is their stock in trade; they have nothing better to offer the nation than looting and perpetuating themselves in power. To remain relevant, they must cage their followers in primordial sentiments of tribe and region. We better start thinking differently! - Dr. Caxton Fatanmi Well said sir!
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 13:28:11 +0000