Nigeria’s fragile status quo can not afford to contemplate another civil war.
The 1967-1970 civil war in Nigeria which threatened the federation, forged what the country has held together as a nation afterwards. This war that witnessed the deaths of over a million people due to the plan of the Biafran communities to secede, spearheaded by Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu remains a life changing event for the country, especially the Igbo society. While some believe this war to have been triggered by tribal alienation, others (especially marxists) have continually asserted that the civil war was a class war, noting that the lower class were colossally the damages of the war. Either way, this event remains an unrecoverable scar in the history of the nation.
In light of the numerous tribal differences that has occurred since the civil war, President Muhammadu Buhari reportedly warned that the country’s fragility cannot afford another civil war. Having actively witnessed the 1967-1970 civil war, the President understands the colossal damages caused by the war. This concern was similarly raised by the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, during a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) event earlier this month. According to him, the nation must collectively work together towards curbing any indication that would enact a tribal war.
It is insufficient to only warn against the danger that the country faces.
However, it is quite insufficient to merely diagnose the imminent danger. As the country’s Commander in Chief of the Federation, President Buhari must work closely and responsively towards ensuring the prevention of this phenomenon, which is the biggest reassurance that Nigerians and the world needs. It is a widely accepted conviction that no nation is strong-willed enough to survive two civil wars. The socioeconomic, political and cultural costs are too huge to contemplate another war. Researcher, Dr. Adetunji Ogunyemi of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) asserted that the 30 months of civil war cost the country, not just huge monetary value but also the immense loss of lives.
Like every other war, that come with direct and indirect damages like death, destruction of private properties and public infrastructures, massive displacements and psychological and physical trauma. The Nigerian civil war immensely affected the lives of numerous Nigerians and it would only be correct to work against experiencing this brutal reality again. It is no mistake that years after the civil war, the country is yet to recover from the consequences of the unnecessarily myopic war. Most issues that led to the war are being reincarnated in the socio-political spaces. Remember Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu was very critical about the corrupt political profiteers, tribalist, nepotist that have tainted the country’s image in the international scene with their corrupt practices. It is not hard to find these practices in Nigeria which are presently on a larger scale.
Tribal alienation, sectionalism and injustice, major catalysts of civil war.
Though there are numerous factors that fuel civil wars, tribal alienation, sectionalism and obvious injustice in the management of a state are common catalysts. Equity and justice are pivotal foundation to the stability and peacekeeping of every society. Wars are not instantly enacted. It is a buildup of systemic frustrations that immensely affect a group of people who, per perceived inequity, different sections revolt against the designed constructions, in a bid to correct the dilemma which mostly lies within power and wealth distribution.
While Nigeria hasn’t particularly witnessed complete social equity, especially in terms of power sharing and wealth allocation since independence, the past seven years under the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari has seen this status quo deteriorate even more. The sectionalism and tribal alienation in this governmental tenure has been self-evident. Terrorists continually enacting targeted attacks, farms and homes are being destroyed, numerous families displaced, cost of living is on a constant surge and numerous citizens are forcing their ways out of the country for greener pasture. All these are indications that the country is on the brink of an evident sociopolitical collapse.
Present insurgency has shaped the country into a war-like situation.
Even though the country is not experiencing another civil war presently, it faces a continued insurgency that has shaped the country into being in a war-like situation. Terrorist attacks have caused numerous deaths, kidnappings, displacements and destruction of properties and these attacks which are targeted at certain communities pose the impression of ethnic and religious bigotry. These terrorists have accrued so much power that they now go on to disrupt correctional facilities, infiltrating the country’s defense and even attacking the presidential convoy.
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Nigeria can’t survive another civil war. It should not happen at all. We should try all our possible best to ensure we live in peace and harmony. Inasmuch as we are polarized in ethnicity and religiosity, we can still stay together in peaceful coexistence.
The problem of this nation is our president Buhari himself. He has drifted the country away from united country to divided country.
How president warn against civil war but he is the very person orchestrating the war by his action through nepotism, tribalism, sectionalism,allowing wanton killing of the indigenous people of the land by his kinsmen and tribe and by encouraging corruption.
Are the government not the problem of this nation,they are the ones dividing this dear country now they don’t want another civil war don’t they know when you push people to a limit they tend to turn and face you,what’s the consequence is it not chaos and anarchy,breakdown of laws and civil unrest
President Muhammadu Buhari reportedly warned that the country’s fragility cannot afford another civil war. But the bitter truth is that our country is going through a lot right now. The government has failed us in all ramification. If war broke out in this country again, the leaders are to be blamed because of nepotism and tribalism that they have created for their selfish political reasons. If the country is being lead well who will be talking about war. Our government is the present WAR
Civil war should not happen our dear country should not go into civil we are not balance already now we want to go into civil a lot will be spoil government should make should they stop anything dat can cause civil. People will suffer is this happen
The government are the main driver determining and affecting issue of civil war. They should unify and settle with the necessary individuals to avoid another civil war breaking out.
Civil war us really a hell of a thing. The government don’t want a war buh they keep pushing people to the wall.
In every way, the government has failed us. Due to the nepotism and tribalism that the authorities have fostered for their own political advantage, they should be held accountable if war breaks out once more in our nation. Who will be discussing war if the nation is being well-run? The current conflict is our government.
The biggest guarantee that Nigerians and the rest of the world need is for the government to work closely and responsively to ensure the prevention of this occurrence.
The Nigerian civil war had a huge impact on the lives of many Nigerians, and it would only be right to fight to avoid facing this cruel reality again.
It will be disastrous for another civil war to happen in this country, let’s just put an end to tribalism and support each other. We should be United and not divided
The government has failed us in all ramification.
We should just try all our possible best to ensure we live in peace and harmony. Let’s not give room for war, regardless of anything.
The government should do all the possible best to ensure that another civil war did not occur because the way insurgency is going on in Nigeria is a very bad sign to any nature development or it existence.
Hmm another civil war will the terrible for the country because it will affect a lot of things and make everything hard for people
The tribal animosity that led to the last conflict is not going to be a factor this time around because we must remember to grow from our past experiences and take them into account.
The majority of the problems that triggered the conflict are now being resurrected in various sociopolitical contexts and that is something that needs to change
The conflict had a disproportionately negative impact on those in lower social classes. In any case, the event in question will forever leave an indelible mark on the annals of national history.
individuals with vested interests who have, by their participation in corrupt activities, tarnished the image of the nation on the global stage. It shouldn’t be hard to identify these techniques, which are already being carried out on a greater scale in Nigeria.
It is a generally held belief that no country is resilient enough to endure two civil wars at the same time; hence, it is possible that Buhari is correct in warning against conflict in this situation.
In order to provide Nigerians and the rest of the world with the greatest amount of peace of mind, President Buhari must devote his whole attention and responsiveness to the task of preventing the occurrence of this phenomena.
The civil war had a significant impact on the lives of a great number of Nigerians, and it is morally imperative that precautions be taken to avoid another conflict of this vicious kind.