Naija News • 14h ago
A Country Without Earthquakes –Yet Shaken By Itself
**A Nation Without Earthquakes, Yet Shaken Within**
As I sat in contemplation, a thought kept resurfacing, taking me back to a conversation that had taken place years ago. The news of Professor Jubril Aminu's passing on June 5, 2025, in Abuja still lingers, but it's not his passing that has left a lasting impression on me. Rather, it's the conversation we had about his home country, Nigeria, that has been etched in my memory.
A nation like Nigeria, where the earth's crust is relatively stable, has been spared the fury of earthquakes that ravage other parts of the world. Yet, despite the absence of seismic activity, Nigeria is a country that has been plagued by internal strife and turmoil. This paradox has long fascinated me, and Professor Aminu's insights on this matter have been particularly enlightening.
In our conversation, he pointed out that Nigeria's unique cultural and geographical context has contributed to its internal conflicts. Our complex ethnic dynamics, coupled with historical events like colonization and the struggle for independence, have created fault lines that run deep within our society. These fault lines have been exploited by various interests, leading to the kind of instability that threatens the very fabric of our nation.
As a nation, Nigeria has been grappling with issues such as Boko Haram's insurgency in the Northeast, ethnic tensions, and the lingering effects of colonialism. These challenges have left our country on edge, making us wonder if we will ever find a way to heal and come together as one.
Professor Aminu's passing has left a void in our intellectual landscape, but his legacy lives on in the conversations we continue to have about our nation's future. His insights remind us that, despite the absence of external threats like earthquakes, Nigeria's internal stability is fragile and requires our collective attention and effort to build.
As we reflect on our nation's history and our current challenges, we are reminded that the path to stability and progress is long and arduous. Yet, with the wisdom of Professor Aminu's words guiding us, we can work towards creating a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come.