CHAPTER FOUR

NATIONAL IDENTITY

CONCEPT OF NATIONAL IDENTITY

National identity is the feeling of love and pride which indicates identification with a nation by people and such people share many things in common such as citizenship, loyalty, rights and responsibilities to the nation and equal access to amenities and protection from the nation.  In addition, it embodied a sense of being part of a political community, that is ability to identify with such symbols as the National Flag, National Anthem, National Pledge, Coat of Arms and National Motto which differ from one country to the other (Bello, 1995).

When a citizen is proud of his or her country, and is ready to sacrifice personal interests for the good of the country, such a citizen can be said to have developed strong feeling of National Identity and therefore to be patriotic (Adu, Ekingbo & Owolabi, 2002).  The National Identity of Nigeria borders on its National Flag, National motto, National Anthem, National Pledge, Coat of Arms and official language.

The concept of national identity, would require an understanding of the concepts of a nation and identity.  Okeke (2000), citing Appadorai defines a nation as a body of people who feel themselves to be naturally linked together by certain affinities which are strong and real for them that they live happily together, are dissatisfied when disunited and cannot tolerate subjection to people who do not share these ties.

Aluma (1971), sees a nation as implying the existence of a homogeneous community included in or bounded by one vast realm governed and controlled by one potent sovereign and possesses of one constitution, one common tongeue.  Okeke (2001), pointed out that Nigeria appears to be deficient in terms of one common language, common affinities homogeneity, common culture, but Nigeria is together by a common territory, one constitution, one sovereign and one common will be united.

While identity is a strong feeling of belonging to a particular group, race or the qualities and attitudes that a person or group of people have that make them different from other people.  People who share a common culture regard themselves as culturally homegenous and thus can be identified as one people – through the use of the same language for communication sharing of the same ideas about what can be right or wrong and doing many things that portray commonality or norms, minces and ethos…  This conception of identity has throughout ages supported very disastrous racial prejudices.

LEVELS OF NATIONAL IDENTIFY IN NIGERIA

There are five levels of identity –

1. FAMILY IDENTITY – Where every persons belong and attains self – discovery.

2. PEER OR AGE GROUPS IDENTITY – Drawn from several families in a village, town or clan.

3. Cultural or ethnic groups identity – Each ethnic group in Nigeria with its cultural norm creates certain identification marks on its members by language.

4. STATE IDENTITY – Creation of states within the country has created a broadened awareness.

5. NATIONAL IDENTITY – Compels people of Nigeria to identify with one another in the spirit of oneness, its demonstrated through common constitution, common anthem, common flag, common pledge etc.

ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL IDENTITY IN NIGERIA

1. CONSTITUTION:-  The constitution is supreme and binds all peoples of Nigeria together.  Therefore having a common constitution is a epitome of national identity.

2. LINGUA FRANCA:- English language has been adopted as the official language to bridge the mode of communication of different ethnic languages (mother tongue) in the country.

3. NIGERIAN PASSPORT:-  The official document that proves who you are and which you need in order to leave your country and enter other countries.

4. CURRENCY:-  The naira notes and kobo coins money are acceptable used, and legally binding on Nigerians only.

5. NATIONAL ANTHEM:-  National anthem is recited on daily basis in schools during important occasion, and to herald the arrival of such national dignitaries like the President and the Governor, at occasions that reflect national significance.  The national anthem is emphasize national awareness and identify.

6. NATIONAL PLEDGE:-  The pledge is recited after the national anthem as commitment to patriotism, selfless services, and loyalty to the nation in the wordings.

7. NATIONAL SYMBOLS:-  The two national symbols in Nigeria are the National Flag and the coat of Arms.

THE RELEVANCE OF NATIONAL SYMBOLS

National Symbols are creations of nation to commemorate important events, practices or customs and reactivates and reinforce, citizens’ will and in their identity, unity and faith.  All of the citizens who inhabit the geographical division called Nigeria, are aware of the existence of many of Nigeria’s national symbols such as the flag, the national (song) anthem, the pledge, stamps, passports, coat of arms currency etc for example:-

1. The Flag:-  Made of green, white, green colour is a symbol of the nation’s resources and aspiration.  Green colour is occupational agriculture, while white stands for unity, peace and love.

2. The National Anthem is a symbol of Nigeria’s aspiration which the Coat of Arms, the Pledge integrate into one. 

3. The Nigeria Passport, Currency and Stamps symbolize Nigeria’s sovereignty or independence and her assertion of identity as a nation depends on the strength of her currency and the credibility that both command in and outside the country among other citizens of all nations of world.

