Can a unified language solve Nigeria's problem of tribalism?

[Mate2237]

Op, na very nice topic you bring up for discussion so but anyhow you wan take see am, we don already get one unified language and that's pidgin but it's just dat we no rebrand am and sell am to di world. Nigerian na multi ethnic nation with plenty languages and dis language divide dey follow cause problem for our country. For example wen you go for a job interview, di HR go leave competence aside and pick someone from a particular tribe because him too dey speak same language. Wen we dey choose our leaders too tribe dey play a role, but tribalism no fit be di only problem or di root of our problem for dis country. Bad leadership, corruption, bribery... Na some of our problems, di list just too plenty.

Soka my man, Pidgin English is not a unified language in the country. If you check some phones that are newly reproduced in the outside world to Nigerians and when you check the Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo languages are there. And let me come to TVs, decoders. I have not seen GOTV has or written Pidgin English channels but three other languages, as others have said, language is not the problem in Nigeria unity. The unity of Nigeria is upon a good leadership.

Language is one the beauty of a culture. And multiple languages is diversity of culture and it create the beauty of a country usually in Africa continent. Though if we speak one language in the country then the country will develop faster but speaking one language in Nigeria is not and will never possible. We don't history to repeat itself again. A good government can incorporate all the language and address the matter. Let every part of the country should be treated equal. No ethnic group is superior to the other. Equality is the only solution to it. And not unify language.

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[Gozie51]

Language is one the beauty of a culture. And multiple languages is diversity of culture and it create the beauty of a country usually in Africa continent. Though if we speak one language in the country then the country will develop faster but speaking one language in Nigeria is not and will never possible. We don't history to repeat itself again. A good government can incorporate all the language and address the matter. Let every part of the country should be treated equal. No ethnic group is superior to the other. Equality is the only solution to it. And not unify language.

My brother even if we speak one language e no go make development come as dat fast wey you think because no be language matter. The country need to arrange itself if them want stay together because some people still dey think say them born Dem to rule over other ethnic group and because of their influence with British wey say Dem colonize naija Dem allocate more states and of course local government, this one alone make more resources dey go deir place. Abi na language still say make dem dey marginalize the people wey dey east, imagine the people for east still dey operate with 5 states. The solution no be that language because it is not the barrier, na leadership be the wahala.

[sokani]

Soka my man, Pidgin English is not a unified language in the country. If you check some phones that are newly reproduced in the outside world to Nigerians and when you check the Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo languages are there. And let me come to TVs, decoders. I have not seen GOTV has or written Pidgin English channels but three other languages, as others have said, language is not the problem in Nigeria unity. The unity of Nigeria is upon a good leadership.

Language is one the beauty of a culture. And multiple languages is diversity of culture and it create the beauty of a country usually in Africa continent. Though if we speak one language in the country then the country will develop faster but speaking one language in Nigeria is not and will never possible. We don't history to repeat itself again. A good government can incorporate all the language and address the matter. Let every part of the country should be treated equal. No ethnic group is superior to the other. Equality is the only solution to it. And not unify language.

I believe you meant to write Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo. Why you dey see those channels for GOTV na becuz na dem be di major languages for nigeria... Now, I believe say your argument be say if pidgin be di unifying language, e suppose dey GOTV. Yes, e suppose dey there but like I yan for my initial post, Our govt no embrace am becuz e no dey for our curriculum, we no dey teach am for schools. See how we dey struggle to write in pidgin but we fit speak am very well, we just learn am from di environment as wey dey grow.

Why is pidgin the unifying language in Nigeria? Na becuz na language wey bi say dem dey speak am for everywhere for naija; north, south, east, west, na language wey bi say di old and young dey speak, di rich and poor dey speak, di educated and non educated dey speak.

Di point wey I still dey drive home be say weda our govt promote pidgin language or not, e no go make any difference in bringing us together becuz our problem too plenty.

