Forget our Religious Differences To Move Nigeria Forward —- Sabastine Anyia

* A COUNTRY ON SELF DESTRUCTION My heart aches for my country Nigeria. A country that was created specially by God Almighty. A country endowed with rich natural resources. A people celebrated all over the world. In every field of endeavors, Nigerians are there sports, education, ingenuity etc. Nigerians are unarguably the pride of the African race. I was told that in the early 70s and part of the 80s every black man all over the world was proud to be called a Nigerian. Although the country had just come out of civil war, there was no bitterness and hatred as it is now. Where did we get it wrong as a nation? How come majority of the foreign companies in our country are relocating to different countries? What is the cause of this geometrical unemployment and hunger in the land? Why this massive killings of women and children in our country? Why are our unarmed youths massacred by unknown militants? I am terribly worried about the state of things in my beloved country. I have equally asked myself if we Nigerians are aware of the grave damage we are doing to ourselves, it appears to me that love and peace have left us and in its place anger and hatred is the order of the day. About two weeks ago, I saw in the internet a post that went viral. I guess it was sent by those who do not like the face of the Inspector General of Police. In that post, the message it sent to the whole world is that our Inspector General of Police is an illiterate fool who is timid and not capable of addressing the public. To the author of the above post, he has dealt with the Inspector General of Police. Shame on the said author because he is not only insulting the IGP but he is also insulting the 180 million Nigerians including himself. The damage the said post has caused on the image of Nigeria in foreign countries cannot be overemphasized. The said author is telling the whole world that Nigerians including himself are foolish, stupid and timid that is why an officer who rose to the rank of Number one citizen in the police force cannot construct a simple statement in English language. Yet, some Nigerians are laughing and posting the said post on various platforms. Have we as Nigerians given a serious thought on the bad image this post has caused us as a Nation? As if that was not enough damage, just few days ago, I read from the internet and other tabloids that the police are inviting the Senate President to come and make statements concerning the Offa bank robbery alleging that some of the arrested suspects linked him to the said robbery as their sponsor. The said Senate President is the number three citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. To me, this is politics taken too far. Are the police telling Nigeria and indeed the whole world that the number three person in the Federal Republic of Nigeria will sponsor a gang? Let me advice our politicians that the vendetta they have against each other is destroying this country. They do not mind what damage it will cause the nation provided they achieve a cheap political point, even at the detriment of the nation. Do we need Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed to tell us why we are this backward? Now tell me, which meaningful investor will wish to invest in Nigeria when her number three citizen is an armed robber? Can we now see why our economy is very poor, why our youths are unemployed and why we cannot develop as a nation? What is the way forward? I suggest strongly without fear or favour that for this country to move forward, we must forget about our religious differences, our ethnic background, our political affiliations and see Nigeria as our primary responsibility. Whether we like it or not, we are Nigerians. None of us chose to be a Nigerian, that we are Nigerians is purely the work of God and none of us can question God. If our country is doing well, it is good for all of us and if it is doing badly as it is today, we will all suffer for it. If you are truly a Nigerian, rise up and do the needful. Stop mocking our institutions, offer constructive criticism to Nigerian government. This new road of hatred and anger is destroying us as a Nation. My little advice to my beloved Nation. Sabastine Anyia LL.M]]>