Nigeria: Formidable together!

I have just received my own “Nigeria: Better together” SMS from the Presidential Transition Committee, PTC.  In part, the SMS reads, “Nigeria is our home and together we can build a better future for ourselves and our children”. My first reaction upon reading the text was, “Of course, that goes without saying, Nigerians are much better together, that derives from the common saying that a people are stronger together than divided”. But upon reflecting further on the message, juxtaposed with Nigeria’s much talked about potential greatness, l couldn’t resist the urge to comment on the said message still making the rounds.

As often as not, Nigeria’s potential greatness is discussed in the abstract, sans a precise vision of the components of that perceived greatness. The ordinary citizenry is therefore left without a sense of that Great Tomorrow that lay ahead for the country. This essentially explains the palpable hopelessness that pervades the landscape. How tragic! Is it possible to forget that damnable declaration of the Holy Writ on “a people without a vision”? What’s the big take-away from that damnable declaration? It is simply this: clarity of collective vision in the mysterious bond that unites a people.

I should quickly go on to add that such clarity of collective vision emanates from concrete statements on the inherent potential of a people. Consequently, in contemplating Nigeria’s greatness, henceforth, we must necessarily begin to delve into its concrete aspects. This shouldn’t prove an abstruse exercise, not in the least. Why? Because empirical evidence of Nigeria’s greatness is in bold relief, whichever way one cared to look: Location: Nigeria is for all intents and purposes situated at the centre of the world map. Population: She is one of the most populous nations in the world, about 200 million of energetic and enterprising people, largely youthful. Landmass: Approximately one million square kilometers of very arable land, 800 km of which border on the Atlantic Ocean, with major tributaries. Natural Resources: Abundant Hydro-Carbon and Solid Minerals deposits. Climate: Beneficial round-the-year for Agriculture and Industry.

Seriously, could any country possibly ask for anything more? Indeed, one can hardly be accused of putting it on, if it were claimed that Nigeria is second to none in the world in natural and human endowments. But it certainly cannot be gainsaid that Nigeria is the most endowed country in the Southern Hemisphere. I repeat, Nigeria is the most endowed country in the Southern Hemisphere, hoping that the significance of it would be reality evident.

Please pause for a minute or two, and consider the huge responsibility that comes with that rare, some would say incredible privilege. Now resuming, please direct your thoughts to the fact that since recorded history, net-flow of global wealth has curiously been northwards (???). A unidirectional flow would inevitably lead to economic exhaustion, a realization which perhaps impelled international bodies at the close of World War II to purportedly engage in exploring a sustainable flow of global wealth.

But close on a century, those well-advertised engagements by otherwise exceptionally resourceful statesmen/ women and seasoned international civil servants that unidirectional flow persists, amidst increasingly intensifying global crises. Methinks it is time the global-south began interrogating the sincerity of purpose of the global-north. Undoubtedly, this is a herculean task of which leadership falls squarely to Nigeria. Methinks also that it is for this reason that the global north would always perceive Nigeria as a potential threat to her trading interests. (It is not in mere fancy that knowing persons have continued to suggest that the various terrorist groups operating in and around Nigeria are secretly funded internationally). Who stands to benefit from Nigeria’s Instability? Why did the US, with rather thought-provoking confidence, predict that Nigeria would disintegrate in 2015? Why is the UK sympathetic to a prescribed terrorist group in Nigeria?

These are multibillion-dollar questions that should seriously engage the minds of our lukewarm compatriots. Those who coined the slogan “Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable” appear to have a superior grasp of Nigeria’s geo-economic responsibility towards achieving global stability. Nigeria’s “togetherness” is not an option, but the option, because that’s the essential attribute that makes her formidable. The citizen must not harbour second thoughts about it…. A First-World Nigerian status is in the offing, so long as she remains formidable, (see “Nigeria’s Tomorrow Comes! by this writer).

Nkemdiche is an engineering consultant.