While I love my country-Nigeria- I am of the opinion that getting to the "promise land" will harder than "for a camel to go through the eye of a needle". Some have called me a pessimist but I am quick to refute them with all modesty. Historically, the problems that have retarded our development as a nation, since 1914, are sadly all too real even among us today. One can hardly claim ignorance that they deeply rooted in ethnic and religious differences. With over 250 ethnic groups and as many (if not more) languages, as a realist, I think the future looks bleak. Not until we overcome ethnocentrism (whose offshoots are tribalism, nepotism, religious bias-cum-sentiments, conflicts and, hence, violence), we may remain where we are (if not worse) in decades or even centuries. Upon this view, therefore, I am apt to conclude that the greatest evil of colonialism on the Nigerian society was the indiscrimate amalgamation of, hitherto, independent and sovereign entities to form what is now known as Nigeria for economic exploitation as it favoured "our colonial masters". What a shame, we have all been dancing to their drum beat since independence. NIGERIA IS MY COUNTRY!
Posted on: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 08:29:59 +0000