About 2 years ago, Jude Abaga more popularly known as M.I gave a talk titled “What If we refused to be separated?” at TEDxMaitama. The Major argument was that Unity breeds success and the Nigerian Music Industry versus the American Music Industry was used as a metaphor for Nigeria.
M.I quoted a scripture from the bible I’d love to quote too.
“The Lord Said, “If they have begun to do this as one people having the same language, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them…”” - Genesis 11:6
God knew that if the people stayed in Unison they could almost build a tower to reach the heavens!
One of Nigeria’s Problems has been lack of unity and cohesion. Many reasons to unite and fight against social ills have risen since 1960 but somehow until the #BBOG movement (Bring Back Our Girls) of 2014 and now the #ENDSARS movement, this unity has evaded the Nigerian people. The ending line of the Nigerian National Anthems First Stanza, “One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity” has been a prayer for 60 years and I am happy that in the Second Weekend of October 2020, the second half of the sentence was was finally actualized. We have finally come together and nothing - including the disbanding of the SARS and every other ill in Nigeria - is impossible for us. We are fighting for the Freedom.
But in this is a warning. That we stay united and not get divided. Causes for division are already all around us. SEGA this, SEGA that. OBO this, OBO that.
The enemy is not from within. Our enemy is the system that has kept Nigeria captive for 60 years and that is what we will fight as well as its flag bearers.
Yes we will have our differences. Some will try to hijack the movement for personal gain. But we must keep our eyes on the Bigger Picture and forge forward.
Nigeria has been kept in the cycle of disunity by a Divide and Rule tactic. The colonialist used it to capture territories. They used it in colonialism. And now the ruling class are using it. I am not a prophet of doom but before December they will devise some controversy or problem to split us again. The demigods of ethnicity and tribalism will try to come back in but we are battle men and women soldiers.
We must not allow divisiveness to set in again. We are one Nigeria. Yes we might have been a forced union over 100 years ago but we are ONE NIGERIAN youth and we want a better Nigeria for ourselves and our children.
A luta continua. A vitória é certa