UNITY IN THE HUMAN PSYCHE
Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua
What can bring about unity in our
human psyche to make us see ourselves as one? I would like to examine the mind
of our political ancestors when they were fighting for the independence of
Nigeria. It will be good to know how they perceived the way and manner the
colonial masters were governing the amalgamated ethnic regions. Were our
political ancestors really matured and prepared to take over governance from
the British? What was their vision of an independent Nigeria? What were their
expectations? What was the relationship between Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi
Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello and the other nationalists from the different regions?
Was their idea of a united Nigeria realistic or idealistic? Did they have a
critical study of how the ethnic groups had administered their regions
traditionally as empires, kingdoms and emirates before the amalgamation of
1914?
Perhaps they needed an
anthropologist with some knowledge of the ethnology of the various tribes in
Nigeria to assist them. It is possible that when the Nationalists struggled for
an independent Nigeria in the colonial era, the hope and dream could have been
a total liberation from the “Colonial masters” to take full control of the new
mega empire as a nation. The assumption could have been that with all the
amalgamated tribes there would be no more colour, racial and ethnic
discrimination which they perhaps experienced when they were studying in the
“Western world”. Why did the political ancestors not deem it necessary to lay a
new foundation for a system of government that could be acceptable to every
ethnic group in Nigeria? Of course it would have been difficult or impossible
to educate and enlighten the new Nigerians about the colonial system of
government without a war. This could only occur after the fact of Independence.
Why was there no need to adopt and accept a national language like some
independent countries in Africa? This is still an important point to consider in
building the human psyche. Chinua Achebe’s effort in “Things Fall Apart” to
attempt an answer to these questions came at a time when the nation had lost
the centre of gravity.
Among the reasons given for the
clamour of a national sovereign conference was that the indigenous Nigerians
were not part of the decision to bring all the tribes and ethnics groups
together as one nation. Another reason has been that Nigerians should have a
sovereign conference to decide if we can truly and sincerely live together
since the unity that came after the civil way does not look realistic.
The clamour for a conference or
national dialogue has received attention from the Federal Government of
Nigeria. A committee to draw the road map was announced on October 1, 2013. The
various reactions and comments from many people and groups are almost turning
the whole debate into a “national dialogue fever”. Among these agitations and
expectations is the disintegration of Nigeria. This brings me to the question
of whether we can identify any united region in the whole country that could be
perfect and free from terrorism, kidnapping and armed robbery should that
region be made an independent country.
The concept of a regional unity
looks like a mere unity in the psyche. It is not realistic given that some
people who often claim to be patriots to their people only send out the poor to
die while they and their families are well protected somewhere outside the
“battle field,” in the guise of liberating the people. Many independent nations
in Africa are still struggling to be liberated from their own people.
Intra-regional and inter-regional conflicts are very obvious in many places.
Intra-religious and inter-religious conflicts are daily staring at our faces.
Brothers are killing brothers, and sisters are killing sisters, yet we are busy
taking drugs for a perceived fever of disintegration of Nigeria as if that is
our utmost concern and problem. The issue of settlers and indigenes is claiming
the lives of many innocent people who speak the same language as we are
presently experiencing in the North, East, West and South of Nigeria. Regional
boundaries and land disputes are tearing apart those who have been living
together for ages. The colonial masters must have been excited with the
hope echoed from the national anthem that “though tribes and tongues may
differ, in unity we stand.” What really happened to this pledge?
Many people have opined that what
we need today is a change of attitude. The big question is “which attitude?”
What is our past experience in governance that formed this attitude? Is
it an attitude problem for a person to wake up and be killing human beings like
insects and slaughtering them like rams and cows? Any national conference or
dialogue should not forget to remember that so many people are living in the
historic memory of hurts and wounded hearts. They are only waiting for an
opportunity to explode in a commensurate vendetta. What we have today are chain
reactions of what many people have inherited from birth, environment and
brainwashing. Let us examine the foundation on which Nigeria was built. We have
a constitution and laws, but on what foundation are they anchored? When Christ
came to save the world he summarised the whole laws as based on two
foundational laws: Love of God and love of neighbour and he made it clear that
God is in charge and will judge justly without discriminating. The harmony of
the world and all the peoples in it is validated on this foundation. Now, let
us look at Nigeria’s fundamental principles and circumstance of her birth, and
since Independence, her efforts and actions to forge a united whole.
Who is the real “parent” of
Nigeria? The answer is Britain. The DNA of Britain in creating Nigeria was for
its benefit and interest. How did we gain our Independence? By assuming to be,
and maintain who we are not. The basic question here is; what is our foundation
and where is it? What could our Nationalist Fathers do to gain Independence,
given the fact that to be “educated” and qualified to negotiate with the
colonial masters you have to be trained and certified by them. The territory
was already determined and set by the colonial masters, and they alone knew
what they put together and why. Many leaders have shed their blood and the
blood of their brothers and sisters when they tried to believe that Nigeria
must be kept one. Some of them change their lives from corruption to reform and
tried to lead Nigeria through repentance and with the fruit from their best
vision and ideas. They perished in what was labelled as CIVIL WAR, which now
could be labelled as TERRORISM. The way forward is hard, but we must know where
to start, and acknowledge the past efforts of our leaders who sacrificed their
lives so that we can know how to protect our vision from further murder and
death.
It is not easy to deal with
people with their unique psyche, and it is impossible to deal with people
without having the “owner’s manual,” which is God our foundation. He created
one HUMAN RACE and gave us the law to harmonise us if we will listen to him
(OBEDIENCE). Blessed are the clean of heart for they shall see God (Matthew 5).
This is the principle that will lead to peace and unity. No one is an
island. I pray that the unity we seek should go beyond the psychic and imagination
to a united Nigeria that is safe for all irrespective of race, tribe and
religion.
Fr. Prof. Cornelius Afebu
Omonokhua is the Director of Mission and Dialogue of the Catholic Secretariat
of Nigeria, Abuja and Consultor of the Commission for Religious Relations with
Muslims (C.R.R.M), Vatican City
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