In fact having
survived much turbulence on several occasions including the secession attempt
of the 60s, the general impression among particularly who benefit from the
status-quo is that, Nigeria is divinely destined to remain one and indivisible.
However, what is vividly clear is that, successive governments in the country
have not done enough to address the challenges that pose such existential
threat to the country.
The persistent
economic deprivation and social instability over the decades have resulted into
a widespread frustration and hopelessness across the land, however Nigeria’s
successive governments have often responded to such warnings with mere
political and “patriotic” rhetoric.
Nigeria might
have-to a large extent- succeeded in defying the expectations of collapse over
the decades, however the dramatic escalation of organized crimes
across the land -if left unchecked- will not only lead to collapse (if collapse
means split between North and South) but will actually cause total anarchy for
that matter.
The inevitability
of such unfortunate eventuality does not require any painstaking analysis to
notice. The simple equation is that, on one hand there is an irresponsible
system, which is increasingly going helpless, while on the other hand there are
clusters of deadly crime gangs, which are increasingly going more audacious. So
in this circumstance and in view of the absence of any single substantive
social, sectional or even religious movement likely to cover the resultant
political vacuum in the country, what would be the probable outcome?
I would therefore
urge those who often write and speak out about the imperative of official
reform to also encourage social initiatives that can provide immediate
alternative should there be a spontaneous political vacuum. This is necessary
especially considering the fact that the masses are those who will have to
suffer the consequences more, as the ruling elite and their collaborators will
simply jet out to the comfort of their standby abodes in Europe, America or
Middle East.
After all, the
process of running such social initiatives may not take more than necessary in
view of the scarcity or total absence of government’s impact on the masses. So
the thinkers and the activists should encourage the setting up of virtual
communal initiatives, which shall spearhead the introduction and running of
social self-help schemes to provide themselves with alternative basic services
e.g. education, security, sanitation, health etc.
It is expected
that, while these virtual services supplement the little they get from the
government, they will in the meantime have something to fall back on and
develop upon into substantive systems to prevent chaos should the country
completely fail.
Having said that
and for the avoidance of doubt, I do not wish nor encourage any turmoil in
Nigerian system. I am instead a concerned and patriotic citizen who writes and
speaks out on the imperative of socio-political and economic reforms.
Nevertheless, I am
not emotional more than necessary, I am realistic who analyses things with as
much objectivity as possible. So in as much as I believe in the possibility of
change in the country, I am also aware that should this current mess persist
nothing can be ruled out.
