Opinion : Sentimentality An Enemy of Nigeria's Progress - Isaac Ochegbudu

OPINION : SENTIMENTALITY: AN ENEMY OF NIGERIA'S PROGRESS

By Isaac Ochegbudu

while reading through the pages of the book THERE WAS A COUNTRY by Chinua Achebe, I was taken aback. what suprised me most is how can an Igbo man who was an active member of the "Biafra republic" and a diplomat for them in the time of the war present such a non sentimental account of the Biafra war? in that book,  Chinua Achebe presented a clear scenario of the Biafra war, pointing out the intricacies therein and faulting both the Biafra and Nigeria governments for everything that happened from an objective point of view. Truly, it is the best account of the Biafra war I have come across.

Why will Chinua Achebe, an Igbo man and active member of the Biafra republic present such an account leaving sentiments aside? this is the question that that always comes to my mind while I was reading the book and anytime I remember the words in that book. At the concluding part of the book, it became clear to me why he did so. Chinua Achebe was non sentimental inhis book because, he was someone who loves Nigeria so much, he was so much concern with the crisis that bedevils Nigeria and always wish to see Nigeria move forward. Because of his vision, he rejected the national honor confered on him by the federal government., pointing out that, that is not what he want but to see Nigeria come to progress. These view made him objective in his presentation.

Sentimentality has been one of the major problem confronting Nigeria. it manifest it self in all sphere of activity in Nigeria. It has deprived many of success, it has hamper the progress of the country. Sentimentality has claimed many lives in Nigeria as most if not all of the crisis and killings are products of it. One of the greatest aim.of education is to refine a person and to shape the mental geography of humans. Education is to equip a person with critical, logical and rational thinking skills but it is sad to see that the educated are the custodian of sentimentality. More sadly, members of the academia who are expected to educate and enlighten the populace on the evil and implications of thus common enemy, use it as stool for harm too.

In past few weeks, I have come across various destructive sentimental things on the internet. Why are we so blind? sentimentality has eaten deep in to the fabrics of our mentality. It has made us loose our God given humanity. From the micro society to the macro it is evident, we are breed in it. It is sad to see children of about four year approach issues from a sentimental perspective. We are just too destructive in our utterances, we see ourselves as aliens.

I have always been criticised for been non sentimental in my approach to people and issues. One of my neighbors asked me sometime.ago that: "Isaac, how did you know all this Hausa people?." Are they not humans for God sake? Why should I not interact with them? I do not interact with persons or approach issues from a sentimental stances. Even though I uphold strongly the dictates of my faith, what is important to me first is that you are human being like me.

Looking back, right from the 1914 forced marriage of the multiplicity of ethnic groups in the entity referred to as Nigeria today, sentimentality has been at the fore front of Nigeria's activities. If it is not religious then it is ethnic based. The monster sentimentality has torn the country widely apart, it has deepen and intensified the underdevelopment in the country. It has brought a lot of pain, lost of lives and destruction of properties. The political elites have used it to manipulate our sense of reasoning for thier own political gain. the masses too has used it to worsen and deepen their own situation, thereby making them blind to the reality of thier situation and how to change it.

Sentimentality blocks our sense of reasoning, in makes us blind and it makes us to become enemies of ourselves. More serious, even within our ethnic group's, we are always against ourselves because of religious sentiments and in our religious group's we are against ourselves because of ethnic sentiments. We are just so divide and scattered in all ramifications. What is wrong with Nigeria?  When are we going to realise this common enemy? When are we going to learn from the happenings of the past m and its blows? Maters of national interest, security, politics, religion, social interactions are etc. are all sentiment based. Members of same ethnic group attack  and harm each other because of religious sentiments; members of the same religion attack and harm each other because of ethnic sentiments.  It is appaling how Nigeria degenerate everyday! 

Nigeria must break away from the shackels of sentimentality. Nigeria must come to terms with the reality of this monster. The members of the intelligentsia must take responsibility to revolutionalize the country. We need more Chinua Achebe in this country. Objectivity must be upheld in all sphere of human activities in nigeria.

One of the best Muslims I have met is Muhammad Nurrudden, he is one of the most value-free, non sentimental person I've ever met in my life. His approach to issues  gave me a broader perspective and insight into the importance of been non sentimental. Religion is a source of social control and cohesion not dissoder and destruction; communal life is at the forefront of culture not disintegration. The educated members of the society must uphold the scientific principles of objectivity bequeathed unto them during their studies. Love for all must be practiced as we are taught in our religious places not Hatered!

until we see ourselves as one. Until we stoo seeing and approaching issues from the lens of sentiments, we will never progress. Lets join hands to stip Political, ethnic, and religious sentiments in Nigeria.

Isaac Ochegbudu 

Isaacochegbudu@gmail.com

08106194657