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Nigeria’s Imminent Dilemma: Living Nations (Pour-soi) or the Silent State (En-soi)

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Jean-Paul Sartre’s existential distinction between en-soi (being-in-itself) and pour-soi (being-for-itself) offers a striking lens through which to view Nigeria’s present condition. En-soi is static, unconscious, and complete, the mode of being of objects that simply exist. Pour-soi, by contrast, is dynamic, self-aware, and incomplete, the mode of being of conscious beings who must continually define themselves. Nigeria today is caught in a tension between these two modes: the state itself remains inert, silent, and object-like, while its constituent nations: Oduduwa, Arewa, and Biafra awaken as restless, self-defining communities. This existential clash is Nigeria’s imminent dilemma.

The Awakening of Living Nations

Oduduwa, Arewa, and Biafra embody pour-soi. They are not content to merely exist within the boundaries of a federation; they are conscious of their histories, their marginalisation, and their aspirations. They demand recognition, justice, and self-determination. Their presence is no longer latent but increasingly visible in everyday life:

  • In the South-West, calls for restructuring echo through civic forums and town halls.
  • In the North, debates about insecurity and governance sharpen regional consciousness.
  • In the South-East, the memory of Biafra continues to animate political discourse and grassroots mobilisation.

These nations are becoming; they are alive, self-aware, and pressing against the limits of Nigeria’s silent state.

Nigeria as the Silent State

Nigeria itself, however, remains en-soi. It exists as a geopolitical entity, a map drawn by colonial hands, but it struggles to act as a living nation. Its institutions are weak, its leadership often unaccountable, and its structures rigid. Unlike its constituent nations, Nigeria does not reinvent itself. It clings to existence without transformation, unable to reconcile diversity with unity.

Consider the analogy of a household: the children grow, develop personalities, and demand recognition, while the parent remains static, refusing to adapt. The result is conflict, estrangement, and eventual breakdown. Nigeria risks this fate if it continues to exist as a silent state while its nations awaken.

The Roots of Division

Nigeria’s dilemma is not abstract; it is lived daily by its citizens.

  • Insecurity: From insurgency in the North-East to banditry in the North-West and communal clashes in the Middle Belt, the military and police appear too feeble to guarantee safety. Ordinary Nigerians live with the constant fear of violence.
  • Division: Ethnic and religious identities often overshadow national identity. A Yoruba trader in Lagos may feel more kinship with Oduduwa than with Nigeria; a Hausa farmer in Kano may see Arewa as his true community.
  • Injustice and Marginalisation: Regions complain of being excluded from power and resources. The South-East, for instance, has long lamented its absence from the presidency.
  • Corruption: Public funds meant for schools, hospitals, and infrastructure vanish into private pockets. Citizens see roads crumble and hospitals decay while politicians thrive.
  • Weak Institutions: The judiciary is compromised, the National Assembly feeble, and the executive unchecked. Nigerians often joke that justice is for sale, but beneath the humour lies despair.
  • Fragile Security Forces: Once symbols of strength, the military and police now struggle against both external threats and internal decay. Citizens often rely on vigilante groups or community self-help rather than the state.

Relatable Examples

To ordinary Nigerians, these abstract failures translate into everyday struggles:

  • A farmer in Benue cannot plant crops without fear of attack.
  • A student in Enugu studies by candlelight because electricity is unreliable, while billions are siphoned from the power sector.
  • A trader in Kano pays multiple taxes to local authorities yet sees no improvement in roads or markets.
  • A young graduate in Lagos faces unemployment, watching opportunities vanish into nepotism and corruption.

These lived realities make the pour-soi nations more attractive than the en-soi state. People turn to ethnic and regional identities for meaning and protection because Nigeria as a state fails to provide them.

The Existential Threat

Sartre reminds us that pour-soi is defined by freedom and possibility, while en-soi is fixed and inert. Nigeria’s tragedy is that its statehood remains en-soi, a silent, object-like existence, while its constituent nations are pour-soi, restless and self-defining. The more these nations awaken, the more Nigeria’s inability to reinvent itself becomes a threat to its survival. A state that cannot transform risks being shattered by the consciousness of its people.

Toward Reinvention

Nigeria’s imminent dilemma is clear: either it reinvents itself as a living nation capable of uniting its diverse peoples, or it will be torn apart by the centrifugal forces of Oduduwa, Arewa, and Biafra. Reinvention requires:

  • Building strong, independent institutions that command respect.
  • Restoring trust through justice and accountability.
  • Addressing corruption with real consequences, not empty rhetoric.
  • Empowering the military and police to protect citizens rather than oppress them.
  • Crafting a national narrative that embraces diversity as strength rather than division.

Conclusion

Nigeria’s future depends on whether it can transcend its en-soi inertia and embrace the pour-soi consciousness of its people. The living nations are rising, demanding recognition and justice. The silent state must awaken, or risk dissolution. Sartre’s existential lens reveals the urgency: Nigeria must choose between being a static object or becoming a conscious, united nation.

The dilemma is imminent, and the choice is stark. Nigeria can remain a silent state, existing without transformation, or it can reinvent itself as a living nation, embracing the restless consciousness of Oduduwa, Arewa, and Biafra. The time for reinvention is now.


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