25 Nov 2007 |
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By Chukwudi Ede There is about fifty states that make-up United States of America. Some of these states are nearly equal in size or bigger than Nigeria. America has a population of over 301 million people, compare to Nigeria with about 140 million people. Despite the diversity, size, and the population, America has continued to remain united and a very strong economic power in the world. I have been very curious to identify which greatest factor or thread that has kept America a united and a very strong economic power for these many years without disintegration. First, I thought it was because of their common language. Although, there are Spanish, Russians, French, Germans, Irish, Italians, Cubans, Nigerians, Jews, Muslims, etc, that live in US today, and they all speak their different languages, English is the national and official language which is written and spoken by almost everybody in America. Yes, common language is part of the equation, but not the greatest force, which has kept America united today. If it were because of their common language, countries like Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Bangladeshi, Iraqi, etc, which have common Arabic language should have been world economic power today. Secondly, I thought it was because of the color of their skin. They are predominantly Anglo Saxon white society. That did not answer my question, because color alone does not make a country united, strong, and powerful. If the color of their skin were the answer, why then does millions of white Americans spend billions of dollars every year to tan their skins darker? Nigeria, with her black population, could have achieved the same unity, strength, and economic power like America. I was tempted to believing that it was because of their diversity, population and size. No, wait a minute; Nigeria is made up of 250 ethic groups, has the largest land size, and the most populated country in Africa. So, why have these good attributes not translated into an economic power, strength and unity for Nigeria? I thought it must be their culture, but to my greatest disappointment, it was not their culture, which made America united and most powerful country on earth. America has no one culture; it is a melting pot of many cultures. So is Nigeria. Nigeria, although very rich in culture, is still lagging behind in many facets of development and unity. It is nowhere ranked as an economic power in the world. America is not united and powerful nation because of its climate, vegetation or geographical location on the map of the world. It is said that necessity is the mother of invention, the adverse weather here in USA has helped them to bind together to fight the Mother Nature for their survival, and they have prevailed in some instances. This rational does not satisfy my curiosity. Nigeria with her sunny weather, beautiful climate, vegetation and natural resources, ought to supersede America, as one of the most economically developed countries of our time So what is it that has helped to make America a very strong, united, and most powerful country on earth? Yes, their common language makes it easier for them to understand and trust one another, their white skin color helps them to identify with one another, their culture ties them to their roots, their adverse weather, climate, and vegetation provide them with a common cause and target to overcome. I strongly believe that the greatest force, or glue, which has kept America united, strong, and most powerful country on earth, is their CONSITITUTION AND LAWS. The importance of law and order, and justice, in creation and existence of humankind, cannot be over-emphasized. According to the story in the bible, after God created Adam and Eve, and placed them in the Garden of Eden, he placed all the fruits, plants and animals in the garden under their control, but commanded them not to per take or touch a particular fruit. I strongly believe that was the beginning of law and order. When Eve and Adam disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, God punished both of them. As described in the old testament in the bible, there are Ten Commandments that were handed down to Moses at Mount Sinai for the children of Israel to obey. There are natural and physical laws, etc. Even in the animal kingdom, there are laws and order, which must be obeyed, and there are punishments for disobeying them too. Justice, laws and order are powerful tools in the hands of the enforcer to accomplish any meaningful or desirable objectives. When good laws are properly enforced, they can yield unprecedented results in the governance and development of any society or country. America, and other law-abiding countries of the world, do recognize the importance of natural and man made laws, and have used them to their ultimate benefits. U.S. Constitution - The Preamble reads as follows; “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” All these years, the leaders, politicians, and the citizens of America have worked conscientiously to uphold the articles of their constitution. Their Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of United States of America further acknowledges the show of solidarity to the articles of their constitution. A symbol of their Unity and Power in the face of any adversity. Americans take pride in reciting this Pledge of Allegiance before the inception of any major function or activity. The Pledge of Allegiance is as follows; “I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, One Nation under God Indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for All.” The wordings of American constitution and the Pledge of allegiance, not only mean what they say, they also do what they say. American laws, which are derived from their constitution, are regarded as equal denominator. Although American laws are not absolutely perfect, I cannot over stress the protection of individual rights, fairness of justice, freedom of speech and movement, religious tolerance, discipline, freedom of press, right to bear arms, due process, right of the people peacefully to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances etc, which the constitution and laws have provided for the citizens. Whatever power is not granted to the leaders and politicians of America by the constitution is invested with the citizens. The citizens, with the power of their votes, can change any political party that fails to perform to the satisfaction of the American people. Can the same statement be made about Nigerian constitution and the citizens too? NO! America is a country of laws, and can enforce it 99% of all time without fear or favor. It is only good and effective laws that can bring different people from different countries, with different background to the same level without discriminations. In America, ignorant of the laws does not exculpate the defaulter. In comparison, while American constitution and laws have yielded positive results in providing good welfare for the citizens, justice, transparency, and economic development etc, for the country, and continue to head NORTH in those areas, Nigerian constitution and laws have yielded negative results in the same areas, and continue to head SOUTH, in the wrong direction. In agreement with the biblical saying, that “by their fruits thou shall know them.” I let my readers be the judge. If Nigeria is going to remain united, and be a viable economic power as America, or other developed countries of the world, it must find this missing thread. Our strength and unity cannot come from a common language, color of our skin, geographical location, culture, diversity, size and population, but in our laws and order which will be embedded in our constitutions. These laws must be fair and just, must be implemented without fear and favor, and must be obeyed. It must not be the kind of constitution and laws that any Nigerian President or Head of States can override, or suspend with a wave of his arm without dire consequences. It must not be the constitution and laws, which are vague, and not precise enough, and their interpretations entrusted to any Dick or Harry. It must not be the constitution and laws the court will interpret to favor the political leaders or parties of their time. It must be the constitution and laws, which will invest power in the hands of the citizens to elect their leaders, not for a dictator to impose any leadership upon the people. It must be the constitution and laws, which will stand the test of time, and not short lived. It must be the constitution and laws, which will aim to Unite, rather than marginalize some sections of Nigerians. It must be the constitution and laws, which will find equity and fairness in the distribution of the wealth and resources of Nigeria. The role of the judiciary branch of our government, as the custodian of our constitution and laws, is very crucial to our survivability as a nation. In our 3-branches of government (executive, legislative, and judiciary), it is the judiciary arm which tends to clarify, and guide the operations of both the executive and legislative branches of the government. Therefore, the men and women who would be appointed to sit on the highest court of our land must not be people of questionable characters. They must be people of great wisdom and intellectual capability. These people must have the love for Nigeria and Nigerians. They must be judges who understand laws, and will sit at the highest court of the land to interpret the laws, and enforce them for what they are, and not activist judges, who will go there to make new laws, or interpret them to suit their selfish desires. As the Senate is preparing to deliberate on some aspects of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, it must consider the above facts and remember that they now have a second chance to deliver Nigerians and Nigeria, from the bondage the Military Constitution has placed them since 1999. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW-YEAR TO ALL OF YOU. GOD SAVE NIGERIA FOR WE ARE ALREADY BLESSED.
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