Connect with us

Lifestyle

Abubakar Gimba: Nigerian Author, Economist, and Voice of Moral Conscience

Published

on

Abubakar Gimba (1952–2015) was one of Nigeria’s most respected authors, administrators, and economists, celebrated for his sharp moral vision and his enduring contributions to both literature and public service. A man of many talents, Gimba combined a distinguished career in civil administration and finance with a passion for writing that placed him among Nigeria’s most influential literary figures.

Early Life and Education

Born in 1952 in Niger State, Gimba received his education during the formative years of Nigeria’s independence. He studied economics and went on to build a successful career in public service and the banking sector. His early training in economic management later informed his worldview and his creative writing, where themes of governance, leadership, and social responsibility featured prominently.

Career in Public Service and Finance

Gimba held several key positions in Nigeria’s civil service. He rose to the rank of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, a role that placed him at the heart of national policy formulation. Beyond government service, he worked in the banking sector, where he applied his expertise in economics and finance to administrative and management responsibilities.

His dual roles as both an administrator and a writer made him a rare voice who could critique the system from within while also appealing to the conscience of the people through literature.

Literary Contributions

Gimba made his literary debut in 1985 with the novel Trail of Sacrifice. The book was a direct critique of Nigeria’s failed leadership and explored the moral compromises that had weakened national unity. It resonated strongly with readers and critics, setting the tone for his subsequent works.

See also  When Love Becomes a Cycle: Having Children With Different Men Without Thinking About the Consequences

Throughout his career, Gimba wrote several novels, short stories, and essays that tackled issues of corruption, moral decay, and the socio-political challenges of post-colonial Nigeria. His works were known for blending storytelling with social critique, presenting literature as a tool for reform and reflection.

Role in the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA)

Beyond his personal achievements, Gimba played a pivotal role in strengthening Nigeria’s literary community. He served as Vice President and later President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), the country’s foremost literary organization founded by Chinua Achebe. During his tenure, he championed the promotion of Nigerian writing, mentorship of younger authors, and the preservation of literature as a platform for national development.

Legacy

Abubakar Gimba passed away in 2015, but his legacy continues to shape Nigeria’s literary and intellectual life. He is remembered as a writer who saw literature as a mirror for society’s failures and possibilities, an economist who sought solutions to Nigeria’s structural problems, and a public servant who combined duty with integrity.

For many Nigerians, Gimba remains a model of how intellectuals can bridge the gap between governance and art, using both pen and policy to strive for a more just society.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Lifestyle

WHO WINS WHEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS SEE THEMSELVES AS STRANGERS? THE DANGEROUS PRICE OF A DIVIDED SOCIETY

Published

on

When people who share the same history, struggles, culture and aspirations begin treating one another as enemies, somebody is benefiting from their division. And more often than not, the people paying the highest price are those who can least afford it.**

There is something deeply disturbing about a society where brothers and sisters can live on the same land, share similar struggles and face the same challenges, yet look at one another as strangers.

People who should be working together to build a better future are busy fighting over religion, ethnicity, tribe, political affiliation, social class and personal interests.

The question we must ask ourselves is simple but uncomfortable:

**Who wins when brothers and sisters see themselves as strangers?**

## Division: A Powerful Tool of Manipulation

History has repeatedly demonstrated that divided societies are vulnerable societies.

When people are divided, they lose the ability to recognise their common interests. Instead of demanding accountability, good governance, economic opportunities and social justice, they become distracted by endless arguments over differences that should never prevent peaceful coexistence.

Those who understand the power of division can exploit these weaknesses.

They know that a population fighting among itself is less likely to unite around common problems. They understand that people consumed by hatred are easier to distract from the decisions that affect their lives.

And while ordinary people are busy fighting one another, those who benefit from the division can continue protecting their interests.

**A divided population can spend generations fighting battles that do not improve its collective future.**

## When Religion, Ethnicity and Politics Become Weapons

Religion should not become an excuse to hate another human being.

Ethnicity should not become a reason to discriminate against someone.

Political differences should not destroy friendships, families and communities.

See also  ‘Someone Like You Cannot Correct Christians’ – Singer Testimony ‘Jaga’ Knocks Ex-VP Osinbajo

Yet, in many societies, these identities have become weapons used to create suspicion, resentment and hostility.

