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Lawrence Egede mulls over the media democratic thoughts for Nigeria in togetherness.
I should appreciate the efforts of the good majority of those in the Armed forces of Nigeria, for their devotion to the call of duty at various locations and posts.
They have been helpful in the sustenance of unity in Nigeria with their characteristics of nationhood and stable posture.
I appreciate their gains, console them over their sufferings and losses in the bids to unite the country, with very valid posture.
I appreciate all the innocent Nigerians, for the long patience they had exhibited in the crisis facing the nation's economy.
I also appreciate the endurance and tolerance by Nigerians over the crisis in the nation's political industry, where injuries arose.
I appreciate neutral Nigerians who are or were affected by the social and economic problems.
I appreciate poor Nigerians, whose wellbeing suffered in the various corrupt ways that some of the politicians had used, and meted out hardship against the nation and her citizens till now.
I appreciate those of them for not compromising patriotism and the unity of the nation for mere political profits, because of tribalism, religion and sordid democratic allure in leadership.
I also appreciate the leaders in Nigeria who did their very best for the people of this country at different localities, despite that the nation is into criminal crisis of danger of death traps on the ways of the masses. I thank all the patriots who still endured.
I appreciate the entire masses who had braved it and still did their businesses genuinely with sincerity of heart, brooding over nothing in order to forge ahead.
I thought by now that Nigeria is old enough to control herself, control situations and things, the economic saboteurs should have realized what it means to have a politically strong nation.
To be a politically strong nation requires a lot of patience, much tolerance, unfeigned love, unity, cooperation, justice, fairness, equity, togetherness, patriotism and peace to exist as a people.
Such is not to sabotage the welfare of other people in an environment of tranquility and of purposeful unity in diversity.
But fragmentations in almost everything killed the taste of the above ingredients of unity in diversity for the country.
If not for the grace of God given to the patriotic Armed forces in this country and the love of God for her citizens, there would've been a total loss of everything in this risky and chaotic nation.
I don't know if anybody has noticed that Nigeria was more united during military regimes in the past, than what obtains nowadays with the civil rule?
I don't know if anybody knew also that Nigeria was only six years old in her Independence, when the unity of the country broke up during civil regimes because of the dirty politics involved in the practice of an ill-fated artificial democracy.
It was erroneously based on the use of the tools of religion, tribalism, impatience, division, leadership flaws and hatred for one another in the affairs of the nation. It caused disaffection.
I don't know if anybody noticed that even the second republic also collapsed within a space of four years plus, during the democratic regime of Shagari?
I won't count on the makeshift administrations of Shonekan of the UAC Firm and that of Abdul Salam Abubakar, which were all shortlived by military regimes.
Thereafter, it was followed by a full military democracy in mufti with Obasanjo regime for eight years. Once the military is military.
Next was the proper democracy handled by Good luck Jonathan for six years before the present regime came in mufti, headed by General Muhammad Buhari.
Political leaderships have not achieved unity and love for the people of Nigeria in any way.
The reason is that some of the leaders believed in tribalism, and adhered to nepotism at the nation's administrative levels.
I remember the first National Anthem in Stanza three, which hereunder stated as follows:-
"Though tribe and tongue may differ in brotherhood we stand, Nigeria am proud to serve my sovereign mother land."
Can we fathom any good meaning from the Stanza of the previous National Anthem?
If there is any good meaning thereof, then what is it that we are seeing today as though the Stanza was talking to stones?
If we watch closely the effect of the working power of the Spirits around the Stanza, it still binds the country together today.
If binding us together by the national Anthem is anything to appreciate and go by it, who is that politician finding time to be conscious of the Anthem now?
But false human character is facing another direction quite different from what Nigeria is really requiring, to uphold the tone or the tenets of the law of the national Anthem of unity in diversity. It has been a problem.
People's behavior is the main problem finding no solution yet, in the national character clause heralding the stable law of unity in diversity to flourish freely in Nigeria. It has been tug of war.
The Amalgamation of Nigeria in the year 1914 gave the country accreditation map of North and South dichotomy of oneness, in diversity of tongues to coexist.
It was an idea to add a meaning to that Stanza 3 of the national Anthem, as a directive for the nation to obey in togetherness.
The obedience of that directive reappeared in the first Stanza of the new national Anthem as a sense of direction to follow in unity.
The Stanzas blend in one obedience to a new social order for the people of the country.
The first paragraph of the first Stanza in the composition of the new Anthem read thus: "Arise O compatriot, Nigeria call obey." The Spirits are working.
I mean that there will be no obedience to unity and to the directive for patriotism, if the nation can't be united politically and be together in democracy.
So, when I think about Nigeria, Democracy, Tribe, Tongue, Religion and leadership, it baffles me on where we are going with the political crisis often rocking the nation's boat.
But there is hope that one day people will realize it is not only in politics we live, but in unity we stand together on trust for one another to achieve peace.
To God is the glory forever.
Lawrence Egede is our guest writer and public affairs analyst.
