Nation building

In the theatre of Nigerian public discourse, we have conflated two distinct concepts: politics and nation building. This conflation has cost us dearly. Politics — the mechanism through which we elect leaders and allocate resources — has consumed our collective energy, while nation building — the voluntary, collaborative process of creating a cohesive society — has been relegated to occasional rhetoric.

The distinction is not merely semantic. Politics is transactional; nation building is transformational. Politics divides; nation building unites. Politics operates in electoral cycles; nation building spans generations.

We have created a false dichotomy where citizens must choose between supporting the government of the day or opposing it. This binary thinking has robbed us of the middle ground where most solutions actually reside. When a child goes hungry in Sokoto or lacks access to education in Enugu, the impact doesn’t discriminate between PDP, APC, or Labour Party supporters.

The elite — those of us privileged with education, resources, and influence — have a particular responsibility that extends beyond our legal and civic obligations. The contract between citizens and government is necessary but insufficient for national development. What’s required is a concurrent and complementary effort: a nation building agenda that operates above the fray of partisan politics.

The challenge has never been a lack of generosity but rather a deficit of trusted channels.