By Musa-Ododo Abdulrahaman
Fellow Nigerians, there comes a time in the life of a people when silence is no longer an option, when denial becomes dangerous, and when a nation must ask herself – not just where she is going – but who she really is. That time is now.
For too long, we have lived as though our existence is accidental – as though Nigeria was a historical mishap, an error in colonial arrangement, or a mistake of geography. But I declare boldly today: Nigeria is not a mistake. Nigeria is not cursed. Nigeria is not too divided, too late, or too broken. Nigeria is Called. Nigeria is Chosen. Nigeria is Ordained.
And before any nation can rise, it must first be born – not in policy, not in politics, but in Spirit. The truth, eternal and universal, is this: all that comes to manifestation must first be ordained spiritually. Nations that last are not built merely by bricks, but by Divine Vision. Not by the loudness of their revolutions, but by the clarity of their Sacred Identity.
Nigeria is not just a place on the map. Nigeria is a Soul – a collective Soul composed of over 250 tribes, singing in a symphony of languages, walking with wounded feet, but carrying a Divine Intention. This is not poetic nationalism; it is Spiritual Realism. Our diversity is not our weakness. It is the deliberate design of the Creator. We are a nation of contrasts destined to become a model of harmony – a bridge between black and white, between tribe and tongue, between tradition and transformation.
What then must we remember? That every true nation is built on eternal principles. These are not policies that change with politics. They are Spiritual Foundations, planted by the Divine at the root of every enduring civilization. First, Spirit must come before structure. If a nation does not know why it exists, it cannot rightly decide what to build. Second, Unity is Sacred. Not forced sameness, but a harmony that honors difference. Third, Justice is the Soul of a nation. Without it, the Spirit of the nation departs. Fourth, Truth is the Highest Law. Lies kill more than bullets. Fifth, Love is the Greatest Power – love of people, love of land, love of purpose. Sixth, Purpose is Light. Without it, we stumble. And seventh, Sacrifice is the price of Greatness.
Nigeria’s divine purpose is not hidden. We are called to be the awakener of Africa, the Soul that whispers to the continent, “You are not inferior.” We are called to raise a new kind of human being – conscious, ethical, visionary – not violent, not corrupt, not cynical. We are called to bless the Earth with something the world has never seen before: a civilization of Truth, Love, and Justice Rising from Africa’s Heart.
This is why we must now enter into a New Covenant. Not a political contract, not another party manifesto, but a Spiritual Pact – between we the People, and Truth, Justice, and GOD. We must build this nation not by inertia, but by conscious design. Let us raise leaders who are not just smart, but Wise. Not just rich, but Righteous. Let us teach our children not just how to pass exams, but how to serve a Dream. Let us remember that to be Nigerian is to carry a Sacred assignment.
So how do we begin? We begin by remembering. By awakening our national soul. By redefining politics as sacred stewardship. By building institutions that are not just efficient but ethical. Above all, we begin by seeing ourselves anew. We are not what colonialism labeled us. We are not what corruption has made us appear. We are not what poverty has whispered into our psyche.
We are what we choose to become – today.
And so, I say to the heavens above and the generations to come: we remember who we are. We are the architects of a new civilization. We are the living seed of a Divine intention. We are the New Nigeria – in Spirit, in Truth, in Power.
Let the New Nigeria rise. Let her shine. Let her speak with the voice of purpose. Let us move forward – not just in hope, but in conviction.
So help us GOD.
Abdulrahaman is the Founder, Initiative for Discovery of Nigeria Heritage and Endowment (IDNHE)
Chairman, National Policy Dialogue