Heart Cry of Mother Nigeria

There is no nation existing that is not going through internal problems or that had not  gone through internal issues at a time or the other. Most of the time issues get settled without external intervention and in cases where external interventions are needed, they are done with the agreement/permission of the leaders of such countries.

 Nigeria as a nation has also gone through and is still going through the experiences of ''the good, the bad and the ugly but somehow it has remained intact to the amazement of all to confirm the secret wish of the majority of the populace for the country to stand in unity as one and not go through the separation procedure.

Nigeria, a mother of the North and South wants her children to remain intact. If a part of the country secedes today, it can no longer be Nigeria, it will answer another name; vivid examples are former Korea, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia etc who had taken that path but Nigeria is screaming loud and saying NO to separation.

The amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Nigeria in 1914 can be described as one of the best things that happened to the country. In the face of troubles, some Nigerians might quickly call for the separation of the regions without sitting down to consider the pros and cons of the separation, it is glaring that the unity of the country is better than its separation. It is actually not a mistake that Nigeria has on its coat of arms as the motto: peace, unity, progress and faith, pointing to the direction expectant of Nigeria to take.

A part of the former National Anthem states that ''though tribes and tongues may differ, in brotherhood we stand,'' which is a pointer that there might be diverse cultures/languages, tribes and religions but there is still a uniting factor which is a sense of brotherhood keeping the country together as one.

Mother Nigeria wants her children intact but what language are the children speaking? Is it to stand together in unity or to scatter?         

Charles .E. Norton (1827-1908) said: ''The refuge from pessimism is the good men and women existing at any time in the world-they keep faith and happiness alive''. What are Nigerians saying about the future of the country? Tools that can be used to save the destiny of this nation are the positive input of the men and women that have chosen to tow the path of goodness. The good men and women are filled with hope that the future of the country is great and they are willing to sacrifice their time and effort to salvage the country from negativity and put it on the positive path.

This is the fiftieth year of Nigeria’s independence; it actually calls for celebration but in the midst of the celebration, there should be a sober reflection on the way forward. Yes it is a Golden Jubilee year indicating a golden period. For gold to truly stand out as gold and shine, it must have gone through the refining process with all the impurities removed.

This is Nigeria's golden period; diverse water had passed under the bridge. The nationalist leaders fought to ensure that the nation  at all timest  must stand and be counted as an independent nation. What are Nigerians doing presently to ensure the posterity of the country? Is it good enough to make the labour of the heroes of the country vain? These  and many more questions are requiring urgent answers from Nigerians to give direction as a determining factor for the country to either stand together or for the regions to part ways.

Fiftieth, a season of Jubilee is a time of liberation and jubilation and ought not to be a period of bondage, confusion and losses. Nigeria is in the season when internal and external confusion ought not to affect its existence and unity in any way. It is her time of liberation from any form of internal and external confusion.

Considering the situation in some part of the country with a low level of intolerance, ethnic, religious and political differences should not warrant the separation of the country along such lines as wished by Libya's President M. Gaddafi.

Gaddafi's unnecessary and unsolicited comments twice on the state of the nation calling   for separation recently is a pointer that Nigerians need to be wise and stand decisive that Nigeria will stand in unity as a nation.           

 It is time Nigerians extirpate Gaddafi's comments from the issues that have to do with the country by asking him to mind his Libyan issues and shut up his mouth on issues concerning Nigeria. If he has no better suggestion to give to the country, it is better for him to keep his opinion to himself.

Going by Samuel Johnson’s (1709-1784) sttement  that ''every man has a right to utter what he thinks is truth and every other man has a right to knock him down for it,'' Gaddafi has uttered what he considers to be the truth concerning the solution to Nigeria’s problems and her present situation, but the ball is now in the court of Nigerians to prove him wrong by not bothering to consider his comments for use in order to avert confusion.

The adage that says ''if you cannot help me, leave me exactly the way you met me,'' should be the best answer given to anyone that wants to project and promote the disintegration of Nigeria as a nation.

Nigeria is an independent nation indicating that it can make quality decisions on national policies without advise and consultation with other nations most especially if the decision has to do with the destiny of about 150 million Nigerians positively.

What language are Nigerians speaking today? The nationalists were able to ensure that Nigeria becomsme an independent nation because they decided to speak with a common voice regardless of region, religion or tribe. It is time for Nigerians to reach an concord and speak as one on national issues.

If Nigerians can open their ears and hearts to the cry of Mother Nigeria, her voice will be heard loud and clear shouting: ''My children, you may speak different languages with different cultures and even worship God in different ways with different political inclinations; you still stand as my children and l cannot stand to lose any of you to chance and reason''. It will be a thing of joy if the children can hearken to the voice of Mother Nigeria.

As Nigerians, there should be an agreement with the statement made by Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) that ''no nation is fit to sit in judgment upon any other nation''.

Nigerians should not give nations or other nationals the opportunity of passing unnecessary remarks on the state of the nation , rather Nigerians should stand up to the challenge of handling issues amicably and not giving opportunity to others to run and ruin the affairs of the nation.

Nigerians need to look inward concerning issues in the country. The problem of the South should be seen as the problems faced by every Nigerian irrespective of region. Likewise, problems encountered in the North should be seen as problems bothering every Nigerian; if such steps are taken, peace will reign and everyone will live as his or her brother's keeper.

Nigeria remins one indivisible nation nd must not be allowed to be fragmented by the evil desires of the likes of Gddafi. Nigerians need to wake up to the clarion call of standing out as a brother's keeper and this involves the region standing together as one  like other united nations.

The rebranding slogan of ''Nigeria Good People and Great Nation'' is indeed a welcome idea positively projecting the image of Nigeria and giving the people the consciousness that they are good people; it is essential that Nigerians prove this to the world that they are indeed good people by taking the right step of keeping the country intact and make her a great nation. There is the necessity in coming to the realisation that other nations have gone through their own problems and Nigeria did not wade in to give unnecessary advice.

Considering the country, every region needs the other for survival; the country is fashioned in a way whereby no region can in truth do without the other regions when it comes to reality, it is obvious that for Nigeria to be truly Nigeria, every part of it must stand intact. We must avoid the tribal prejudice thats makes some Nigerians think that it is better for the country to separate.

•Ojo wrote from Port Harcourt

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Posted: at 26-04-2010 01:53 AM (14 years ago) | Hero

Fellow Nigerians when a mother cries it is not a pretty sight ooo. She cries and hold her belly. So please my brothers and sisters start showing love, peace and compassion no matter what tribe or region you are from. I want to come to a peaceful Nigeria when I have the money ooo.

Wondering why they took out this from the National Anthem ''though tribes and tongues may differ, in brotherhood we stand,'' "and so with peace and plenty. Nigeria may be blessed". Having something like this so profound and powerful then disregard it can be detrimental to one country. This was what show the unification of Nigerians. Modifying the National Anthem yes but leave the substance. Now there is no peace and the tribes are not united. My heart is grieving ooo. Now I see why my adopted mother is crying. I feel her pain.

An National Anthem is a covenant between the country and God. It always takes some one of spirituality to write it. Anyway a peaceful Nigeria will happen. Prayers never fail and the work of those who want it.

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Posted: at 26-04-2010 03:38 AM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Slept off while reading.
Too long.

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Posted: at 26-04-2010 02:46 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac