This is an area for debate some would shy away from either for reasons bothering on interest or fear of the unknown. Interest because they are made by the system to the disadvantage of many Nigerians. All who stole the Nation dry in any form, all who have gained an edge over others as a result of politics disequilibrium would not appreciate it mentioned for once.

Anybody who feels that breaking will lead to war; suffering and deaths will equally hate this piece. Above all, anyone who has vast empire in
Nigeria will be the last to lend his support but if we are sincerely objective, truthful and proactive we will not be quick to throw this suggestion overboard due to selfish interests. But as students we will not fail to brainstorm peradventure our collective ideas will give direction to our rulers who meanwhile seem to be confused and lost of ideas and focus. Also, it will enable our rulers to know that we the stakeholders are concerned about the affairs of our nation that have been hijacked by few cabals.

        If there could be debate on government policies, constitution review and so on with these few points I set this article a thing for debate among concerned Nigerians.

        A lot has been written on our Dailies that borders on the poor management of a vast nation like Nigeria by a few political clique. Some of the revelations by bold, sincere Nigerians during interviews granted to the Press are quite revealing and filled with chilly information which will give a thoughtful person sleepless nights.

Insights drew from the revelations show clearly why we are where we are after years of independence in this jet age. Why some cry for marginalization and others feel unperturbed or raise a false cry to silence them. People wallow in abject poverty, many die daily for lack of good medication while few spend a lot of fortune overseas to treat headache and malaria, many without roof over their heads while some spend millions and billions for homes all over the world without being inhabited by anybody or at two times in a year.

       Over the years our past leaders have demonstrated incompetence in the management of our Nation’s affairs. The civil war many have criticized would have been avoided if the right things were done. The actors in that war were absorbed of that wrong to Nigerian people based on age, immaturity and experience. We know what we lost in human, economic, social resources etc. In the preceding problems that culminated into war, we lost crème of great minds both military and civilians that would have moved this nation farther than where we are now. We lost people, finance used in prosecuting the war, infrastructure and development. The painful aspect is that those gladiators exonerated for reason of age then could not even at this their older age in power salvage our nation from further ruin rather aided it. Think all that were lost during Shagari, Babangida, Abacha and Obasanjo administrations. They and their cronies made us to know that they did their best for the number of years each administration lasted. We are judges of our own how better we have faired since then.

           It would have been amazing if Nigeria remain together in all sincerity going by the saying that united we stand divided we fall, but ours is the reverse. Our enormous human and natural resources would have given us a louder voice among comity of nations but today we are beggars asking for one help or the other from even new states that put their ace together. So long as we refuse uprightness in administering the affairs of this very nation, peace, prosperity and progress will continue to elude our nation. If, we fail for 47 years of practicing our kind of unity it will be good to try the divide formula peradventure our future lies there.

With these nineteen (19) points I set forth the debate why the entity Nigeria should break into small independent units. Your superior argument for otherwise is appreciated.

  (1). the unity of Nigeria is on the lips, a political invention that serves the interest of the political class. Nigerians do not shy away from the fact that nothing unites us but football. And if football which lasts for a month at most is the basis of unity then we don’t have an existing unity. In Nigeria, people who are living outside their tribal homes or states live in fear daily because of the unknown. In the North, Kano for example non indigenes work on contracts in States establishments renewable after the term of the contract. And stand the risk of losing employment once an able indigene applies for the job. Getting jobs with indigenous companies or companies dominated by certain tribes from any axis of the nation is very difficult.

The tribal and religious clashes which lead to destruction of lives and properties are significant evidence that a deep rooted hatred exist in Nigerians for other Nigerians.

High rates and levies imposed on non indigenes in some states different from the indigenes carrying on the same business within the same Local Governments cannot be justified if not for lack of unity.

The volatility of some Nigeria states is because of tribal and religious sentiments. Going by the revelation given by ex governor of Abia state on how he fell apart with President Obasanjo. The latter’s remark that the Ibos should be grateful for getting ministerial slots in his administration confirms his disposition towards the Ibo race. A Statesman he ought to be, one who fought the civil war and received Biafra’s surrender continued to nurse hatred after 47 years of the war. What chris Anyanwu, Tell Magazine publisher testified against Hamza Mustapha and Sgt.Rogers ill remarks and  treatments against her during Abacha regime centered more on her ethnic belong. The daughter of Pa Abraham Adesanya without mincing words voiced her own venom against the Ibos which I believe represents the mind set of many in that divide. So if this level of bitterness could be found among the supposed enlightened and Socialites of Nigeria what do you think about the locals?

