OPINION: Nigeria Should Be Our Only “Tribe”, “Religion” And “Ethnicity”

Editor’s note: Nigeria, so diverse, so multcoloured, so magnificent… Diversity is everywhere: in colours, urban landscapes,  people, views. Nigeria is “million countries in one”. Could it ever be the whole one? Naij.com constant guest author Hussain Obaro is sure Nigerians may put there differences aside and come together without loosing their uniqueness.

At the time bookmakers all over the world refused to give Nigeria any chance, we proved the prophets of doom wrong by conducting one of the most peaceful elections in the history of Africa. The peaceful transition period and the rancor-free handing over/swearing-in are testaments that democracy is widely accepted by the people, and Nigeria is ready to lead Africa again. Moreover, there was a congratulatory message from the PDP to the newly elected president and the APC soon after the inauguration. That rare display of political maturity showed that the bitterness, acrimony, enmity and the wounds inflicted during the electioneering period were healing at a fast pace. Now the new administration needs to focus more on what unites Nigerians rather than what divides them.

The developed countries have one thing in common: they have successfully removed tribal, religious and ethnic considerations from their polity. Americans regard themselves as Americans, not as adherents of different religions or ethnic groups. As for Nigeria, since 1960 all the crises and wars have either been caused by tribal sentiments or religious intolerance.

For Nigeria to catch up with the developed nations there has to be a deliberate national policy aimed at downplaying issues of tribe, religion and ethnicity. Nigeria cannot lead Africa and earn honor and respect among the Committee of Nations members if religious and tribal sentiments still reign supreme in our everyday routine. Excluding Lagos and Kano states, I am yet to see an Igbo man contesting and winning a political post in Sokoto, Jigawa, Zamfara, Ogun or Osun states. It is very difficult for a Christian to emerge as a major political party flag-bearer in the northern states, and it’s impossible for a Muslim to emerge as a gubernatorial or senatorial candidate in Enugu, Anambra or Akwa Ibom states.

A Hausa man is treated as a non-indigene in Abia regardless of the fact that he was born and spent all his life there. An indigene of Sokoto cannot contest for a political post in Bayelsa simply because their forefathers aren’t from this part of the country. Moreover, it has always been an issue for a woman to be accorded the privileges and rights of an indigene in her husband’s state of origin.

READ ALSO: National Unity Through Inter-Tribal Marriages

Barrack Obama became a US citizen by birth. Even though his forefathers weren’t Americans, he enjoyed the rights and privileges of an American citizen that made it possible for him to become the first black American president. This is the hallmark of a highly developed society, Nigeria should learn from this example so that we can be great again. Tribal, religious and ethnic considerations in politics are the reason why capable people can not emerge as leaders, and why corruption and insecurity are prevalent. The rule of law, good governance and quality leadership have been laid on the altar of tribe, religion and ethnicity.

The 2006 national population census was conducted devoid of religion because the former president Olusegun Obasanjo decided that religion should be excluded from the head count. Even though some Nigerians disagreed with the decision, I think it was a step in the right direction. As we prepare for another round of census, there is the need for us to remove not only religion from the head count, but tribe and ethnicity as well. The Rwandan genocide, an epitome of inhumanity, was made possible due to the fact that the national identity cards contained information of a person’s affiliation to 1 of the 2 warring tribes – Hutu and Tutsi. The people were easily identified, maimed or killed. President of Rwanda urgently ordered that the new national identity cards devoid of tribe indication should be issued to all Rwandans. Today the only existing “tribe” is Rwandans.

Considering the damage tribal, ethnic and religious sentiments have caused to the country, there’s the need for us to learn from the example of Rwanda in removing what divides us. Regardless of the part of Nigeria we find ourselves we should be treated as indigenes. Nigeria should be our only “tribe”, “religion” and “ethnicity”. The citizenship certificates issued at the local government councils should be abolished. Emphasis should be made on the state of residence, not on the state of origin. It doesn’t make any sense that after spending more than 14 years in Kwara state,  I still belong to the local government council in Kogi state according to my citizenship certificate. I am treated as a non-indigene, and I cannot freely contest for any political post even though the constitution allows me to do so.

Nigeria’s quest for development, greatness and leadership in Africa requires that tribal, religious and ethnic sentiments should be abolished from our day-to-day consideration. Elected and appointed leaders should be allowed to emerge based on potential, past achievements, honesty, integrity and popularity. We did not choose our tribes, ethnicity and even religion, we just born with it. Hence, Nigerians should not be judged on the basis of their tribe, religion or ethnicity. If an Igbo man from Anambra has what it takes to make Benue state a better place, he should be allowed to do just that. Nigeria should be our only “tribe”, “religion” and “ethnic group”.

Hussain Obaro for Naij.com

Hussain Obaro is a writer motivational speaker and public affairs commentator from Ilorin, Kwara state.

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Naij.com. 

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