DIVIDED KINGDOM (D.K.)

 

June 23, one Briton lawmaker said was "UK's new Independence Day", but unfortunately, it appears that this may be well the beginning of a journey into the world of uncertainties for the UK, given the heightening dynamics and perplexities of our world.

The U.K. is perhaps the only democracy, in recent decades, that has had two referendums in less than two years; first was Scotland voting in a referendum (18 September 2014) to be independent from the UK and now the June 23 Brexit referendum deciding whether or not to remain in the European Union (EU)... I won't bore you with the intrigues of events leading to the referendum, but it appears EU immigration laws are the major reason for the referendum... My concern however, is on the lessons for Nigeria's democracy from these referendums and the obvious 'uncertain' future of the U.K. outside of the EU.

First, it is a given that, in every democracy, "the voice of the people is the voice of the 'God'"; hence the people decide what direction their polity heads, and we must give kudos to the British parliament for slating a referendum regardless of its obvious ripple effects for the British economy. Unfortunately, we don't seem to have matured to that point yet in the Nigerian democracy, or perhaps we are afraid of the implications which such actions might result in, hence, for example, former President Jonathan's instruction to the 2014 National Conference Delegation not to tow any lane that will bring about a disintegration of the Nigerian state. Nigerian leaders seem more interested in holding the Nigerian state together than ensuring the prosperity of peoples within the state. Whatever the case, the Nigerian people are yet unable to decide the fate of 'their' Nigerian State.

 

Back to Brexit, complications from current issues in international politics are potent to compel states to irrational choices and Brexit may well be one of such choices. May I recall that the primary reason for establishing the EU in 1952 was economic union of Europe post WWII. Has the British economy matured enough to survive a rapidly changing world like ours? Aside economics, is the UK potent enough to confront the many other challenges (infectious diseases, natural disasters, terrorism, arms race and control, transnational crimes e.t.c) that have continued to manifest and demand for greater acceptance of the liberalist worldview? These are the questions that are begging for answers, but unfortunately the answers lie in the future, where it will be impossible to reconsider the choices made and consequences might be overwhelming. 

 

It is not unlikely that the UK may come running back to the EU for some sort of aid and assistance in the near future. In the mean time, there are pointers to the fact that Scotland may be back to the polls again voting in a second referendum whether or not to leave the EU, and if they do, it is very most likely that Scotland will, this time, be indeed an independent state from the UK. Indeed, the 'unity' of Britain is at-stake, but these are interesting revelations which we must allow time to unveil...