Rekindling The Spirit Of Oneness In Nigeria

 

Oneness can be the coming together of oppositions. Oneness can also signifies Unity, the coming together of different set of people basically to achieve a common ground. Oneness can also be referred to as national identity, which speaks well of a unified nation.

To rekindle simply means to act in order to revive the nation's lost glory. Naturally, to rekindle oneness in Nigeria, every individuals in Nigeria have an active role to play, we need to be together and fight with one spirit. A lot of things make people think they're one, or that they got something in common, could be culture, religion, ethnicity, kindred ship, race, etc. Even with the likeness in all of these similarities, a lot of diversity still emerge because there will always be individuals with contrary views or opinions. 

Talking about oneness, Nigeria as country with three different main ethnic groups, that's just to mention, on the surface. It's true that culture shapes society, even our modern societies too, history and culture working intertwine bringing us to today. With all it's beauty, it's still a shame how cultures can't coexist, like the denying of marriage between cultures or the feeling of superiority or entitlement by one culture over the other.

Politically, dating back to and before independence, the issue of the ethnic group with incumbent power has always been a major challenge. How one ethnic is perceived to be more business oriented, another, unaccommodating, and the last, uneducated enough. The creation of political parties with different agendas, literally. Failure in oneness is inevitable.

The aspect of Religion can actually fill an entire encyclopedia. Humanity is the least preached topic in our doctrines, it's always about what's righteous or not, or what one particular religion icon has stated into commandment. One man's beliefs are always different from the other. Ultimately, I think if instead, humanity is preached more or becomes our practice, there'll be more oneness.

Oneness can be better achieved with common minds, people with the same goal and priority, seeing past culture, origin, religion and any other factor that could tear us apart.

In order to revive the spirit of oneness in Nigeria, we need the following basically:

• Exhibition of love to all Citizens

• Effective Leadership

• An Identity

• Tribalism should be destroyed

1. Exhibition of Love: Love is what brings different countries together, an as a Giant of Africa, we need to imbibe the spirit of love which operates high above our tribal or ethnicity. Love is the number one factor that can make our nation Nigeria to operate from the angle of oneness. When there is love, there is freedom and liberty.

2. Effective Leadership: Nigeria requires selfless leaders who do not care about themselves, but the affairs and interest of citizens. Citizens are emotional set of people who took out their time to elect leaders who will protect their interest, but when their interests are not being protected, they become depressed and unhappy. Bringing Nigeria together in one voice cannot be done by citizens alone, but with leaders who can influence the people positively to attain the office of oneness and unity.

3. An Identity: Another factor that can serve as a forerunner to creating oneness amongst Nigerian is having what can be referred to as "Nigerian's Identity". When we have an Identity, other countries of the world will also see Nigeria as a unified state with common interest. An identity speaks well of a Nation, with that, every tribe no matter how diversify they are, their goal will be to achieve a common assignment. 

4. Tribalism should be destroyed: Tribalism brings about diversity in behavior and in action. Tribalism can simply mean being loyal to one tribe at the expense or to the detriment  of another tribe. Whether tribe diversity or not, every citizen of Nigeria came from one soil, and as a result, we should live together in love and in unity.

National consciousness and national integrity is one of the major factors that can destroy tribalism in Nigeria. Putting the interest of your country first before tribal or personal interest. Citizens need to be enlightened that tribalism cannot bring about oneness and unity, but in order to rekindle the spirit of unity and oneness in Nigeria, the word tribalism must be eradicated completely so as to show to love each other without looking at the persons tribe.

By

Olaofe O. Deborah 

State code: OS/20B/1094 

Course of study: Mass Communication