Nationalism/ Chauvinism: A Threat To Nigerian Nationhood!

The campaign for the recognition of the Biafran nation recently marked its 50th Anniversary on 30th of May. Articles expressing individual and group opinions, floods the dailies. Each article succinctly pointed out factors they thought stunted the Biafran attempt and if there are hopes of its actualization in the future. A remarkable factor noted in our previous publication was that of "nationalism or chauvinism". 

Biafra protesters

The struggle for an exit might sometimes seems easy, especially when underlying factors like- ethnic, economic, religious and cultural factors, which cuts across Nigeria as a whole and which threatens the existence of the unity of the larger group appears not thoroughly examined.

Fifty years on, the above listed remain major challenges that threaten the Unity and Peace of not just the country as a whole but ethnic groups. An instance is the on-going friction withing the Catholic Church in Imo state, eastern Nigeria, where Bishop Peter Ebere Okpaleke, from Anambra state; who was appointed Bishop of Ahiara, by the the Pope Benedict XVI, in 2012. According to reports, Bishop Okpaleke was rejected by the Clergy on the grounds that he is not from the Mbaise ethnic group in Imo state. A ridiculous and rather mischievous stand as both states (Anambra and Imo) are in the eastern region of Nigeria, part of the supposed Biafran territory. 

This development prompted Pope Francis to give objecting Priests a 30-day ultimatum to either accept Bishop Okpaleke or face suspension; but not after much fuss had been generated. Nationalism, which bothers on the long neglect of the need to recognize and respect the diversity that characterized Nigeria as a multi-ethnic nation. Like the saying goes: our strength, lies in our diversity.

Calling for destruction at the slightest provocation by mischievous groups and individuals, instead of dialogue; or tout-arming to kill and destroy has never been a solution to any challenge therefore unacceptable. If an Imo state man cannot accept an Anambra man as Bishop in his community, to the extent that it took Rome's intervention to remind us of "respect and acceptance" of ourselves as brothers in a common struggle, then perhaps the journey is farther than it was thought to be. 

Like the Animal Farm novella, the seemingly underlying questionable attitude which masks the agitation for the Biafran agenda, if, and when it does happen, pose a menace. For it wouldn't be long thereafter before there arise yet again, a demand for further segregation by ethnic groups who would've feel cheated of the Power/ Resource-control sharing formulae. 

Obianuju Mbanusi writes