There once lived a nation
In unity yet desperate in diversity
In peace and tranquillity
In quietude and serenity
But these factors, fostered her disability
And turned her civility into severity.

The prevailing national issues (mass unrest, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, insecurity, disunity, and political instability ravaging Nigeria) inspired this article which highlights the factors responsible for the ruination.

First and foremost, insecurity through its instruments of banditry, insurgencies and terrorism is the centerpiece of factors causing disharmony in our nation, Nigeria. As a result, the dream of Nigeria citizens to explore tourist attractions within their nation has become near impossible. Similarly, the scholastic approach towards promoting and establishing national unity-educational institutions is prone to harm as abduction of defenceless students by bandits becomes the new normal. For example, this is the prevailing news in Kankara and Kagara local government areas of Kaduna and Zamfara states respectively. This menace, due to its intensity, is growing rapidly to the nooks and crannies of the country, and could possibly cause the death of our unity.

As mum does say, “It wasn’t yesterday that Igbo, Hausa, Fulani, and Yoruba began wining and dining in the same bowl.” Why are we shutting the doors to one another all of a sudden? Many are of the view that it’s due to our radical identification as Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo, and no longer in unison as Nigerians. The existence of ethnic and tribal differences has stunted the communal relationship and peaceful co-existence that used to exist within our human race. The bizarre news of the invasion of some Fulani herdsmen has disrupted peace in the land and increased the daily chants for vengeance. A good can be seen in a video released to the media showing how residents of a village set ablaze homes of some Fulani people in Ebonyin. If this should reach the climax, not only will we be disunited but the continued existence of our nation will be in question. And God forbid we experience another civil war!

The military rule after the civil war despite being known to be autocratic, the citizens of Nigeria denied not the country the establishment of unity. But when our governance introduced the so-called Nigerian democracy (Demote-cracy) the unity of this nation becomes a broken glass, as a result of the tussle of power that her leaders turned bloody. The civilian government which ought to be responsive to its people seems destructive. This is because of the ‘do or die mentality’ attached to the political contest and administrative positions by Nigerian politicians. Fortunately for the emergent winner, and unfortunately to the citizens, the attention and commitment in service is assured to his pocket and the few who contributed to his win. As a result of this, the unity of the once unified populace is denied. In its place, inequality and nepotism reigns supreme.

  “Help our youths the truth to know” is the 4th line of the second stanza of our national anthem. It is true that the Nigerian youths know the problems, and they keep trying to speak, but the voices of these altruistic patriots are being silenced. The youth have, however, remained vocal- most notably with police brutality in recent times with the END SARS protests which led to more attempts to silence and marginalize.

Conclusively, the causes of disunity that made our unity in diversity become ‘once upon a time’ is an ocean and unending sea. It is for this that I pray:

“O God of creations

Direct our noble cause

Guide our leaders’ right

And make them establish the truth they know

For unity to be our fountain

And streams that shall forever flow” Amen!