[Asiska02]

So, if Nigeria explore this option of finding a unified language? Couldn't this be the solution to the ugly monster of tribalism? Well, even though it will not solve the problems overnight, I feel it will start the pathway to our unity as it will enable us have something in common as a people because our diversity is really not working to our advantage. We need more things that can unite us and a common language is surely one.  But how do we achieve this seeing that we have hundreds of languages and tribes?

Nigeria indeed has a big problem with tribalism which has caused many harm than good to the nation. But if you look at it in-depth, you’ll find out that it is not tribalism that is the main cause of Nigeria’s menace and I progressive government. It all lies on the persons heart and how they want the best for the nation as a season. We have seen cases where a tribesman given a position will loot from his people but an outsider will do better than him/her when given that same position. There are other developed countries doing better than Nigerians with many tribes, would you say their division in tribes affected their progress as a nation? No. Having a unified language won’t really change the system but having a good and patriotic heart for one progressive Nigeria will do.

[Nwada001]

With the title of your post and judging by a few comments from the thread, I will also agree with a few who clearly state that tribalism is not the major problem of this country, but the people in government itself are the biggest issue that we have right now, which is not only affecting our lives but has extended to that of our economy. And we ourselves are also, to some extent, the major problem here, as we argue and fight within ourselves over some kind of religious belief that the government doesn't have a hand in.

And let's also not forget the fact that another thing that is also contributing so poorly to the economic and rural development of the people is urban bias. This is something we see as common and channel our argument over political, ethnical, and other sectors as the reason why things are not working in the country, forgetting the fact that a government focusing on the development of a particular state territory for development is really not helping the development of its citizens but rather is giving a few the opportunity to be benefactors. Let me stop here, as this is really not the topic at hand.

[Mpamaegbu]

Nope, it won't and can't. Tribalism is deep rooted like racism.

[Forever101]

You have suggested well, as you have said, language will go well to bring transformations to our society as it will lead to one voice to fight corruption just as it is in other countries. But the problems as stated by others is the possibility of given up your language for others. Even if , one give up their language to learn one language, it will take 2 decades to bring this possibilities to reality and this reality can be brought to pass by military rule. Even at that, the history and culture of our people will be preserved and that will still go along way to define our difference. Even if we go adapt one language, na pidgin we go fit adapt which e no go dey possible for most educated people to accept

[Egii Nna]

Actually, ut might seem difficult, but it is possible because when there is a will, there is a way. First step will be to develop the language first and set up a commission for it. Thereafter, it can be integrated into our academic curriculum and made compulsory in all levels of education. Secondly, government programs and meetings can immediately be in that language and the religious bodies could also be engaged to champion this. Since it could be like a national emergency, all hands must be on deck. This is my thinking and opinion... what do you think?

There is a saying that says "you can bend a stick when it's fresh, but you can’t bend it when it's dry," but looking at the way you planned the process of implementing the new language that you think will be a unifier to our country, it looks very interesting, but mind you, this won’t be an easy task. In short, I can say it can’t happen because this is like a method of leaving our personal norms, culture, and tradition that will end up creating more crises and if not careful, it might lead to war because one thing I like in Nigeria is how people value their tradition, which is the main cause of tribalism. To my perspective, tribalism is in two types, positive and negative. Positive tribalism helps to improve ethnicity and add more values to the tradition, while negative tribalism is the one that most people are practicing, which comprises many negative acts like greediness, selfishness, self-interest, and corruption, which is the cause of our bad government.To me, I don’t think we need a unified language more than English because we have many languages that we are proud of.

Why is pidgin the unifying language in Nigeria? Na becuz na language wey bi say dem dey speak am for everywhere for naija; north, south, east, west, na language wey bi say di old and young dey speak, di rich and poor dey speak, di educated and non educated dey speak.

Di point wey I still dey drive home be say weda our govt promote pidgin language or not, e no go make any difference in bringing us together becuz our problem too plenty.

