By Adetunji Ayoborown
Nigeria is a name, a geographical land boundary, a country, an entity, and a phenomenon. The name means different things to different people; from the highest to lowest ranks of citizens’ hierarchy it differs. Experiments had shown that samplings across the nation of individual minds show incoherence in ‘citizens-nation’ relationship and vice versa. What is expected from the citizens to the country and the country’s responsibility to its citizen. But the results, not only dazed us but made analysts marvelled at the response to the name ‘Nigeria’. What it meant to an average citizen, and more importantly, in the minds of the elites and ruling class.
Your country is about what you do with the name in mind. To some, our country is worthy of dying for, while some believe it is ‘not a well-explained phenomenon’, some even see it as an ‘unfortunate creation’, whether appropriate or not, many live and act or live and failed to act’ with their individual meanings. Causing many, including public officeholders to either misrepresent or failed to appropriately represent when such individual’s important notion/decision about their country is needed.
Let’s theoretically step outside this country in order to see clearly and accurately access it, this may be practical and essentially important on the issue of what Nigeria is to you. Whether we’ve given this a thought or not, you may dare ask randomly among the people what they think about their nation, be ready, the result may shock you.
Undoubtedly, the problem of our country resides in this meaning and representation of this entity in our individual minds. While few are ready to do more and even die for it (perhaps for their vested interest), to others, Nigeria means nothing more than a name on a paper and nothing more.
Furthermore, how the name Nigeria resides in our hearts and brains will determine what anyone ready or not to do for it. Irrespective of wherever you are on the citizenship ladder, Nigeria must mean something to you. Without true and appropriate definition and meaning of the name Nigeria, we are obviously going nowhere, ask the developed nations.
However, have you ever asked yourself, what Nigeria is to you? Whether positive or not, Nigeria must mean something to you. If you have before now, then you will understand better. Let’s start in descending order, from Buhari to any ordinary Nigerians, what is Nigeria to you?
In a country were over 1,200 people were killed in terrorist attacks in 2019, most of them by Boko Haram alone ask their families, they can explain better what Nigeria means to them.
What is Nigeria to Buhari? I’m the number one Nigerian, the country’ ‘de facto’ ruler. According to my party zoning formula, it is the turn of the north to rule. Incapacitated or not, I must complete my 2nd term of office in 2023 with whatever it takes. Because, I have the final say and despite all the overwhelming evidences, security chiefs can stay for as long as they are doing my dictates. Though entitled to his opinion, many Nigerians call this the genesis of our present precarious situation.
What is Nigeria to Zulum? Let’s call a spade a spade. He clamoured and call for foreign fighters to help the country against terrorism. Borno state is under attack. Please, I know where these shoes pinches. He sent this ‘save our soul’ message to the entire global community. To Zulum; Nigeria need to better battle Boko Haram with mercenaries, using the machineries inside our guts to turn off Boko Haram and its ideologies. The situation is described as traumatising, but then what is Nigeria to Northeast governors? From Ishaku Darius of Taraba, to Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and Mohammed Yahaya of Gombe during their visit to Zulum. They were unable to bear their tears, when they went to condoled with their colleague over the killings of 48 rice farmers.
Bandits kill on farms; hunger kills at homes. What is Nigeria to you?
To those Borno farmers killed on their farms, you are own your own. Presidency said no one grants any permission to go and farms, despite FG’s claims of decimating B/Haram. With no provisions for their day-to-day survival, they must not go to farm, that is Nigeria to them. To other Nigerian farmers all over the nation, bandits, cattle rustlers and kidnappers are still very active. Better be beware and be prepared.
For anyone to refuse such Zulum’s cry for help will be doing injustice to humanity. To an action considered to be long overdue, they backed the call by Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, for the Federal Government to engage mercenaries in the fight against insurgency. That is Nigeria to these Nigerians.
Our dear brother, we are here to condole with you…, indeed saddened and traumatised, the helpless governors can as usual only urge the FG to act and nothing more. That is Nigeria to them. To the Governors’ Forum, Nigeria’s problems seems to be beyond any redemption. With all the huge monthly security votes, insecurity has taken over states during their time, their attitudes seem not bothered much. Unemployment and hunger can continue to kill citizens at homes, our governors don’t have any magic wand to change these narratives.
But to Lai Mohammed, very weak and desperate, Boko Haram is ‘badly degraded’ and can only attack ‘soft targets’, The Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, while on air, was only able to dismiss with a wave of the hand the second deadliest terrorist group in the world. Many said Nigeria to him is different from the happenings to the people of Borno where the over 43 farmers were killed in a devastating attack in Jere LGA.
In the view of the Sultan of Sokoto, kidnappers now prowl freely on Nigeria streets, waiting for their next victims with little or no power to challenge them. But figure like the Sultan should be able to speak and proffer solutions in a time like this, many Nigerians wondered as if they never advise President Buhari. Even the Sultanate is not safe, that is Nigeria to the Sultan.
Kudos to those geniuses who created democracy and the omnificence comrades, mostly who fought and are responsible for the most creative ideology our world has ever witnessed. Under any democracy, which is government of the people, by the people and for the people, ‘if the leader is incapacitated, then, the committee must be convened to take necessary actions. Failure of which is what we are witnessing in Nigeria today.
What is Nigeria to the National Assembly members, whom many accused of being bench warmers in the face of pressing national issues? Though, the House of Representatives finally resolved to invite the president after a very rowdy session.
But what is Nigeria in the minds of our representatives? Issues of urgent national importance like security. The likes of Ahmed Satomi, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Zainab Gimba, Muktar Betara, are suggesting that we need to act now and supported by many others all explained the need to harken to the call.
To others, the issue of insecurity is mere soundbites because their attitudes never took seriousness serious. Others vehemently opposed the move, the president is too big to be concern or even leave presidential palace to explain anything to anyone or group about the country’s insecurity. I mean that is Nigeria representation in some representatives’ members. Most Nigerians never expected such incidence as bad as this, but a division among the lawmakers is saying so much already.
United States of America engages mercenaries; Nigeria can also do so. Our military strength seems overwhelmed. One of the lawmakers pointed out, he had good reason to believe this government had truly failed the people of states like Borno.
As if it has no solution; a 68-year-old man like million more lamented that the attack does not reflect the progress being allegedly made by the military against the insurgency that has devastated the northeast region for 11 years.
Even to the Pope, Zabarmari attack is condemnable, satanic and barbaric, that is Nigeria to the holiest. Among many, this massacre led to another widespread condemnation of the Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari and call out to urgently be decisive towards eradicating this terrorist group.
We have those who are ‘Victims of themselves’! But what is Nigeria to Garba Shehu? His employer, Buhari can continue to be President of the nation despite his incapacitation, and irresistible powerlessness. For as long as his job, salary and other benefits are intact. After all, he and his family are not residing in Borno or any Boko Haram controlled areas. That is his interpretation in his mind.
What is Nigeria to you? And what is your take on Nigeria?
*Ayobrown, Senior System Analyst, National Pilot Newspaper, writes via [email protected]