(2).Nigerians all over is willing to go their separate ways. They no longer believe in the entity called Nigeria despite pretence. The politicians know it but will not let go because of selfish gains. The political riots have been fingered on the politicians as master minders but they preach unity with double tongues. Who has won political seat at national level without employing some ethnic jargon to whip sentiments against his opponent from another divide.

The formation of OPC, MASSOB, AREWA, Niger Delta Militants etc is an open show of the commoners out cry to let go. Trust and confidence in one Nigeria have been eroded long ago. So why should we continue to patch up a broken house.

Go through the streets of Nigeria and take census of the people that supports divide the result will amaze you. This reflects in how we handle our matters from our day to day activities as we relate with one another. From Federal Government projects, law enforcement duties, to judiciary in dispensing of justice on personal belongings like house rents, even promotion in work places.

Right now the Niger Delta militants are talking about independence and not resource control, MASSOB is demanding independence as solution to marginalization. Therefore, no level of intimidation will hold Nigeria for long. Anything being done is a smokescreen and an effort to postpone an evil day. Successive Governments at the center have lost the opportunity to unite Nigerians when it could be said that Nigerians were in the dark.

(3).Inability to give Nigerians qualitative leadership has been attributed to our size especially when compares to Ghana and other countries. Therefore it becomes imperative to break into manageable sizes to make the sizes governable. It is obvious that we would not employ the westerners to be at our nation’s helm of affairs unlike establishments where expatriates could be employed. And for the fact that members of political class have been recycled on this nations affairs for too long without success, and would not give opportunity to those who do not belong to their fold to come to the coveted seats. Those appointed to manage government owned companies, states, ministerial posts etc failures were recorded over the years therefore breaking up might be a way out.

  (4).Breaking up I believe will enhance speedy development through competition among the broken nations. The idea of making Nigeria business as no man’s business will be laid to rest or believing that the nation’s resources is national cake which everyone with opportunity can cut his own chunk will be checked. Governments will seat up to manage available resources with intention to deliver to their own people.

(5).The leaders will be accountable to their own people and will be under close watch. No use of ethnic, religious or class sentiments to defend looters as in the case of present Nigeria.

(6).This will bring corruption to the lowest ebb. People will be sure of whom they are giving their votes. And can easily hold them responsible to account for their stewardship. Trust Nigerians for jungle justice.

(7).It will rid rulers of mediocrity from the system who manipulate government to their own advantage. Unqualified candidates will no more be field because peoples quota must be met thereby denying better candidates’ opportunity to serve.

(8).By allowing a better candidate means equity and fairness, using a round peg on a round hole. This will go a long way to nail marginalization.

(9).It will encourage harnessing idle resources within the regions or states. The search for oil in the Chad basin of the North and in the West is a fall out of trouble in the Niger Delta. If not no one would have thought of that. As Nigeria abandoned agriculture, tin, coal and columbines etc which were known to be found in Nigeria.

Those resources are still available in larger quantity having been neglected for years now.

(10).It enables the people to have control over their resources and have better deal with it. It is evil to rob the goose that lays the golden egg.

(11). The principle of localization of industries and distribution of resources will greatly be enhanced.

(12).Greater employment opportunities will be created since competition among nations will lead to development.

(13).A greater level of peace, love, respect for life and tranquility will be attended. The yearly blood letting which has become a ritual through religious riot will be considerably minimized since none indigenes of a place will begin to trade with caution and have respect to rule of law.

(14).Protection and management of infrastructures will be realized since people will now become conscious that these things belong to everyone of them. Therefore jealousy over the installations will be instilled in the people to guard what they have.

(15).More security consciousness will be created. No more nations being open to everybody without adequate permit. People from neighboring countries would no longer take advantage of our multi ethnicity to do evil in Nigeria unidentified.

(16).Tribalism and nepotism which has become a clog in the wheels of our nation’s development will greatly be reduced if not eradicated completely.

(17). Remember, history and government said that people that must live as a nation must have some affiliation in terms of culture, language, religion and beliefs. There is a lot of variance in Nigeria on these points making her fit for a State instead of nation.

 (18).When every nation’s importance is recognized through specialization on what we can offer mutual respect, regard will be enhanced.

(19). the surest way to break the politician’s strong hold on Nigeria’s polity is through divide to set a new political order for each republic. Presently, it appears the political cult took an oath of corruption and never to probe each other. The victims of ever probe are those that have bitter fallouts with their masters, which ended on pages of papers only, both at the presidential and governorship chairs. Today, the way things are going is suggesting that the present administration is compensating the immediate past administration for the cover up it gave to other administrations before it, thereby building a continued platform for corruption. The next administration might say little or nothing about the misdeed of the present administration (if any). Unless the past presidents caucus is broken presidential probes will remain a mirage.