Kefas Bangripga

With the Muslims Right Concern Group (MURIC) allegedly accusing former President, Goodluck Jonathan, of being responsible for Palestine’s current predicament and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) also allegedly telling President Buhari not to take side in the ongoing conflict. These portend that, the “Nigerianisation” of the Isreal-Hamas conflict is impending. Surfing through the social media you’ll come across Nigerians insulting and attacking each other because of a conflict going on in the middle East. This lay credence to the notion that “we have lost our identity as Nigerians”.

It is utterly disgraceful that, some Nigerians are more vocal in rendering their supports to; either Palestine or Isreal with: I stand with Isreal and I stand with Palestine slogans and hashtags, when we are still grappling with killings by Boko Haram, Bandits and so on.

What happened to the idea of Nigeria First? We are now more Pan Arabs and Pan Jews than Pan Nigeria or Africa.

Obviously, this has yet again proven that the overlapping fragmentation of Nigeria on the basis of religion is the principal impediment to our nationhood.

In fact, it is what has catalysed our struggle with the decade long insecurity and social instability.

I’ve been a staunch proponent of a systemic restructuring of our country. But looking at how pararrel our orientations are, as a result of the division galvanised by; Religion and ethnicity there is a clear indication that, our problem has two basic layers; Systemic and Attitudinal.

Consequently; If we are to come out of these myriad of challenges that pose an existential threat to us as a people, we must come to terms with the fact that, bereft of Attitudinal restructuring, Systemic restructuring will be an absolute futility.

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NIGERIA: A FADING IDENTITY.