BY NIYI ABORISADE
This is a continuation of ‘ what is your Name Nigeria ‘ the first chapter of my book ‘Voice For Positive Change’ published in 2019.
The restructuring and changing of the Name Nigeria is more important and necessary than ever and in fact time is running against us.
The obnoxious and unwholesome federalism that we have experimented for almost 60 years has dragged us backwards and almost ruined us as a
country.
United Arab Emirates gained independence in 1971 from Britain and maneuvered their ways to become one of the most beautiful, secure and
the best tourist centre in the world. Comprises of Seven Emirates but well structured and fairly balance to all the Emirates that is known as United
Arab Emirates.
It is crystal clear that unless there is restructuring in Nigeria and more autonomy is given to the six geo political zones that made up Nigeria , there can be no meaningful development, progress, peace and security.
We have all seen that our National Armed Forces are not capable of providing security and the need for Community Police is now much
needed.
The creation of Amotekun by the 6 South West Governors imposed on the Federal Government is one of the restructuring that is much overdue. The
external aggression and inter State aggression can be taken care of by the National Armed Forces . Experience has shown us that the States Community Police are the much needed force to stabilise their community.
I will say that any restructuring that does not involve the change of name is bound to fail.
It is important for us to realise that our name is not ‘Nigeria’ and the name should be changed as part of the restructuring to an indigenous name. I have spoken and described at length in my book ‘Voice For Positive Change‘ on how the name was given to us and I do not need to repeat it here but suffice is to say the name has not brought us anything good and must be changed . The day the name Nigeria was given to us was the day we lost our identity as a people. If we want Unity and peace in our land, we must restructure and changing the name is one of it. We must know who we are and take charge of our destiny.
Below are few example of the countries that have successfully restructured by changing their name.
- British named them _Burma,_ they rejected it, restructured and renamed themselves _Myanmar!
- British named them _Upper Volta,_ they rejected it, restructured and renamed themselves _Burkina Faso,_ which means Land of Incorruptible People!
- British named them _Gold Coast_ they rejected it, restructured and renamed themselves _Ghana!
- British named them _Southern Rhodesia_ they rejected it, restructured and renamed themselves _Zimbabwe!
- British named them _Northern Rhodesia,_ they rejected it, restructured and renamed themselves _Zambia!
- British named them _Tanganyika_ they rejected it, restructured and renamed themselves _Tanzania!
- Germans named them _colony of South West Africa,_ they rejected it, restructured and renamed themselves _Namibia!
- France named them _Dahomey_ they rejected it, restructured and renamed themselves _Benin!
- Belgium named them _Zaire_ they rejected it, restructured and renamed themselves _DRC_ or _Democratic Republic of Congo!
And the list goes on and on and on…..!
But the British named a bunch of people _Nigeria_ and _they will rather kill to preserve it than restructure and give themselves a befitting name.
It is only an animal that bears the name that is given to it by his enemy___ _Igbo Proverb_* yoruba proverb says it is the name of a person that makes him who he is. ( Oruko Omo ni ro Omo). Your name is your identity and in as much as we do not like to be called Nigger Area ( Nigeria) it is time to reason together and restructure by changing the name .
Niyi Aborisade is a legal Practitioner in the UK and the President of National Movement for Positive Change.