People are increasingly judged not by their character, integrity, competence or contribution to society, but by the group they belong to.

A person’s religion becomes more important than their honesty. Their ethnic background becomes more important than their ability. Their political loyalty becomes more important than their commitment to the common good.

What kind of society are we building when identity matters more than character?

And what future can we expect when people are encouraged to hate one another simply because they are different?

## The Real Victims of Division

The consequences of division are not limited to arguments on social media or political disagreements.

They affect education, economic development, security, employment, investment, social cooperation and the future of younger generations.

When communities refuse to cooperate, opportunities disappear.

When citizens cannot trust one another, collective progress becomes difficult.

When families and communities are divided, the next generation inherits suspicion instead of solidarity.

Meanwhile, poverty, unemployment, insecurity, poor infrastructure and inadequate public services do not discriminate according to tribe, religion or political affiliation.

These problems affect ordinary people regardless of the identity they proudly defend.

The painful irony is that people who are fighting one another often suffer from the same problems.

## Who Benefits From Our Hatred?

This is perhaps the most important question.

Who benefits when neighbours become enemies?

Who benefits when people who should demand better leadership spend their energy attacking one another?

Who benefits when citizens defend politicians more passionately than they defend their own future?

Who benefits when religious and ethnic loyalty becomes more important than justice, accountability and human dignity?

We must be courageous enough to examine these questions.

See also  READ THIS BEFORE YOU DESTROY SOMEONE WITH THE SAME PAIN THAT ONCE DESTROYED YOU

Not every disagreement is manipulation, and not every difference is deliberately created. But history and experience show that division can be deliberately exploited by individuals and institutions seeking power, influence or personal advantage.

The danger begins when ordinary people become willing participants in a system that weakens their own collective interests.

## Unity Does Not Mean Thinking Alike

It is important to understand that unity does not mean everybody must belong to the same religion, speak the same language, support the same political party or share identical opinions.

A healthy society allows disagreement.

People should be free to question, challenge, criticise and defend their beliefs without turning differences into hatred.

True unity means recognising that our shared humanity and collective future are bigger than our individual differences.

We can disagree without becoming enemies.

We can practise different religions without despising one another.

We can come from different ethnic backgrounds and still work towards common goals.

We can support different political parties without sacrificing our relationships or our responsibility to society.

That is the foundation of a mature and progressive society.

## Africa Must Rethink the Culture of Division

For African societies to make meaningful progress, there must be a serious conversation about the destructive consequences of division.

We cannot continue demanding development while celebrating hatred.

We cannot complain about exploitation while allowing ourselves to be manipulated against one another.

We cannot demand responsible leadership while blindly defending people simply because they belong to our preferred political, religious or ethnic group.

Development requires cooperation, critical thinking, accountability, mutual respect and a willingness to place collective progress above narrow interests.

Our differences should enrich our societies, not destroy them.

The younger generation deserves something better than inherited hostility. They deserve communities where intelligence is valued above tribal loyalty, integrity above religious pretence, and competence above political connections.

See also  My husband worked for me for 11 months after losing his pilot job – Businesswoman reveales

## The Question We Must All Answer

Perhaps the greatest tragedy of a divided society is that people can spend so much time fighting those who share their struggles that they forget to question the systems keeping them in those struggles.

We must stop allowing differences to become instruments of destruction.

We must stop celebrating division as though it were a sign of strength.

And we must understand that no community, ethnic group, religious organisation or political faction can build a prosperous society entirely at the expense of everyone else.

**When brothers and sisters become strangers, the entire society loses. But those who profit from division may be the only ones celebrating.**

The time has come to look beyond our differences and ask a more important question: What kind of future are we building together?

Because at the end of the day, hatred will not build our roads, educate our children, create employment, secure our communities or put food on our tables.

**DIVISION MAY GIVE SOME PEOPLE POWER, BUT UNITY GIVES A PEOPLE A FUTURE.**

—

**NEWSBREAK365 EDITORIAL**

*Our society does not need more enemies. It needs more people willing to think critically, challenge manipulation, demand accountability and recognise the value of collective progress.*

**Join the Conversation:**

1. Who benefits the most when ordinary people are divided by religion, ethnicity and politics?
2. Have we allowed our differences to become more important than our shared future?
3. Can Africa achieve meaningful development without confronting its culture of division?

