When Boko Haram crisis broke out, it ‘shined’ my eyes against the utopia of an Arewa Republic. Since then, no matter the provocation or temptation, I argue for one Nigeria.
You see, every land, more so the rich North, can form a country and survive economically, in theory. My fear of a northern republic is the outbreak of wars along religious, sectarian, tribal and historical lines.
These fault lines can easily be manipulated by foreigners to instigate perpetual instability in order to exploit our resources as they do in Congo, apart from the internally generated crisis which the fault lines will bring about as in Sudan, Yemen, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Afghanistan, Syria, Angola, Uganda, Rwanda, Southern Sudan, Eriteria, etc.
We are better off in one Nigeria, not for any economic reason but for political stability. The same applies to other regions. The old Western and Eastern Regions cannot be better as independent countries as easily as they think.
Our problem in Nigeria is the parasitic elites who have occupied the leadership space and loot the treasury at the expense of its citizens. Replacing them with a purposeful leadership is what will turn Nigeria into the paradise of our dream.
Somalis today regret missing their flourishing pre-1990 Somalia. We must not regret missing Nigeria. We have it. Let us make it better, together.
* Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde writes in Bauchi
