State-of-the-Nation: Even distribution of wealth critical to rebound Nigeria in cohesion
National cohesion is one necessity before Nigeria demanding utmost attention. State-of-the-nation discourse paramountly have been coloured with plethora of cacophonic dynamics tending largely towards disturbances of divergent sorts. The voice of dissents and discordance brewing from various conflict of interests have left the Country recently with narratives of deformities, putting the polity on heat. Voices of grievances from political groups, economic and socio-cultural groups, have been on an alarming rate recently. Hammering secessionist movements have not left the stage without their turbulence. This is just as criminal groups of aggression keep gaining momentum by time.
However, despite the plethora of voices of dissentatious disputations, it is only rational that deep thoughts be given to the causal factors brewing the alarming echoes of cacophonic expressions of dissentions making national unity more fragile. The continuous breakdown of the fabrics of cohesion in the Federation is such that has continued to wreck havoc on national development.
Recently, the activities of aggrieved groups of various forms have seen the crumbling of socio-economic activities, just as the political fabrics have not been spared from the turbulence. Rancours in the South, with the echoes of secessionist exhibitions, particularly in the South-east, have continued in recent times to assume an aggressive turn. Attacks on constituted installations of State authorities have become recurrent in some parts of this region. In fact most recently, was the record of threats against the 2023 elections with attacks on the organising electoral management body, as warnings to threaten the possibility of an election. The surfacing of these actions are threats against the framework of national cohesion.
Addressing the plethora of dissenting voices would realistically have to bring into bear the deep reflections of their root causes. Of central reflection has been the concern over the worsening state of living conditions in the Country. It has been observed that the more socio-economic hardship take stronger grip in the Country, the more reflections of cacophonic echoes of aggression have grown. It has even been observed that, largely, the major push of the plethora of aggressions in the Country are bellicose outcomes in form of reactions to the plight of underdevelopment and the scourge of worsening living conditions. In reflection, the bellicose resort of various groups of aggression across the Country, be it banditry and terrorism in the North, or secessionist movement, kidnapping, robbery, kidnapping-for-ransom in the South, are reactions to unhealthy living conditions in their various forms. Hence, the distasteful activities are merely aggressive expression of agitated minds in an illegitimate composition.
The argument linking the aggressions across the Country, manifesting in various ways with insecurity threats, to the worsening state of socio-economic conditions cannot be annulled. It is notable that the worse living conditions get in the Country, the tougher insecurity and aggression have waxed gross. In recent times, the rate of organised crime has become an albatross, as several aggrieved persons have continued to find reasons to justify their incursion into illegal adventures. Bad governance brewing socio-economic hardship has become point of marks for mischievous groups to justify their claims over their escapades.
The prevailing conditions demand redress. However, such redress calls for interventions of pragmatic approaches, genuine will and readiness to change the sour narratives in the Country. Since, no concrete facts exist to nullify the argument largely linking the increasing aggression in the Country to worsening living conditions, borne largely by woes of economic distability, it is only assertive to state that addressing the socio-economic woes of the Country remains justifiable as one of the foremost and viable solution to address the albatross of aggression gradually making the Country ungovernable and unsafe for harmonious habitation.
To enjoy relative peace and national cohesion, it is thus essential that custodians of government authorities, most importantly, public office holders live up to their responsibility of holding in trust the public resources on behalf of the people. The prevailing system of corruption with individualistic selfishness of sapping public resources for personal self aggrandisement has begun to fire back, as more frustrated persons continue to see recourse to belligerent illegitimate conducts as their way of reactions to harsh living conditions.
The multiplier effects have been turbulent and have not seem to leave even the holders of power sacred. Recently, kidnapping and even killing of public officers have continued to take course. It is certain that in the long run, even the least expected would be touched by the scourge. It is now of necessity that the even distribution of wealth must be a recourse the custodian of state authorities must subscribe to, as managers of resources holding same in trust, not for personal aggrandisement, but for the good of the greatest number.
