Three brothers fell in love with one beautiful girl. None of them was willing to step aside for the others; each wanted to marry her. The girl, on the other hand, was just as confused as the brothers. She could not choose one over the others because each of them played a unique role in her life.
The kind of blindness that obsession creates left them fighting over one girl. One day, they decided to consult a native doctor. After interpreting his affa, the wise native doctor told them that the one who would not say a single word until they got home would be the one the girl would choose.
The three brothers left. As they walked, the youngest reminded the others of what the native doctor had said and then laughed. The second brother immediately responded, “You have said a word.” The oldest then concluded, “Thank God I did not say a word.”
It was at that moment that they all realized they had breached the instruction given to them. It became clear that none of them would marry the beautiful girl unless they either worked together or allowed one among them to marry her.
This story highlights what happens when we refuse to allow ourselves and others to grow. It reveals how our actions may unintentionally become the very factors that hold us back. The joy that comes from succeeding at the detriment or failure of another person often leads to our own failure.
Now, imagine the beautiful girl as Nigeria, and the three brothers as the three major ethnic groups in the country.
Deep down, most people want Nigeria to work. They believe that we are better off together than apart. However, our actions toward one another and our unwillingness to allow our brothers and sisters to grow continue to hold everyone back.
This beautiful country needs all of us because every ethnic group brings something unique and valuable. The unity of the brothers would mean greater benefits for the bride. Likewise, the unity of our people would mean a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.
When one region is in crisis, another region celebrates, while others simply thank God that it is not happening to them. What we often fail to understand is that when we lift our brother’s hands, our own hands are lifted as well.
The message here is simple: let us unite our ideas and promote individual development for the collective good. As the brothers struggled to possess the beautiful bride, it became evident that a house divided against itself cannot stand.
People are still selling their votes. Activists are being jailed. Ordinary citizens are dying of hunger. The sick cannot afford hospital bills. Yet many continue to promote ethnic and religious division.
Many Nigerians are saddened by the treatment they receive in South Africa, forgetting that we have not fully embraced peace and harmony among ourselves. We discriminate against one another even within our own country.
Our people have a saying: if a man calls his pot bin, his neighbour will use it to pack dirt.
We may be approaching one of our last opportunities to liberate ourselves from this bondage. They are testing their prototype with these off-cycle elections, observing how easily people can be bought. Yes, there is hunger today, but the hunger that will come if we pretend to be asleep during these elections may be far worse.
Always remember that you are somebody, any day and at any time. Do not sell your vote. Say no to religious and ethnic bias. We do not have to be the same to live together.
I remain your friend and brother,
Maazi Onuora Obodoechi.
Pen it down. 