The narrative of 21st century, ‘post colonial’ Africa should be dominated by Nigeria, which has a quarter of the continent’s population, and, even in its severely troubled state, its largest economy.

However, the Nigerian State is clearly not a model or desirable example for any nation that will achieve positive outcomes for its indigenous peoples and citizens. Created by foreigners on a quest to plunder and subjugate the indigenous countries and resources, it is sadly sustained by a collaborating military, which was used to create the country in the first place, and a fragmented and ultimately destructive political, traditional and lately religious ruling class which shown little interest in understanding the game into which it has been drawn. A game in which its battered and long-suffering indigenous people are nothing but expendable and disposable pawns.

Little wonder that Nigeria is often in the news for war and terrorism, from the Nigeria-Biafra civil war of the late 60’s, one of the deadliest wars since the 2nd World War, to the increasingly bold displacement and cleansing attacks by three of the world’s most dangerous terrorist groups (Boko-Haram, Herdsmen and the curiously named Bandits) that operate with various degrees of freedom within its borders.

Nigeria also generates interest for its supporting role in OPEC, the oil cartel that has become a global economic force over the last half century, especially in times of high oil prices.

Those oil revenues, the indigenous but foreign created military, the plundering foreign interests of the creators and enforcers of the Nigerian state (masked as colonialism and puritan religion at various times), and the inherently conflicting interests that combine to form a clueless outlook from the indigenous leaders, have become layers of bondage and entrapment of the indigenous peoples and countries in the Nigerian state. Little wonder that over half of indigenous young adults want to escape from Nigeria. Most people will flee from bondage, if given the opportunity.