There is an ideology that Nigerians can be very erratic people, many Nigerians have no balance of thoughts and actions, and hence you tend to find them either expressing extreme anger or euphoric joy. Nigerians really know how to have a good time, they can be very happy people by can get very edgy too. Perhaps for many Nigerians, the only emotions they understand is anger and happiness; there tends to be no middle ground and as such many acts without a second thought given to the cause of action. As peaceful as Nigerians can be, very little things can get them ticked-off. Below are five things for which Nigerians can go crazy for, to the extent of killing themselves massively.
1. Religion
The religion they say is the opium of the people, Nigerians like many others in the world get sozzled on the wine of religion sometimes, and it is really amazing the extent of havoc that can be wrecked in that inebriate state of mind. The influence of religion in Nigeria is so strong that it goes a long way in casting its shadows on the affairs of the state. Nigerians can get really edgy when it comes to things regarding religion; many tend to lose rationality when religion is laid on the table.
A Christian religious gathering
Hence, you have been doing that which is totally wrong, just because a religious leader has made a statement. There have been several killings in Nigeria based on religious violence; many followers of the various religions that thrive in Nigeria are ever ready to defend their faith even with the shedding of blood. Thus there are many tales of massacres across the nation, with places of worship being burnt down just because of certain intolerance to the religion of others.
Symbols of faiths
Not necessarily a very holy nation, more filled with sanctimonious people who will do anything to protect their religion but do less to practice what the religion really says. Like someone once said, with the number of churches and mosques in Nigeria, cases of corruption and vices that thrive in the society, should have been a thing of the past by now. However, it turns out that the more the places of worship spring up, the more perverse the people tend to become.
2. Politics
A highly political people Nigerians are but tend to hold tenaciously to their political parties, than to political ideologies. Like their religious dogmas, many Nigerians will kill and do just about anything to see that their political party or candidate emerges victorious.
There has barely been any election held in Nigeria which does not come with its own level of violence, a practice which has made many to lose faith in the electoral system. Electoral malpractices and political assassinations have marred the electoral process for too long, however, the latest election which saw to the emergence of the current APC-led government, tends to be the best election so far. Recording the least number of casualties and a more acceptable electoral procedure.
Though there were fears that the result of the election would stir and uproar which would lead to an implosion, a great level of maturity was displayed by the top contenders for the presidential position, and that quelled the brewing storm. However, all is still not perfect yet, as the election rerun within the south-south region of the country turned out really bloody. Hence, hinting that the political atmosphere of the nation is still very volatile and must be handled with great care; else the country will be thrown into great disarray, one that might lead to the split which for too long has been rumoured.
3. Sports
If there is anything or reason why many Nigerians will kill without flinching, then it sure is sports. For Nigerians the adopted sport is soccer and for this game, many have been injured and many have lost their lives. There was a time when the passion was driven by love for country, but with the constant poor performances of the national teams, most Nigerians have turned their allegiance towards Europe, adopting new countries and clubs filled with all the best players in the world.
Nigerian football fans
Though not originally from these foreign countries, nor registered officially with their teams, many Nigerians will still go-ahead to kill for this game. A deeper insight into the issue shows that the emergence of online bet centres and the huge rewards they boast is a big factor for the violence experienced in many viewing centres across the nation. Hence what is meant to be a game for the unity of the world begins to breed hate and strife and death follows closely.
Football fans clash in Lagos state.
On the home front, the Nigerian league is fast getting into standard with certain policies being enforced by the governing bodies. However, a great level of violence still characterizes the game, with little or no security for players, officials and the fans. Hence you have a situation in which home teams must never lose on their own turf. So one hears every now and then how some players or referees are battered or molested just because of a loss or a draw.
4. Tribe
This is perhaps one of the biggest problems besetting Nigeria, the fact that people do not first think as Nigerians before acting. For them its all about their tribes and regions, its about themselves and their kinsmen. So when there is a national issue, Nigerians often do not attack the problem as one, they first point accusing fingers as to which tribe is at fault.
Nigerian tribes
Experts have blamed the diversity in tongue and tribe as a great factor militating against the growth of Nigeria. The fact that Nigerians must first think of what regions benefit from a particular policy or administration, is disheartening. So one notices that there are many inter-tribal conflicts in Nigeria.
It really is hard to put a figure to the number of people killed due to the bias of tribe, but it must be recalled that the biggest war ever fought in Nigeria began due to prejudice of tribe; for Nigeria to attain the height which it so longs to reach, then it must shed every weight of tribalism which for too long has had a crippling effect.
5. Money
The love of money they say is the root of all evil, in Nigeria, the evils that have been wrought in the name of money are so uncountable. It is not out of place to say that the quest for wealth amounts for so many killings within the country. For the money, many Nigerians with thwarting the principles of religion, fight and kill for politicians who do not have the people’s interest at heart; for money, many will sell their conscience.
The love of money has led many to the grave.
Truly we cannot do without money, however, many Nigerians are beginning to seek dishonest means to make money and have no respect for human lives as they tread the deadly path to wealth. There have been stories of businessmen who import fake or substandard goods for Nigerian consumption, all in a bid to maximize profit.
It must be noted that these things do not necessarily apply to all Nigerians, but to a very great proportion of the entire population. The piece is written to help us as Nigerians give our ways of life a rethink. As the saying goes, the change we so crave for must first begin with us.
