I am usually surprised by the limited knowledge of some Nigerians about people and places in this great country of ours.
Thirty years ago, I travelled a whole day by road, to acquire university education in a distant land. At first, I was overwhelmed by the long distance and the entirely new experience. I even envied my secondary school classmates and friends who did not venture outside their comfort zone in search of university education.
Today, I am glad I took that leap of faith. I am thankful also for the resourceful teachers and students I encountered, they changed my life forever. In fact, I met Nigerians from almost every ethnic group, including foreign students who provided insights on cultural and political developments in their countries. I must say that I enjoyed my life as an undergraduate; that era came with boundless opportunities. If I had not crossed many rivers and lakes at that impressionable stage of my life, perhaps my knowledge of Nigeria would have been narrowed considerably.
For those not as lucky, Nigeria is still open for serious interrogation. And there could not have been a better time, especially in this season of politics when our knowledge of our country, particularly for those seeking public office, is invaluable. Those who defend politicians, especially on social media, also need some education about Nigeria and the people that make up this great country.
The most dangerous Nigerians are those who see the country only from the point of view of Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo. To such people, nothing else matters, once you are not Yoruba or Igbo, you must be Hausa-Fulani. But Nigeria is a country of over 200 ethnic groups with distinct values, great potentials and cultural baggage. This is our reality.
These days, it is very common for some mischievous people to profile other tribes for no reason but at the root of most supremacist assertions is ignorance. Many people are naïve about Nigeria and they have no apologies. I encountered such people during my days in the media, even in the newsroom, where senior journalists and gate keepers shamelessly advertised their ignorance about Nigeria. I was alarmed at their unfamiliarity with their country, given their education and status.
Many weeks ago, I wrote piece on injustice and exclusion in Nigeria, and how some inconsistent and fraudulent politicians are now twisting and by-passing their earlier positions on Nigeria’s many troubles because they are now in power. For expressing a view, somebody almost called me a secessionist, that perverted word that is now meaningless, that is for those who know the history of self-determination and related struggles in Nigeria. That claim, for me, is laughable because I consider myself more Nigerian than my accuser. Maybe I should also use this opportunity to inform this guy that he lost the argument by his superfluous assumptions.
However, I think it is important to state again that plurality has immeasurable advantages. Like most Nigerians, I agree that latter day agitation is simply silly opportunism. That is the reason we must all condemn discriminatory policies because narrow-minded state actions and exclusion, as we see them today, keep duplicitous agitators in business
…Asoya, a journalist, lives in Lagos.