Share your thoughts. The conversation must continue.

#Newsbreak365 #AfricanUnity #SocialDivision #AfricanDevelopment #Unity #CriticalThinking #CollectiveProgress

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

WHATSAPP CHANNEL

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Continue Reading

Lifestyle

A Divided Society Is Easier to Manipulate, Easier to Exploit and Harder to Develop: Who Benefits From Our Division?

Published

on

When people are busy fighting one another over religion, ethnicity, tribe and political differences, those benefiting from their division are busy consolidating their power. Is our inability to unite becoming the greatest obstacle to our collective progress?**

There is a dangerous reality that many societies, particularly across Africa, must confront: a divided population is much easier to control than a united one.

A society that spends more time fighting over differences than demanding accountability will struggle to make meaningful progress. When citizens are constantly distracted by tribal rivalries, religious intolerance, ethnic suspicion and political hostility, the real issues affecting their lives are pushed into the background.

And the question we must ask is uncomfortable: **Who benefits when ordinary people are busy fighting one another?**

## The Politics of Division: Keeping the People Distracted

Division is one of the oldest and most effective tools of manipulation.

History has repeatedly shown how those seeking to maintain power can exploit existing differences within communities. They turn ethnicity into a political weapon, religion into a battlefield and political loyalty into an excuse for defending incompetence.

Instead of judging leaders by their performance, some citizens judge them by their tribe, religion, region or political affiliation.

A politician can fail to provide employment, improve healthcare, build infrastructure or address insecurity, yet still enjoy unquestionable loyalty simply because he belongs to the same ethnic or religious group as his supporters.

Meanwhile, someone who raises legitimate questions about governance is labelled an enemy.

This is how accountability dies.

When loyalty becomes more important than competence, society pays the price.

## Religion, Ethnicity and Politics: When Differences Become Weapons

There is nothing inherently wrong with belonging to a particular religion, ethnic group, political party or cultural community.

Our differences are part of what makes human societies diverse and interesting.

See also  My husband worked for me for 11 months after losing his pilot job – Businesswoman reveales

The problem begins when people use these differences to justify hatred, discrimination, intolerance and blind loyalty.

Why should someone who shares your religion automatically deserve your support, even when their actions harm society?

Why should someone from another ethnic group automatically become your enemy?

Why should political disagreement destroy friendships, families and communities?

Why should citizens defend wrongdoing simply because the offender belongs to their group?

These are questions that every society must confront honestly.

**Your tribe cannot eat your future. Your religion cannot replace good governance. And your political loyalty cannot pay the price of bad leadership.**

## While We Fight, Poverty and Corruption Continue

Consider the ordinary citizens struggling to survive.

The unemployed graduate is still searching for work. The struggling family is still battling rising living costs. The patient is still waiting for affordable healthcare. The young entrepreneur is still struggling to access opportunities.

Yet public conversations are frequently dominated by tribal arguments, religious controversies and political insults.

People who should be demanding better schools, functioning hospitals, reliable electricity, security, employment and economic opportunities are sometimes more interested in defending political personalities.

The tragedy is that suffering does not recognise political affiliation.

Poverty does not ask which tribe you belong to before entering your home. Unemployment does not discriminate between religious groups. Corruption does not spare people simply because they support the government.

When public resources are mismanaged, the consequences affect ordinary citizens across different communities.

So why should citizens allow artificial divisions to prevent them from demanding what they collectively deserve?

## A Divided People Are Easier to Exploit

Think about the power of a united population.

When citizens speak with one voice against corruption, demand transparency and insist on responsible leadership, ignoring them becomes more difficult.

But when those same citizens are divided into hostile camps, their collective strength weakens.

See also  Professor Chike Obi: Nigeria’s First PhD Mathematician and Pioneer of Modern Scientific Thought

One group defends one politician. Another group attacks a different politician. One community blames another. Religious groups exchange accusations, while political supporters spend their energy insulting one another.

And in the middle of all this confusion, the people who should be answering difficult questions often escape serious scrutiny.

This is the danger of allowing division to dominate public life.

