Arts/Literary
BOOK REVIEW How To Make Nigeria Peaceful, Friendly
Book Title: Nigeria :The Case For Peaceful And Friendly
Dissolution Author: Adedapo Adeniran
Reviewer: Anote Ajeluorou
Nigeria has variously been dubbed a contradiction, a geographical expression lacking the status of a nation; a country lacking in clear direction, whose leaders demonstrate abysmally unpatriotic spirit as they fail to define a path to greatness for the country.
Those who make these arguments have strong indicators to corroborate their point. Corruption, ethnic affiliations that have entrenched such obnoxious and mediocre formulas as “quota system, geographical spread, disadvantaged areas, cut-off mark, catchment area, political thuggery, the Niger Delta question,” and the like do not make serious argument for a country ready to embrace oneness.
The questions always arise: What direction should Nigeria go? Is it the way of peaceful co-existence, where the principles of federalism are practised to the letter or a simple and peaceful dissolution into ethnic nation states? For how long will the state continue to totter on shaky legs because those who lead continue to pay lip service to the country’s oneness while actually doing things that otherwise continue to undermine unity and greatness? But legal activist and writer, Adedapo Adeniran will not dwell on the realm of conjectures. He says it as he sees it in his book, Nigeria: The Case for Peaceful and Friendly Dissolution that has benefited from fourth revision. Adeniran argues categorically that Nigeria is founded on a wrong foundation as amalgam of different ethnic nation States by the British colonialists.
What is needed, according to him, is for the various ethnic nation States to go their way and exist independently of each other. It is only that way would their potentials be variously realized rather than what now exists that is totally at variance with every known aspiration that makes up nations
Adeniran traces the historical path that led Nigeria’s creation starting from the Berlin Conference of 1884, where Africa was carved out like a cake at a table for the European powers. Thirty years later in 1914, Lord Lugard amalgamated the Northern and Southern Protectorates to be known as ‘Nigeria.’ Adeniran writes, “Effectively, Lord Lugard and Lady Lugard are the bane of the Southern and Northern Nigeria. The situation is long overdue for correction”.
He further makes argument against the continuing use of the name ‘Nigeria’ after independence. Most other nations in Africa have long changed their colonial names to ones that are in consonance with the spirit of those nations. What this means in his view, is that Nigeria should have been fractionalized long before now as the unity is one founded on false premise. It is the writer’s view that by retaining the colonial name, Nigeria has not made itself open to modern ways of thinking and doing things.
He writes, “It is instructive to note that a good number of African countries christened with foreign names have so progressed in their thoughts that they no longer bear those colonialist appellations. Gold Coast became Ghana, Upper Volta became Bourkina Faso, Northern Rhodesia became Zambia, Nyasaland became Malawi; yet the self acclaimed ‘Giant of Africa’ – Nigeria, which should have led the way in that direction still retains that element of colonialism, when in reality it should be looking forward to fractionalisation with a view to formation of independent and sovereign nationalities in aid of patriotism and nationalism”.
The author surmises that from earliest times, there have been elements of disintegration in the union called Nigeria but which have been glossed over by opportunism from those who strongly canvassed for it initially. He blames the British for this as he insists that the North was always against the Nigerian union, and had actually threatened to pull out. Now, he insists the North has been the unintended beneficiary of a union they disdained from start.
Evidence abound to suggest that they were persuaded to stay put during the second military coup in 1966 that ushered in Yakubu Gowon as Head of State.
So, he states, “Ours is a marriage of inconvenience, of heterogeneous incompatibles resulting in abuse of power, position, avarice, disregard for human rights, lack of mutual esteem, vanity, ignorance, corruption, unfairness, lack of meritocracy, and all other unimaginable ills not arising from intellectual objectivity, tolerance and meaningful dialogue, but from empty arrogance, the barrel of the gun, ignorance and pig-headedness. Religious fundamentalism, bigotry and intolerance laced with ethnic nepotism seem to be the order of the day”.
In Nigeria: The Case for Peaceful and friendly Dissolution, Adeniran is certain Nigeria’s doomsday will yet come if the structures that continue to emphasise the artificially created country are not dismantled. The civil war of the 1970s was one such doomsday. “Inevitably, ethnic differences are natural and in bold relief; so it does not serve any useful purpose to deceive ourselves until doomsday,” he states. “One such doomsday was the Biafra war when the Ibos felt truly that they did not belong to the colonialist artificial entity of a misnomer labeled Nigeria.”
Mr. Adeniran’s book might be considered an inflammatory work considering efforts being made to heal whatever wounds that have been inflicted on different ethnic nationalities within the Nigerian union. But he certainly is worth listening to for the benefit of hindsight contained in his book, which he has bequeathed to his generation. Such hindsight should be a source for informed insight into the future and what the continuing schisms in the union may portend if things continue to decay.
The book should be seen as a wake up call for dedication from the political class that continues to operate gangster leadership style to deprive ordinary Nigerians their due. However, the section, ‘Less .we forget’ is in bad taste and makes Adeniran’s entire argument narrow and Yoruba-centric.
Anote Ajeluorou
It is the idea of God that family should exit. Children form part of the family. God loves family so much that Jesus was born into the family of Joseph.
Everyone’s family is good and important. Children should not look down on their family whether they are rich or poor.
Children should respect and honour their family and foster love among their siblings. They should work together and make peace in the family. They should always stand in the gap. It is good for family members to carry all along since everyone may not be doing well.
The Christianity that children learn is practised in family. Faith-based organisations do a great job in moulding children’s character. Those are the behaviours that children exhibit towards siblings in family.
