Professor Nallah Urges Nationwide Dialogue on Nigeria’s Confidence Crisis: Former UniAbuja VC’s Call for Unity Against Banditry and Bigotry

In a compelling address, Professor Abdulrasheed Nallah, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja and Kwara State University, has advocated for a nationwide discussion on Nigeria’s deepening confidence crisis. This call highlights persistent challenges like banditry, religious bigotry, and declining solidarity among Nigerian communities, urging citizens and leaders to prioritize dialogue for national unity.

Introduction

Nigeria’s confidence crisis—marked by insecurity from banditry, religious bigotry, and fractured communal solidarity—demands urgent attention. Professor Abdulrasheed Nallah, a distinguished academic leader and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja), made a resounding call for a nationwide discussion to address these issues. Delivered during a public lecture at the book launch of Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Muhammed Bashir Imam Solih by Abdulazeez Arowona in Ilorin on November 27, 2024, his remarks underscore the need for self-reliant solutions to rebuild trust and unity in Nigeria.

This initiative aligns with ongoing national conversations on restructuring and security, positioning Nallah’s proposal as a pedagogical blueprint for fostering tolerance and harmony. Keywords like “Nigeria confidence crisis,” “nationwide dialogue on banditry,” and “religious bigotry in Nigeria” capture the essence of this timely intervention, offering pathways to national healing.

Background on Professor Nallah

Professor Abdulrasheed Nallah’s credentials lend weight to his advocacy. As former Vice-Chancellor of UniAbuja and two-term leader at Kwara State University, Malete, he brings decades of experience in educational leadership and community engagement. His speech in Ilorin, a city renowned for religious tolerance, exemplifies his commitment to practical unity-building.

Analysis

The core of Nallah’s message dissects Nigeria’s confidence crisis through interconnected lenses: persistent banditry in northern regions, religious bigotry fueling divisions, and a growing loss of solidarity across ethnic lines like Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo communities. Banditry, characterized by kidnappings and attacks in forests and rural areas, has displaced millions, according to reports from the International Crisis Group (2023). Religious bigotry exacerbates this, with incidents of clashes between Muslims and Christians documented by Human Rights Watch.

Nallah’s analysis emphasizes internal resolution over external interventions. He critiques reliance on foreign actors, historically linked to colonial exploitation, advocating citizen-led dialogue. This approach pedagogically teaches that unity stems from mutual tolerance—viewing Nigerians as “brothers and sisters” sharing resources equitably.

Root Causes of the Confidence Crisis

Key drivers include economic disparities, historical grievances, and weak governance. The absence of a recent census—last comprehensive one in 2006—hampers policy-making, as Nallah notes, particularly for forest-dwelling populations engaged in informal economies. His call for dialogue mirrors successful models like South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, adapted to Nigeria’s context.

By addressing these, Nallah’s framework promotes pedagogical learning: tolerance education in schools, community dialogues, and inclusive policies to integrate marginalized groups, reducing bigotry and banditry incentives.

Summary

Professor Nallah’s lecture boils down to a clarion call: convene a nationwide discussion on Nigeria’s confidence crisis to combat banditry, religious bigotry, and disunity. He stresses self-determination, tolerance, census for forest residents, and Ilorin’s model of harmony. Rejecting foreign saviors, he urges Nigerians to unite as equal citizens, nipping divisions in the bud through dialogue and shared responsibility.

Key Points

Practical Advice

Implementing Nallah’s vision requires actionable steps. Start with community-level dialogues: organize town halls in high-risk areas like Zamfara and Kaduna, where banditry peaks, per Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) reports.

Steps for Fostering National Unity

1. Initiate Grassroots Dialogues: Local leaders facilitate ethnic and religious forums, teaching conflict resolution skills.
2. Conduct National Census: Prioritize 2023 census rollout to map populations, including forest communities, enabling targeted aid.
3. Promote Tolerance Education: Integrate curricula in universities like UniAbuja on civic unity, drawing from Nallah’s leadership.
4. Integrate Forest Economies: Offer vocational training and resettlement for non-criminal forest dwellers, boosting peace.
5. Leverage Models like Ilorin: Replicate Emirate-style community mobilization nationwide for service and harmony.

These steps, grounded in Nallah’s speech, pedagogically empower citizens, reducing Nigeria’s confidence crisis through verifiable, scalable actions.

Points of Caution

While visionary, Nallah’s proposals warrant caution. Nationwide discussions risk politicization, as seen in past National Conferences (2014), potentially deepening divides if not moderated neutrally. Census efforts face logistical hurdles—security threats delayed the 2023 exercise—and could spark ethnic tensions over resource allocation.

Risks in Implementation

Forest integration must distinguish criminals from citizens; blanket amnesty has backfired in past banditry negotiations (e.g., 2022 Katsina deals). Religious bigotry dialogues require safeguards against extremism. Emphasize evidence-based monitoring, like UN peacebuilding metrics, to avoid unintended escalation.

Comparison

Nallah’s call echoes historical Nigerian unity efforts. Compare to the 1966-1970 Civil War reconciliation via “No Victor, No Vanquished” policy, fostering post-war unity. Recent restructuring debates by figures like Chief Obafemi Awolowo parallel his dialogue emphasis.

Vs. Other Initiatives

Nallah’s approach uniquely blends pedagogy with inclusivity, surpassing militarized responses in sustainability.

Legal Implications

Nallah’s proposals align with Nigeria’s legal framework. The 1999 Constitution (Section 14) mandates citizen welfare and security, supporting dialogue for unity. Census is constitutionally required (Section 213), with the National Population Commission empowered under the 2004 Act—delays verified by NPC statements.

Banditry falls under Penal Code (Northern Nigeria) Sections 410-413 on kidnapping/armed robbery, justifying elimination of criminals while protecting citizens. Forest dweller integration invokes anti-discrimination laws (Section 42), but amnesty requires legislative backing to avoid impunity challenges, as ruled in past Supreme Court cases on reconciliation.

Conclusion

Professor Abdulrasheed Nallah’s call for a nationwide discussion on Nigeria’s confidence crisis offers a beacon of hope. By addressing banditry, religious bigotry, and disunity through tolerance, dialogue, and self-reliance, Nigeria can reclaim solidarity. Ilorin’s harmony exemplifies feasibility. Leaders must act—convene forums, conduct censuses, educate—to forge a united future. This pedagogical path, rooted in verifiable insights, promises enduring national confidence.

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