**A population that cannot unite around its common interests will struggle to defend those interests.**

## Development Requires More Than Buildings and Roads

True development is not measured by impressive government speeches, expensive political campaigns or isolated infrastructure projects.

It requires strong institutions, quality education, functional healthcare, economic opportunities, justice, security and responsible leadership.

It also requires citizens who understand that their collective future is bigger than their individual differences.

No nation can build a prosperous future when its people are constantly encouraged to distrust one another.

A country cannot achieve its full potential when competence is sacrificed on the altar of tribal loyalty, accountability is replaced by political worship and constructive criticism is treated as betrayal.

Development requires cooperation, critical thinking and a shared commitment to the common good.

## It Is Time to Stop Being Instruments of Our Own Division

Perhaps the most disturbing part of this problem is that division does not always need to be imposed from outside.

Sometimes, ordinary people willingly participate in it.

We spread hatred without questioning its consequences. We defend individuals who have failed us. We attack people simply because they hold different opinions. We allow politicians, religious figures and influential personalities to determine who deserves our friendship and who deserves our hostility.

We must begin to take responsibility for the society we are creating.

Disagree without hatred. Defend your beliefs without attacking other people’s identities. Question leaders regardless of their background. Demand accountability regardless of political affiliation.

See also  ‘Someone Like You Cannot Correct Christians’ – Singer Testimony ‘Jaga’ Knocks Ex-VP Osinbajo

Unity does not mean everyone must think alike. It means recognising that our shared future deserves more attention than the differences that separate us.

## Final Thoughts: Who Really Benefits From Our Division?

A divided society is easier to manipulate, easier to exploit and harder to develop.

That is not just a political statement. It is a warning about the consequences of allowing hatred, intolerance and blind loyalty to replace critical thinking and collective responsibility.

The greatest service citizens can render to their society is not defending a politician at all costs, protecting a religious personality from criticism or promoting ethnic superiority.

It is demanding justice, accountability, equal opportunities and responsible leadership.

We must stop allowing those who seek our loyalty to benefit from our divisions while ordinary people continue to bear the consequences.

**Our differences should never become the chains that prevent us from moving forward together.**

The question is no longer whether division is hurting society. The real question is whether we are willing to recognise it and do something about it.

—

### THE BIG QUESTION: LET’S DEBATE!

1. Do politicians deliberately exploit religious and ethnic differences to maintain political power?
2. Why do some people defend incompetent leaders simply because they belong to the same tribe or religion?
3. Can Africa achieve meaningful development without overcoming tribalism, religious intolerance and political divisions?
4. Are ordinary citizens equally responsible for sustaining the divisions that hold society back?

**Drop your opinion in the comment section. Don’t just agree or disagree — tell us why.**

*Newsbreak365 — Questioning Narratives, Challenging Perspectives.*

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

WHATSAPP CHANNEL

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Continue Reading

Lifestyle

You Cannot Plant the Seeds of Hatred and Expect to Reap the Fruits of Love: The Dangerous Culture of Division in Our Society

Published

on

Hatred does not suddenly appear in society. It is planted, nurtured, encouraged and passed from one generation to another. Yet, some people who spend their lives spreading hatred are often the first to demand peace, love and unity. Isn’t that hypocrisy?**

There is something deeply troubling about a society that constantly talks about love but continues to practise hatred.

People preach peace while promoting division. They speak about unity while encouraging tribalism. They demand respect while showing intolerance towards people who think differently, worship differently or come from different backgrounds.

The question is simple: How can we expect a better society when so many people are actively contributing to the problems destroying it?

## The Seeds of Hatred Are Being Planted Everywhere

Hatred does not always begin with violence. Sometimes, it starts with words, attitudes, prejudices and the deliberate spreading of negative ideas.

It begins when parents teach their children to look down on people from other ethnic groups.

It grows when religious followers are encouraged to see everyone outside their faith as enemies.

It becomes dangerous when politicians manipulate ethnic and religious differences to gain power.

It spreads when people celebrate the suffering of others simply because they belong to a different community.

And it becomes even more destructive when social media turns intolerance, insults and hatred into entertainment.

These may appear to be ordinary disagreements, but when hatred becomes normalised, society begins to lose its sense of humanity.

## You Cannot Preach Love While Practising Hatred

One of the greatest contradictions in modern society is the gap between what people preach and how they behave.

