The state of the Nigerian Union

By Uzoh Chikwado

It is no longer news that man is a social animal and that his social character presupposes association. Invariably, it is only in the state/union that man realizes his goals.

The Nigerian state is a union that was carved out for the fulfilment of our goals. But what is that state of this union? Have we even bothered to negotiate our unity and/or suggest ways to make it more functional if at all it is functional?

The calls for negotiation should not be taken to be synonymous with secession. It is rather a way of phasing out old formulas for digital ones.

Every now and again we watch American Presidents year after year deliver addresses on the state of their union. The state of the union address over there helps them negotiate and renegotiate; extend fellowship beyond party lines; account on what have been done; their difficulties; reward and praise outstanding Americans; grieve with the unfortunates amongst them; and above all, promise to secure Americans.

That’s what and how to maintain a Union. In other words, negotiations, deliberations, contextual heedings are all instruments for maintaining a stable union. This is certainly in contradistinction to President Buhari’s non-negotiable posture some time ago.

It is simply against his decision not to give listening ear to the calls to restructure. It is simply against his silence of the many killings in the land. Simply put, no union can survive on the precepts of ‘non-negotiableness’.

The state of our union at this point in time stinks. It is shaky and more like a volcano whose time of eruption is at hand. But again, we are not at a dead end as we can always come out of the woods with concerted honest efforts.

The need to come clean is urgent as we are near 2019 and Nigerians will once again negotiate our contracts- whether President Buhari has done what he was sent to do; whether his best is good enough; whether the ‘letter writers’ influence is persuasive enough and lots more.

But in the end, irrespective of the outcome, we would still be left with the question- what is the state of the Nigerian Union? And whenever we bring this question to the front burner, we are talking of negotiations; restructuring; meritocracy and the likes.

“But in the end, irrespective of the outcome, we would still be left with the question- what is the state of the Nigerian Union? And whenever we bring this question to the front burner, we are talking of negotiations; restructuring; meritocracy and the likes.”

Chikwado, Uzoh is a graduate of Philosophy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is a humanist, social critic as well as an expert in contextual communication. He is based in Badore, Lagos, Nigeria. He can be reached via: [email protected], or +2347038052721