Every child born in a family is there for a purpose. A baby born into a family is supplying something. It may be joy, wealth and so on. Everyone is important in a family.
Adolescents who have graduated from school but may not be contributing financially can do one or two things at home. You can engage in preparing meals at home while parents are away for a job or business. Contributing in house chores will go a long way to relieve parents of stress after a day’s job.
What do you contribute to your family, especially during holidays both in nuclear and extended family?
The family you were born is constant but friends are temporary. You can decide not to continue in friendship but you cannot cut off your family. No matter how bad you think your family is and you decide to leave home, you must surely return. Your friends can harbour you for a while.
The child’s first identity comes from the family. What the child learns first comes from the family.
Family is the centre of love and care. People have started playing down on marriage because of neglect on basics of family. Marriage starts today and and the next few months, it is threatened. Respect for family plays a crucial role in marriage.
No child grows without parental control and influence. If a child refuses to grow without taking instructions from parents, he may grow up being wild. There are consequences when children do not obey their parents. There are those who want to be rebellious against their parents. They should know that their length of days are tied to their parents.
Your bioligical parents know you more than every other person. There is the wisdom and knowledge your parents have that you do not so it is proper to listen to them before choosing carriers both in academics and job. A young man or woman can choose who to get married to, but a greater role in the choice of who to marry and the marriage proper comes from the parents.
They know what is best for you. No matter how modern trends will influence you and prove it wrong, parent is the key. No one can love you more than your parents because they are your blood.
A lot of parents have been traumatised due to the fact that children they nurtured and trained turned their back on them at older age. Children should not abandon their parents for any reason.
As you grow up, situations may arise in marriage when you decide it is over with your spouse, but no matter the level of provocation with your parents, they will not despise you. Parents will also play a role in that regard. Problem arises in every family but how it is handled matters a lot.
Some children honour their mentors more than their parents. Although there are parents who shy away from their responsibilities. It is important that parents take full responsibility of their children. You cannot bring a child to the planet earth and refuse to perform roles as a parent. But parents may not quantify what they spent from childhood to adolescence. That is a blessing children cannot get from another person.
There are people who have attributed their failure in life to the fact that their parents, especially mothers are witchcraft. It is wrong to feel that your mother is instrumental to your failure in life. The only way to success is hardwork.
Let money not determine the level of love for your parents. Wherever a child goes, family is constant.
Eunice Choko-Kayode
Naturally, when a child is born, it is the role of the father and mother to decide a suitable name for the child. The husband and wife normally discuss and suggest the English or vernacular name of the baby.
But sometimes, when a baby comes into a family, grandparents hearts are usually filled with joy to the extent that they want to answer present, by giving their own names not minding the fact that the biological parents have given theirs.
This happens mostly when the marriage is an inter-tribal one. It also happens even in intra-tribal marriage. Grandparents want equal representation as far as naming a child is concerned. They also have special names as a result of circumstances surrounding the birth of the child.
This is still happening till date.
A lot of people have viewed this in different ways but there is nothing wrong about it. The most important thing is that the child bears as many names as he or she can. But one thing is certain, the child must bear one name in school.
Should circumstance determine a child’s name?
Women who are more emotional are always eager to name their children considering the circumstances surrounding the child’s conception and arrival.
The issue of grandparents naming a child comes up mostly when it is the first of the family.
In naming children by some parents in the olden days, they named their children according to the days in the week in which they were born, like Sunday, Monday, Friday and so on.
You may be shocked to hear that whether a child is given 10 names by parents or grandparents, when he or she grows up, will decide to change. There are several cases where some persons decided to change especially when they feel that the names given by their parents and grandparents do not give them joy. If they are not doing well in life, they may claim that their misfortune is caused by the name their parents.
Competition among children in schools be it primary, (kindergarten) and secondary come in different forms. It can be Mathematics , debate, quiz, spelling bee,competition, from organisations like Cowbell, multi-national companies, faith-based organisations among others.
They are organised mostly for selected intelligent ones, the best among their peers to represent a class, school or group. Prizes are normally set aside for the best as well as consolation prizes for runners-up at the end of each session.
The question is, are children willing to accept defeat when they fail? As parents, guardians, can you encourage your children or wards to accept defeat instead of shouting and comparing them with others who may be performing better either in schools or outside.
Some parents may be blaming their children for not doing well in competitions. They will like to tell their children if others who may perform better have ten heads. Those group of parents blame their children for every failure.
For your children to do better in competition, the parents too must have emotional intelligence. When you continue to blame your children for failure, how intelligent are you?
Some parents always want their children to be in the 1st position and unhappy whenever they secure 2nd position. There were instances where children smashed their trophies because they never got the position they wanted to get and their parents supported them.
Children should be able to accept it whether they win or not. They should be encouraged for every performance. Discourage the issue of “shame, shame, shame, shame”.
A parent says she always tells her children to win even if they will fail. Always give them the mentality that they can win. Children should be given the impression that they can win prizes and laurels in every competition.
Parents should not isolate their children from others in the neighbourhood. Allow them to play with others. Don’t threaten your children that you may not pay their schools fees if they fail. Comparing them with others may encourage or discourage them.
Coming first or getting award as a first class student from the university sometimes does not mean that the person is the best. And if the child does not merit any award in the lower classes, does not mean that he can not merit first class also.
It should be noted that coming first in academic competition may not really mean that the competitor will be the best at work place or business.
Accepting defeat is a way to move higher. Even if a child who competed with others did not come first, there are consolation prizes for runners-up. When you advise the child to accept defeat, you are encouraging her to win in next competition.
Remember all children cannot be on the same knowledge level Their learning abilities defer.
Eunice Choko-Kayode