If there is one thing I’ve learned about my country and my fellow Nigerians in the past week, it’s the fact that despite what many of us may say about it, we all love it. When the time comes for us to band together and support our own, we do that without any differences or issues.

There are moments when all that is required is just for the people to come together and have one mind. It could be over anything at all, but what matters is that we’re all together and have like minds. And when we act like that, it’s always so beautiful to watch.

It’s been quite an eventful week in Nigeria. First of all, we had the Grammy nominating four our our top celebrities, and none of them got any award. Personally, I don’t know how they pick their songs and how they determine the winners, but fans of Davido didn’t like the fact that their fave didn’t win his category. And as per Nigerian style, they were not afraid of airing their grievances.

For days, all that was trending on Nigerian Twitter (Now called X) was how Grammy did Davido dirty and simply used his status to promote their event. While there were those who were defending Grammy, so many more people were rooting for Davido because it was clear as day that the guy had put a lot into the hope that he was going to win the award.

But was that the end? No! Something more interesting and engaging came up and that’s the African Cup Of Nations that’s currently shaking the world right now. And as expected, we’re solidly behind our players, the Super Eagles of Nigeria! We’ve been cruising through the games like knife through butter, defeating major players and always coming out on top. I made it sound easy, but the competition was fierce, and I guess that’s what made the win all the more sweet.

On Wednesday night, we defeated South Africa to move on to the finals. And that night, Nigeria erupted, both online and offline! While the match was going on, the streets were empty and everyone who didn’t have their TV on was in a viewing center or their friend’s place where the match was broadcasting. Even people like me who have no interest in football, petty traders and what have you, everyone was interested in the game!

And when we emerged as the winner of that match, the excitement and jubilation were contagious. It was impossible not to take part in it. I can say for a fact that Super Eagles made us happy that night and I hope that they will do it again this weekend at the finals.

But why am I saying all this? I want you to see how all of us banded together behind our very own. When we stood with Davido, no one cared about his tribe or religion. Now that we’re hailing Super Eagles, no one is saying that this player is from here or this keeper worships this one. They’re Nigerians and that’s enough for us. Because we as a people, we’ve transcended all that! We’re bigger than religious and tribal sentiments.

Why then do we still face such things to this day? Our leaders, of course! The reason things like tribalism, racism, and religious intolerance still exist in the world today is that we have leaders who enjoy using them as tools to control their people. And not just leaders, corporations, and industries as well. When you pit two groups against each other, they’ll be too busy fighting themselves to focus on you who is the real enemy.

Not just with football and music, this was the same way we banded together during the last Ebola outbreak in Nigeria, that was how we worked together during COVID-19 and EndSars (until it got hijacked by hoodlums). When it comes to working together for our own good, we have no problem with that. Individually, we have no hate in us. The only issue is that we have leaders who will keep pitting us
against each other, and that’s the reason we’re still where we are today.

Moral of the story? Don’t let anyone use you for their own agenda! Don’t be used to further someone else’s power. We have nothing to gain when we keep fighting each other and trying to prove who is better than who. Let the fact that we’re Nigerians be enough, let’s try to move forward together. Let’s all live in love and harmony, and refuse to be used by these unscrupulous elements. Enough is enough.

Anyway, that’s what my country has taught me in the past week. And now, I’m looking forward to the AFCON finals. I really hope we end up winning it because X and in fact the entire internet won’t hear word for Nigerians.

Much love!!

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