4. The Shield which is black represents the good earth of Nigeria.

5. The Wavy Bands which are silver on the Shield represent the Rivers; Niger and Benue, their junction and confluence.

6. The ground on which the bearings stand is Coctus Spectabilis, which is a common wild flower throughout Nigeria.     

7. The supporters, that is the Carges or two Horses represent dignity 

8. The Eagle represent strength

9. The Wreath is Nigeria’s Colour white and green

10. The mott “Unity and Faith.  Peace and Progress is a maxim for all Nigerians (Adewuya, 2004).

NATIONAL INTEGRATION

In Nigeria, the constitution rooted in federalism has provided a pivot on which national integration revolves.  Nigerian needs to rise up today and reject those habits which cripple aspiration and inhibit chances of becoming a modern and attractive nation.  The vast human and material wealth with which Nigeria is a endowed, bestows on her a role in Africa and the World which no one else can assume or fulfil.  Nigeria has the largest concentration of black power in the world, one must learn to respect this heritage.

There are four main power groups in the country, the Yoruba in the West, the Igbo in the East, the Hausa – Fulani in the North and the minorities in each of the old regions.  No section should be made to feel perpetually enslaved like second class citizens.  No first and second class citizens in any part of the Federation – A Nigerian should enjoy all the rights of common citizenship and one nation wherever he may go, the right to the land, and property, equal access to education, employment, health services, security etc for himself and children on payment of taxes.

Justice and fair play for all citizens is a sine qua non for the survival of the nation.  The constitutional provision for reflecting federal character in all public appointments should be given a new wider interpretation.  The principle of rotation and weighting should be seen to supplement the application of the principle of federal characters.  Above all merit and modicum of ability to perform must be recognized in all cases.

Cultural identity is important in the quest for national self sufficiency.  It is relatively easy to pontificate that we should select the best in the traditional values and culture of the different ethnic group in the country with a view to establishing a national cultural identity.  It may be more realistic to accept and respect the traditional values of our respective peoples where one not incompatible with the rigours and discipline required for the citizenry in a modern state.

There are arts, cultural festivals in Nigeria during which, dances, songs, dressing, food, wrestling, languages and displays from different ethnic groups are gathered under the national umbrella.  Such healthy mix – up couple with inter – ethnic marriages help to foster national integration.  

Religious tolerance and understanding is a sine qua non for the continued survival of this nation.  Nigeria is a country comprising people who believe in different kinds of religion, Christianity, Islam and African traditional practices.  Section of the Constitution which prohibits the government of the Federation or of a state from adopting any religion as a state religion should be retained intact.

Nigeria should be recognized as a multi-religious and their adherents are equal.  No Nigerian should be discriminated against on the basis of his or her religion.  Efforts should be made through schools, mass media, programmes etc to increase the knowledge of all Nigerians about the basic tenets and true teachings of the major religions.  No religion is to be given preference over any other.  It will not be easy, from the experience of other nations, for a country like Nigeria to survive a religious war.  Therefore, government intervention in religious matters should be warranted only when the practice of a religion becomes an obvious threat to good government and security of the state.

Whatever political arrangements are made for the survival of this country should involve power sharing at the centre either by rotating the presidency or otherwise.  The system of winner takes – all should not be in place.  That is the way to stable and lasting peace.  

Ethnicity, discrimination in high places quest for resources control, political instability, corruption etc that seen to questions people collective will and acceptance of one common national identity should be control and eliminated from the Nigeria people.

NATIONAL IDENTITY AND ITS IMPLICATION FOR THE YOUTH

In considering the Nigeria youth’s experience at past independence era, finding many distortion in the socio – economic and political make up, has imbibed any trait or commitment to loyalty, and progress that a Nigeria was initially meant to foster 

The youths never see anything good about this country, they opt for foreign material, products and practices.  The youths of this reveal their disdain for Nigerian currency, customs, police and ethos while the continental symbols like Dollar, Pound – Sterling, Deutschmark currencies, the music, dress, and language peculiarities of other countries attract and compel meticulous attention and imitation.

The Nigerian youths are “Anchor checking out” under the “New – self enslavement” called lottery visa of different countries, Nigeria is our father land we must stay to salvage it together.

The older generation who had seen the good aspect of the country do not faired better as their life service are being copiously x-rayed by the younger ones.

Leaders should resolved and provide a meaningful life for the youth who will then find more and better assurance in the national identity and live their lives as proud Nigerians who must defend her unity and uphold her honour and glory.