Nigerians are willing to manipulate their identity to gain access, employment, hospital, power, and access to those who are incharge of resources and authority in the country.
Executive Director of the Kukah Centre (TKC), Fr. Atta Barkindo, said this in Abuja at the public presentation of the 26-page project impact report on ‘Strengthening Social Cohesion in Lagos’, and policy brief on the project with support from MacArthur Foundation.
“Number one, it means people are willing to manipulate any identity, as long as it gives them employment, access to hospital, access to power, access to those who are in charge of the resources and the authority in this country.
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“And it also shows that we really have a lot of work to do to convince people about why we need to build social cohesion, national identity, common citizenship, and to see Nigeria as a country that belongs to all of us and where we prioritize meritocracy competence, over and above where you come from, or where you belong to or what your political affiliation is.
“And I think that is why the Kukah center went to Lagos. We all knew what happened in Lagos during the 2023 general elections, and maybe that of Lagos has been amplified because Lagos with lots of infrastructure, the media is there, so we can easily hear what happened in Lagos, and probably, in other places, things may have happened that has been worse than what has happened in Lagos,” Barkindo said.
He said in Europe, it is about where someone live.
He said, “That is why you belong. It is about where you are born that matters, not your own state of origin. So somebody was born in Kano, lives in Kano for 40 years, and when it is time to vote, they ask you to go back to your state of origin, not the state that you were born.”
He said that Lagos was a pilot phase, adding that their intention is to go to almost every state across the country and to try and bring people together to have the conversations.
The ‘Strengthening Social Cohesion in Lagos Project’ is a 12-month project conceived in response to the social unrest and electoral violence that erupted during the 2023 general elections.
The report said that over the years, ethnic and regional divides, including issues of indigenes and settlers have combined to reinforce a sense of mutual distrust and suspicion, to a point that identity politics have become a meal ticket for politicians to garner votes.
“During the 2023 general elections, the impact of these divisions played out and led to massive electoral violence, particularly in Lagos state. This necessitated the intervention, particularly as, the aftermath of the elections seemed to have reinforced religious and ethnic disharmony, asNigerians became angrier, more fearful, and less trusting of one another,” the report said.
On what can drive sustainability to strengthen social cohesion, the report recommended continuous community engagement, youth-centred initiatives, fair and just systems, inclusive governance, quality education; and cultural awareness and sensitization among others.
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