Sometimes ago, I found myself sleeping in a dark, enclosed space, where I struggled to open my eyes and couldn’t make out anything around me. It must have been why I slept for what felt like an eternity.

When I eventually opened my eyes, I found myself in a small hut in a village in Ogun State. As I surveyed my unfamiliar surroundings, I couldn’t help but cry, feeling overwhelmed by the unfamiliar faces staring back at me. I soon realised that the people around me were laughing and rejoicing, which only added to my confusion.

After crying profusely, I tried to pay attention to the words being uttered around me. Faintly, I heard a woman say the phrase, “Ọkunrin lanti lanti ni o, Ẹ ku ewu ọmọ”, meaning “It is a boy, congratulations”. A moment later, an elderly man appeared before me, his beard as white as snow as he muttered some unfamiliar words. I focused intently on his lips, trying to make out what he was saying. I heard him say “Allahu Akbar” (God is great) followed by “AlhamduliLlah” (Praise to God). They were different from the ones that were earlier said by the woman I saw before.

Everything happened very quickly that I could not grasp. They were clearly beyond my control. Now this is not about pregnancy or childbirth, it was about how we have no say in our nationality or ethnicity. If I were to make a choice, trust me to prefer Qatar or the United Kingdom over Nigeria.

One of the greatest tools of the divide in Nigeria, especially among the masses, is ethnicity. The country is a tapestry of diverse cultures and traditions, boasting more than 250 distinct ethnic groups, each with its own language, customs, and belief systems. While this rich tapestry of diversity is a source of pride for many, it has also been the cause of deep-seated tensions and conflicts, engendering mistrust and animosity among different ethnic communities.

It is vital to recognise that, despite our differences, there is far more that unites us as Nigerians than divides us. We have a shared history, having been united by the legacy of colonialism and the collective struggle for independence. Moreover, we share a common identity as Nigerians, bound by a shared sense of patriotism and pride in our country.

The 2023 Election is a testament to the fact that there is still a long way to Unity but like a journey of a thousand miles, it starts with a step. It is crucial to allow love to guard our hearts. We should not nurse any hatred for another man because of his tribe – it was never his choice to make in the first place. He only woke up to hear people speak Yoruba or Hausa or Igbo around him before it dawned upon him.

Sadly, these unifying factors appear to hold little significance to the ruling class, who are prone to exploiting them to sow division amongst the masses. By utilising the age-old tactic of “divide and conquer”, the ruling class seeks to maintain its stranglehold on power. They often stoke ethnic tensions to divert attention away from their failures and shortcomings and to prevent the masses from coming together in a united front against them.

To achieve unity of ethnicity, we must promote understanding and respect for our differences while recognising our commonalities. We must acknowledge and celebrate the richness of our diversity and promote inclusion and equality for all ethnic groups.

One way to counteract these divisive tactics is through education and awareness campaigns that encourage cultural exchange and promote understanding between different ethnic groups. It is crucial to instill a sense of love and respect for diversity in our children from a young age. We must teach them to value and appreciate other people’s cultures and personalities and to avoid stereotyping or making unfair judgments based on ethnicity.

For instance, it is not appropriate for a child to label all Northerners as illiterate based on a few individuals they see hustling on the streets. Similarly, it is not fair to mock the Igbos for their accent or criticize the Yorubas for their love of celebrations. By steering clear of stereotypes and prejudice, we can foster a culture of unity and acceptance that transcends ethnic differences.

Additionally, we should not speak words of hatred or division or share such messages. If others do not see good in another tribe, we should not close our eyes to the numerous goods and potential another person embodies.

In conclusion, the experience of being born into a particular ethnicity or nationality is not a choice we have but rather a circumstance of our birth. However, we can choose how we interact with people of different ethnicities and nationalities. We can choose to promote understanding and respect for our differences while recognising our commonalities. We can choose to celebrate the richness of our diversity and promote inclusion and equality for all ethnic groups. It is only by working together and promoting unity that we can truly achieve a Nigeria where our differences are not a source of division but a means of strength that unite us.

Abdusalam wrote from Lagos and can be reached via: 1abdulbasitabdusalam@gmail.com