Nigeria, Libya and African unity (2) – Dr. Muiz Banire
The plan worked as the Nigerian football team had to return home without a match and Libyan players were seen training in a show of pretence that the decision of Nigeria to return home was unwarranted. If Libya thought that this humiliating and jejune actions of theirs would end in a walk-over, CAF has dashed that expectation. On the other hand, if the cause of the Libyan action was propelled by hatred for Nigerians, it is a confirmation of the fact that the unity of the continent is a chimera that may never happen. How a nation that expects to be treated with love and respect would behave like that to citizens of another country who are not seeking asylum or illegal immigration baffles imagination.
How then can African nations achieve the desired unity that will bring collective progress and enable them to be able to stand up against external attacks when childish and mischievous behaviours like this dictate international engagements among nations. The relationship among nations dictated by mutual respect and détente is a cornerstone of productive international relations. Where leaders fail to forge a united front, what can we expect of their citizens? If the Nigerian team were to play the proposed match in Libya and win, there is no guarantee that the obviously hateful Libyan authorities would not sponsor attacks on the Nigerian footballers and probably unleash violence on Nigerian citizens living in Libya.
There is a seed in xenophobia in the puerile behaviour of the Libyan authorities who have remained adamant and unapologetic over the issue till this moment. That is one African nation to another and differences in skin colour ought not to be a factor to justify this if not that Libya does not recognize any reason to share the same continental territory with Nigeria. It is clear that there is no reason for this unwarranted act of Libya if not mere hatred for Nigeria and by now, reason should have prevailed on the Libyan officials who are supposed to be apologetic and be making efforts towards assuaging the feelings of Nigerians.
There is no economic conflict between the two countries and there is no basis for one nation to be this hostile to the other. Definitely, Africa has a long way to go. The dream of African unity nursed till death by leaders like Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Dr. Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and many others definitely is looking like a nightmare decades after the departure of these black giants. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late sage of Nigerian politics, in the book, The Problems of Africa, which was the first memorial lecture in honour of Dr. Nkrumah in Ghana in 1976 anatomically examined the problems plaguing the continent right from time immemorial till the present moment.
The four problems identified as summarized by this erudite politician and lawyer at page 66 of the book have remained till date with us, namely, a. the problem of underdevelopment, b. the problem of individual freedom, c. the problem of constitution-making, and d. the problem of African unity. It is apparent that these problems have become like leopard’s spots that the more you wash it, the sticker it proves and cannot be removed. African leaders need to grow beyond mental underdevelopment and forge a unity that can make them relevant in the scheme of things. It is the duty of the leaders to also encourage African nationalism by which citizens of Africa can recognize one another as siblings who ought to defend the interest of the other. Where hatred permeates international relationship, citizens may not grow beyond the shackles of their leaders’ limitations as the latter dictate their national orientation and prejudices.