Fact mate pidgin is like a spiritual language that is in our blood let me add more pidgin don reach the stage that young children in school learn to speak it before they can be able to master the correct English because it simple to speak but had to write as my brother here day talk am so let be focused and do what we can to solve the problem facing Nigeria from the grassroots because the problem of Nigeria can’t be completely solved unless if it will be a miracle.

[Donneski]

Nigeria is a multi tribalistic nation with numerous ethnicities found in each of the tribes and that I think is one the beauties of the most populous black nation. The problems of tribalism in our dear nation is one of the dividing tools of our political leaders who uses it to incite hatred and war amongst us in other to keep us divided because they know that if we come together as one people we all will know that our primary problem as a nation is because of the kind of political leaders that's driven the affairs of this nation over the years.
So even if we all use one unified language, these leaders will still use other means to cause tribal enmity amongst us. So the earlier we all accept that we are a country of multiple tribes and treat every tribe with utmost respect and as important as others the better for us. We all must accept that we have one general problem as a people and that's the the kind of greedy and extremely selfish political leaders that are governing the affairs of this nation.

[Bebe22]

Op made his question really clear and I feel many of us went a little over board.
The question is if a unified language can solve tribalism in our country, not whether tribalism can solve our bad economy.
China, literally one of the most developed countries in the world has over 700 languages and a former president of theirs forced everyone in the country to learn a particular Chinese language which was Beijingese . It evolved over time and became the standard Chinese language over 92% of their population speak. That didn't mean that the remaining 899 other languages were lost or suppressed . Today we still very much hear of the Cantonese, the mandarin, the taiwanese and many others, cause even in their unification they protected and preserved their culture.
.....sorry for the drift.
Anyways, the point I'm trying to make is that togetherness plays a very major role in the growth and development of a group of people. One crucial part of togetherness is to be able to communicate in the same dialect. To be able to speak another man's language doesn't mean your losing your identity, it just means your strengthening bridges and  relationship.
Today in china there is very much still diversification and unity which makes them strong, but in our country it's only diversification I see, no unity in any form. After graduating from the University we go for NYSC, which was established for the sole purpose of unity in diversification but after everything we still end of casting votes for people during elections that we know very much are incapable of the duty and responsibility of leading us, mainly because why? were of the same tribe, that's not unification at all.
So, in my own opinion a unified language will very much solve the problem of TRIBALISM in Nigeria and help us to individually stop categorizing ourselves under  tribes and just see ourselves as one Nigeria. 

[Smartgoat]

I totally concur to what some of us is saying here that tribalism is the problem of this country. I have notce and check it very well and is true. do we also remember that, the killings that have been going on everywhere in this country is because of tribe. for those of us, who done look for work, work that suppose give to you, they will keep it because you are not from there tribe.

another problem we have in this country is our leaders. they don't want any tribe to come close, things ment for everybody, they will keep it for there own tribe person. one of my friend told me then, in university that, guy I have three good job waiting for me. that after this school, that he will go and choose one. and that's what happened. then I ask him how come, he told me, my father is a well known man in the country.

Our leaders and this tribe of a thing, is contributing to underdevelopment of Nigeria.

[Odohu]

Op made his question really clear and I feel many of us went a little over board.
The question is if a unified language can solve tribalism in our country, not whether tribalism can solve our bad economy.
China, literally one of the most developed countries in the world has over 700 languages and a former president of theirs forced everyone in the country to learn a particular Chinese language which was Beijingese . It evolved over time and became the standard Chinese language over 92% of their population speak. That didn't mean that the remaining 899 other languages were lost or suppressed . Today we still very much hear of the Cantonese, the mandarin, the taiwanese and many others, cause even in their unification they protected and preserved their culture.
.....sorry for the drift.
Anyways, the point I'm trying to make is that togetherness plays a very major role in the growth and development of a group of people. One crucial part of togetherness is to be able to communicate in the same dialect. To be able to speak another man's language doesn't mean your losing your identity, it just means your strengthening bridges and  relationship.
Today in china there is very much still diversification and unity which makes them strong, but in our country it's only diversification I see, no unity in any form. After graduating from the University we go for NYSC, which was established for the sole purpose of unity in diversification but after everything we still end of casting votes for people during elections that we know very much are incapable of the duty and responsibility of leading us, mainly because why? were of the same tribe, that's not unification at all.
So, in my own opinion a unified language will very much solve the problem of TRIBALISM in Nigeria and help us to individually stop categorizing ourselves under  tribes and just see ourselves as one Nigeria. 

