In a post shared on his Facebook page, former presidential media aide, Doyin Okupe, says Nigeria will not break up despite the recent drums of war or the rumors of a coup attempt. Read what he wrote below..
Yes, again and again there are drums of war, rumours of Coups and heightened cries for separation. Yet Nigeria will not break. I repeat as God liveth Nigeria is not about to break up.
Those who rely on what is seen physically and those who are not too knowledgeable about life may want to hold this assertion in derision.
Yet there is more than meets the eye in matters that controls the affairs of Nations and Men.
True, all the Ingredients required to justify a dismemberment of our union are fully present: inequality, injustice, nepotism, corruption, deception, sectional neglect and lack of inclusivity, mutual distrust etc; fortunately or unfortunately it is not in the manifest destiny of this great Nation to disintegrate.
To anyone who is discerning, it has been crystal clear that God has shown His guiding hand in the affairs of Nigeria since the the June 12 debacle. God does not act in vain but for a purpose. It will be preposterous to assume that the purpose of God's intervention in the affairs of Nigeria in the past 25years is to lead us to a break up.
In truth the Nigerian experiment or marriage is grossly imperfect and obviously not working. The Nigerian union presents some of the outstanding features of a dysfunctional marriage.
There is sustained anger, mutual contempt and distrust, lack of openness and poor communication among it's component parts.
In recent times the health of Mr President has been a source of concern to all. But more importantly, the North is more apprehensive in view of the previous experience with late President Yaradua. But they are not willing to discuss this openly. Official handling of the situation suggests sectional protectionism rather than presenting a national problem seeking for a national solution. Afterall this is a President loved and voted for by nearly a fanatical nationwide followers. Why should his adversity be borne and protected only by a section or just a few disciples?
On the other side are those, mainly southerners who gloat over the President's health challenges and cannot wait for power to be handed over to the Vice president and for the latter to actually assume the full status of the President, almost immediately. They rely exclusively on the provisions of the Nigerian constitution, totally ignoring the main and the central abiding political philosophy of power sharing in Nigeria.
Obviously there are serious and genuine fears across the divide. But as typical of a dysfunctional union, nobody is ready or willing to discuss these fears openly or even within leadership caucuses.
What we then get are heightened calls and counter calls for break up of the country, calls for restructuring and official rumors of Coups.
This is not the way to develop a great Nation. There is need for a unity of purpose, an abiding faith in the Unity of the Nation. There is an urgent need to develop a national platform from which we can nurture the emergence of an elite political consensus from where we can always look at our problems as national problems and bring about unified national solutions. Then and only can our Nation be on its ultimate journey to its divine destiny of greatness
Read More »