Sixty five years after independence, Nigeria continues to battle with deep structural contradictions inherited from colonial rule and sustained by decades of mismanagement. The country is politically independent but remains trapped under layers of internal colonialism expressed through economic imbalance, religious manipulation, social fragmentation and a weak sense of shared national identity. These unresolved tensions have kept Nigeria crawling while nations with fewer resources move forward with clarity and purpose.
One of the most persistent factors in Nigeria’s dysfunction is the use of religion as a political instrument. Instead of serving as a moral compass, religion has become a tool for division. Leaders exploit faith to secure political loyalty, deepen regional suspicion and manipulate public sentiment. The politicisation of Sharia in parts of the North changed Nigeria’s institutional landscape by creating parallel legal systems within one country. This reinforced the perception that Nigeria is not one coherent nation but a collection of competing value frameworks. No nation can make sustained progress when it lacks a unified understanding of justice, citizenship and national identity.
Leadership greed has been another decisive obstacle to Nigeria’s development. From the early post independent era to the long years of military rule, Nigerian leaders often pursued personal and sectional interests at the expense of national progress. The military entrenched a command structure that centralised power, weakened federalism and suppressed meaningful dialogue. Although civilian rule has returned, many of these attitudes remain embedded in governance. Power is still over concentrated at the centre, while competence is frequently sacrificed for loyalty. As a result, leadership serves political blocs rather than the nation as a whole.
This leadership failure deepened the problem of internal colonialism. The most visible example is the exploitation of the oil rich South South alongside the neglect of the mineral rich North. The Niger Delta has carried Nigeria’s economic burden for more than fifty years, yet it remains underdeveloped, polluted and deprived. Its inhabitants live in poverty despite the immense wealth taken from their land. In contrast, the North, which possesses vast reserves of solid minerals such as gold, tantalite, lithium and others, has allowed these resources to be captured by a small elite and foreign partners who operate largely outside formal structures. The ordinary northern citizen receives no benefit, and decades of neglect have produced widespread poverty, low educational attainment and an environment where radicalisation easily takes root.
This situation has contributed directly to the growth of terrorism and banditry. It is far easier to recruit a hopeless, uneducated youth into violent organisations than it is to recruit someone with economic opportunities and awareness of civic values. Armed groups thrive because Nigeria has allowed an entire region to remain vulnerable. Terrorism and banditry have also become major economic enterprises benefiting influential actors who profit from crisis. Some individuals in political, military and civilian circles resist firm action because insecurity sustains their interests. Those who advocate unconditional forgiveness or rehabilitation of so called repentant terrorists often do so to shield powerful sponsors. Nigeria must dismantle these networks and prosecute every individual who benefits from violent groups.
A significant step toward stability is the honest implementation of resource control. When regions manage their own resources and remit an agreed percentage to the centre, fairness and accountability follow naturally. This is not a new idea. It was the basis of Nigeria’s early development before the military altered the arrangement. Regional autonomy will ease claims of marginalisation, limit elite monopolies, encourage innovation and give citizens a sense of ownership over local development. Properly handled, resource control will stabilise Nigeria far more effectively than military interventions or foreign involvement.
Given the depth of Nigeria’s structural problems, a national dialogue has become unavoidable. The recommendations of the 2014 National Conference organised under President Goodluck Jonathan remain the most detailed attempt to redesign Nigeria’s political structure. These recommendations require improvement, adoption and constitutional ratification. A referendum is long overdue. Nigeria needs a regional structure built around six to twelve autonomous regions, each governed by a premier and responsible for internal affairs such as resources, education, local security and economic planning. The federal government should retain only essential national responsibilities such as defence, currency, immigration and foreign relations.
If Nigeria refuses to restructure, the country risks an organic revolution fuelled by frustration, inequality and loss of hope. Such uprisings are uncontrollable and they often consume both leaders and citizens. A responsible government prevents this outcome by listening to constructive criticism. Critics who speak uncomfortable truths are not enemies of the president. Many are patriots who desire the success of the nation and the stability of its leadership. History shows that sycophants pose a greater danger because they protect their personal benefits rather than the president’s legacy or the country’s future.
Nigeria still has the capacity to rise above its struggles. It is endowed with natural resources, cultural richness and a youthful population capable of driving innovation and development. To realise this potential, the country must confront difficult truths, embrace restructuring, dismantle elite capture, defeat terrorism both economically and ideologically and empower regions to build their futures. Above all, Nigeria needs leadership that places the nation above personal ambition and sectional loyalty.
May the President be guided with wisdom. May patriotic Nigerians continue to speak truth for the sake of the nation. And may the Federal Republic of Nigeria eventually fulfil its promise as a unified, just and prosperous nation.
By Bola Babarinde, Former Chairman of APC, South Africa Chapter.
