Annotating:When Nigeria finally disintegrates

Annotating: when Nigeria finally disintegrates
DR Abdullahi Dahiru
Kano
22nd July 2009
In my several discussions with our compatriots from southern Nigeria, I have come to realise their perception of the north; that the north and northerners especially those from the Hausa/Fulani origin are the cause of the nations problem and Nigeria will only progress by disintegrating so that the other regions will prosper and the north losses.
I am a medical doctor. In the cause of my interaction with patients I came to realise that treating patients goes beyond giving medicines and injections; perhaps we have to change their behaviour and also help in changing the way the country is governed, because most of the diseases that are affecting our people have poverty and ignorance as a precipitating or aggravating factors. Poverty and ignorance are attributable to bad governance and misappropriation of public funds.
One of the behaviours that need change is ethnic hatred and bigotry which has become deep-seated in the mind of Nigerians. That is why a small altercation or misunderstanding between people of different tribes or religion can lead a serious pogrom and spree of looting and destruction of properties.
I believe Nigeria will not disintegrate because of the reasons I earlier mentioned. Even if Nigeria disintegrates, we have not solved the problem. The nations that will emerge will still be ruled by the same oligarchy. I think the best way is to change the system, to change how the country is governed and our perception towards each other.
My earlier article was a rejoinder to a dentist who predicted the doom of Nigeria and northerners loosing, because I knew he was misguided by prejudice and ethnic bigotry to write that piece. We should not allow ourselves to join that bandwagon of ethnic bigots and chauvinists. The learned should strive to show the difference between an ethnic bigot and his opposite.
I a not a Muslim cleric but drew my inspiration from this verse of the noble Qur’an and even non-Muslims can have the same inspiration from the verse:
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and females and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed the most noble of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you. Indeed Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. Qur’an 49:13
I think it is ethically wrong to hate somebody or criticize him purely based on his tribe, religion or state of origin. But it is only right to criticize him on what he does.
We should have the courage to free ourselves from the bondage of ethnic bigotry and chauvinism; a menace that has shackled the country for several years. I believe “yes we can”.