Thank you so much for adding clarity to my post. Thank you for being  detailed and even siting an example of where my suggestion actually worked. A lot of people are just too emotional in this board. We all know that tribalism is a problem that make us rarely speak with one voice in this country; if tribalism is solved, almost thirty percent of our problems would have been solved. Many people commit all manner of crimes across the country simply because they know that taking them to the police will be a furtile effort because their tribesmen dominate the police and will release them the next day if you take them there. Check the arrogance of cattle headers and truck drivers, you will see how tribalism make them bold in doing the wrong things. The same goes for politics... like you said, we have diversity bit no unity so we need more things that unite us more than those that divide us.

[Smartvirus]

Nope, it won't and can't. Tribalism is deep rooted like racism.

It’s a sad thing about life. How we aren’t really better than the rest depending on circumstances. Circumstances shows you just want you can allow, take in, condole or how well you never knew yourself.

For those of us that happens to travel either locally within states, you find out that, it’s more easier to meet someone with you that speaks a common tongue and you can call them brother, be fair and nice to them. Same people you wouldn’t care much about if you met them within your ethnicity.
Same goes when you travel internationally, you see your country man and be good to them but, the case is different while in the country.

The earlier we realize that the true thing that matters is that we are humans and bleed the same, the closer we would be to healing. Humanity comes first!

[Lida93]

Nope, it won't and can't. Tribalism is deep rooted like racism.

It’s a sad thing about life. How we aren’t really better than the rest depending on circumstances. Circumstances shows you just want you can allow, take in, condole or how well you never knew yourself.

For those of us that happens to travel either locally within states, you find out that, it’s more easier to meet someone with you that speaks a common tongue and you can call them brother, be fair and nice to them. Same people you wouldn’t care much about if you met them within your ethnicity.
Same goes when you travel internationally, you see your country man and be good to them but, the case is different while in the country.

The earlier we realize that the true thing that matters is that we are humans and bleed the same, the closer we would be to healing. Humanity comes first!

Everything you have just elaborated now are just same jingles and public announcements we get from the media through the National Orientation Agency. But behind closed doors none of these things matters or is taking under action - politically they never reflect in our decisions to choosing those we want as leaders, our decisions are usually based on ethics lines and language.

The cancerous problem with the country is that the countrymen don't fight for national interest but rather for ethnic and religious interest above national. Whenever we start to place national interest above ethnic and religious interest we will unconsciously be killing those barriers that creates differences in among us, because at that time we will be speak with one voice, one interest, one goal and one object which is the National interest.

In that national interest there will be no Yoruba, no Hausa, no Ibo, no Ijaw, no middle belt, no TIV no nothing other than National interest. And that's just the only route forward for Naija.

[Victorybit1]

While the idea of a common language can foster unity, it alone cannot eradicate issues like bad leadership and underdevelopment in a country. The question is: what's the purpose of unity when those in power continue to neglect their responsibilities?

Even among politicians who speak the same language with their people, there are those who exploit their positions for personal gain. Take, for example, a situation where a contract is awarded to construct a regional road; instead of fulfilling their duty, they embezzle the funds. In such cases, having a common language doesn't address the root problem.

Our problem extend beyond language barriers; they are deeply rooted in inherent greed and corruption.

