Nigeria@57 Essay Contest : SECESSION OR ONE NIGERIA

Nigeria@57 Essay Contest : SECESSION OR ONE NIGERIA 

CONTESTANT : NAME: OLANIYI FAITH

PHONE NUMBER: 08167676778

LOCATION: ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

         According to the English Oxford dictionary, secession is the action of withdrawing formally from membership of a federation or body, especially a political state. Literally, it means to go apart. In this essay, I am going to be talking about the best: A divided Nigeria or a unified Nigeria. This topic is dear to my heart because my aim is to promote Nigeria’s unity. Late Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in 1960 during his speech as the first prime minister of Nigeria said ‘‘indeed, unity today is our greatest concern and it’s the duty of every one of us to work to strengthen it. Bitterness due to political differences will carry Nigeria nowhere and I appeal to all political leaders throughout the country to try to control their party extremists. Nigeria is large enough to accommodate us all in spite of our political differences”. The agitation for secession has been ongoing since 1976 when the
Republic of Biafra [a secessionist state] was created. This state existed in the eastern Nigeria from the 30th of May 1976 to January 1970.

                 The agitators have persisted in their fight for a divided nation for different reasons some of which are: attacks by Boko Haram, lack of regional infrastructures and mass unemployment among youths in their region. They also claim that they have no say in government issues because they have no representative from their region. They have forgotten that: Boko Haram do not spare anyone regardless of your religion or ethnicity, lack of infrastructures is caused by mismanagement of resources and mass unemployment is not a regional issue but a national issue. Assuming it is true (which it is not) that there is an agenda to keep the eastern region out of government issues, is the answer to leave or address it? Even if you leave, the problem will persist among the Biafra states. The best way to solve the problem is by addressing the issue peacefully and not by dividing Nigeria. 

          Talking about dividing Nigeria, our strength lies in our diversity. We ought to draw strength from our diversity but instead; this issue of secession has always been a problem. The disadvantages of secession far outweigh the advantages. The secession of Nigeria is not an easy process. Anyone who believes that Nigeria can be divided without bloodshed, in my opinion, is living in a fool’s paradise because the division is not stipulated in the constitution. So, there is no legal way to facilitate secession. Also, secession will lead to a smaller economy and fewer employment opportunities. The giant of Africa will become a small group of countries and we will lose our place in the continent. Moreover, if we scannot live together peacefully now, is it when we become separated that we will start living peacefully? Also, secession would not be possible because some of the people of Biafra, for example: the Ibibios, Efiks, Annangs, Oron,Ekets and Ekets, have not and never have been interested in forming a country with the Igbos.

                   In conclusion, a united Nigeria is stronger than a divided Nigeria. Instead of secession, why can we not dialogue with the government to improve our beloved Nigeria and make it a better place? We should see people for who they are and not for the region they represent. If we reason deeply, we would realise that we stand a better chance if we unite to advance this great nation. A divided Nigeria is not the answer.

 #SayNoToSeccession

 #OneNigeria

 #GodBlessNigeria

 NAME: OLANIYI FAITH

PHONE NUMBER: 08167676778

LOCATION: ONDO STATE, NIGERIA