Tribal bigotry has resurfaced in recent times, which is rather unfortunate. Despite the numerous challenges we face, our differences do not pose any harm or danger. As a country that has endured inter-tribal clashes and a civil war, we do not need any agenda that divides us now or in the future. Regrettably, the 2023 general election was hijacked by desperate politicians seeking to divide us rather than unite us. Citizens must therefore be vigilant and refuse to allow politicians to use elections to divide us.
We are facing difficulties across the board. No region, tribe, or faith is immune to these difficulties. I have often said that tribal bigotry in Nigeria is self-hate. Why? Because you may hurt someone you care about in a war of tribal bigotry. Having existed for more than six decades post-independence, Nigerians have intertwined in such a manner that no tribe, faith, or region can claim to be purely isolated. Every tribe today shares bonds and relationships with different tribes in some way, whether by marriage, family, friendship, or business.
The conversations that young people are holding on social media, elevating tribal hate, must now stop. We cannot engage in meaningless discussions over tribal superiority when our society is collapsing. Job losses are recorded almost daily, food prices have skyrocketed, and inflation has made families poorer. Healthcare and education continue to suffer from negligence, and other sectors of our country are deteriorating. Nigerian youths have the duty to come together and think about ways to make life better and improve on our current conditions.
Politics is contentious, but it also affects our lives individually and collectively. We can align along party lines and ideological frameworks, but our well-being is what unites us. The kind of policies we adopt ultimately make or mar our lives. Therefore, we must now hold our leadership accountable regardless of our political alignments.
Nigeria’s future is now in our hands. We can no longer blame our past leaders when we are now in charge. We must hold ourselves responsible as citizens and leaders. We must be intentional about creating an atmosphere of peace, mutual respect, and rule of law. These are the guarantees for a stable society, economic progress, and global goodwill.
IntellectualMinds 