[CryptopreneurBrainboss]

The cancerous problem with the country is that the countrymen don't fight for national interest but rather for ethnic and religious interest above national. Whenever we start to place national interest above ethnic and religious interest we will unconsciously be killing those barriers that creates differences in among us, because at that time we will be speak with one voice, one interest, one goal and one object which is the National interest.

Better truth and this one na because we no dey united for the country, everybody just dey fight for wetin go benefit dem. See as people dey support Peter obi so, even though na him be the better candidate yet many people just dey only support am because him from the side wey go benefit dem. Christians dey support am because others (dat's those wey follow am contest) no be christians and even Peter obi know this one dats why his campaign were mostly targeted at attending church service, the guy been dey jump from one church to another during campaigns time and they beg pastors to help am convinced people of his aims for the country (voice note later leak of dis conversations dem). The biggest problem of Nigeria na say we no dey united. Unity alone dey eradicate many problems because we go dey the same frequency.

While the idea of a common language can foster unity, it alone cannot eradicate issues like bad leadership and underdevelopment in a country. The question is: what's the purpose of unity when those in power continue to neglect their responsibilities?

When we dey united we go follow put hand together commot the bad eggs wey dey worry our country and nobody go opposed. But now if you wan commot person, dis one go say na their person or na their turn so you no fit succeed to commot the person. E dey like northerns, see as dem support buhari in the midst of all the rubbish government wey him dey do but those people believe say dem born dem to rule this country so e better their person dey there then for dem to lose power. If to say we dey United, we no suppose dey share political power to carry everybody along like how ministers are been appointed not because of the CV of those people but as a reward or compensation package.

[Promocodeudo]

Tribalism is one of the major problems of Nigeria, and ethnic and religious sentiment is also one of the major contributing factors to Nigeria's underdevelopment, Nigeria has six geopolitical zones, namely north central, northeast, north west, south, southwest, southeast, in all the aforementioned, there are different languages, people speaking the same dialect does not guaranty peace, peace is a habitual act perpetrated by humans when your nature is not in line with unification it becomes difficult for you to exhibit such character, it will be a collective effort for us to come together as people with different ethnic background, nigeria problem has grown beyond ethnicity and unified language, it is now am individual stuff, and everyone effort is needed to salvage the countries situation.

[Pokapoka124]

You nor go fit stop people to speak their native tongue, na shame sef if person nor sabi him mama tongue. Pigin English na language wey everybody sabi for naija, you nor need go school to learn am. But that one nor go fit stop tribalism….tribalism nor be product of language barrier or differences na something wey don chop inside us. Tribalism nor go stop and make we comot mind for where e dey cos when e favor you, you go say na my brother run am for me but when another tribe give him brother you go dey vex put. Until we go tell ourselves the truth, corruption nor go fit stop for we country.

[Macoach]

We're there are too many languages there is bound to be confusion in the mist, too many cultures would lead to tribalism and this can cause disability yes but we already have a means to communicate with each other and even leave among ourselves in different communities under common law and language. The problem with Nigeria isn't tribalism many persons of different culture are in other developed countries like the US , citizens of many countries recide and work there without any Confict they even had a black president even with their racism.  Our country is just hooked on corruption for reasons more than our eyes can meet, the antiode is to totally change the people in the system

[Stepstowealth]

When I was meditating on what could possibly be the solution to the menace of this monster, the first thing that came to my mind was A UNIFIED LANGUAGE.

We have pidgin as our unifying language, but it has not solve anything because tribilism is still an institution wey the government people dey encourage. For tribilism wey follow dey cause problem for this our country to stop, them need to correct some kind things. for instance, that thing wey dem dey call indigene and non-indigene something, them suppose stop am sharp sharp! also dem suppose comot this this "place of origin" from document, e nor make sense. You suppose get equal opportunity for anywhere you find yourself for this our country, so far say you from naija.