See also  When Love Becomes a Cycle: Having Children With Different Men Without Thinking About the Consequences

Some people speak passionately about love, forgiveness and compassion but cannot tolerate anyone who disagrees with their opinions.

Others preach religious morality but celebrate the misfortune of those who follow different beliefs.

Some demand justice for themselves but remain silent when innocent people from other communities are mistreated.

Others preach unity but promote tribal superiority whenever it serves their interests.

What exactly are we teaching the next generation?

That love is something we should show only to people who agree with us?

That respect should be reserved for people who look like us?

That humanity should be divided according to religion, ethnicity, political affiliation or social status?

If that is what we are teaching, we should not be surprised when the next generation inherits the same divisions.

## Tribalism, Religious Intolerance and Political Manipulation: A Recipe for Disaster

Across many societies, particularly in Africa, tribal and religious divisions have become powerful tools for manipulation.

Instead of encouraging people to question poor leadership, some individuals redirect their attention towards ethnic and religious differences.

Instead of demanding accountability, citizens are encouraged to defend politicians simply because they share the same tribe or religious identity.

Instead of standing together against injustice, people sometimes choose sides based on identity rather than truth.

This mentality benefits those who exploit division, not ordinary citizens who suffer its consequences.

A society cannot develop properly when people value tribal loyalty above competence, religious identity above humanity and political allegiance above accountability.

We must learn to disagree without becoming enemies.

We must learn to defend our beliefs without dehumanising those who hold different opinions.

See also  Major General Henry Edmund Olufemi Adefope: The Soldier, Diplomat, Physician and Sports Statesman Who Shaped Modern Nigeria

And we must understand that nobody has to hate another person to prove loyalty to their own community.

## The Children Are Watching and Learning

Perhaps the most dangerous consequence of spreading hatred is the damage it does to future generations.

Children observe how adults speak about other people. They listen to conversations at home, watch political arguments, follow religious debates and absorb attitudes from social media.

When children repeatedly hear that another tribe is inferior, another religion is evil or another community cannot be trusted, those ideas can become part of their worldview.

Tomorrow, those same children may become leaders, parents, teachers, politicians and decision-makers.

What kind of society will they build if hatred is the foundation of their upbringing?

We cannot keep planting division in young minds and expect them to create a peaceful world when they grow up.

The responsibility to change this culture begins with adults.

## What You Plant Today Is What You May Harvest Tomorrow

Life is not always predictable, and nobody can guarantee that kindness will always be returned with kindness. However, the values we promote have consequences for our relationships, communities and society.

If you encourage hatred, you contribute to an environment where hatred becomes easier to spread.

If you promote intolerance, you make peaceful coexistence more difficult.

If you celebrate injustice against others, you weaken the principles that protect everyone.

But if you promote understanding, fairness, compassion and mutual respect, you help create an environment where people can live together despite their differences.

The choice is ours.

We cannot continue to destroy the bridges connecting humanity and complain that society is becoming divided.

See also  My husband worked for me for 11 months after losing his pilot job – Businesswoman reveales

We cannot encourage bitterness and expect everyone to embrace us with love.

We cannot plant thorns and complain that the garden produces no roses.

## The Question We Must All Answer

Before you accuse another person of spreading hatred, examine your own words and actions.

Before you demand tolerance, ask yourself whether you tolerate people who disagree with you.

Before you preach unity, ask yourself whether you treat people from other communities with dignity.

Before you speak about love, ask yourself whether your behaviour reflects the message you are preaching.

**The world does not need more people who simply talk about love. It needs people who are willing to practise it.**

Hatred may bring temporary satisfaction to those who spread it, but its consequences can outlive the people who started it.

If we genuinely want a better society, we must stop glorifying division and start nurturing the values that bring humanity together.

**You cannot continue to plant the seeds of hatred and expect to reap the fruits of love. What you plant in society today may become the reality of tomorrow.**

—

### WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Can people who constantly promote tribalism, religious intolerance, racism and hatred genuinely claim to be advocates of peace and unity?

Or have we become a society that preaches love with our mouths while spreading hatred through our actions?

**Share your thoughts. Let’s have an honest conversation.**

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

WHATSAPP CHANNEL

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Continue Reading

Trending