The increasing spate of religious instigated deaths in Nigeria is alarming. In August, a suicide bombing at the United Nations’ offices in Nigeria killed 26 people. Last week, ‘Boko Haram,’ a sectarian group, unleashed violence that saw over 100 people die. The violence in Borno state is one of the worst seen in the north-east since the Islamist sect launched an insurgency against the government in 2009.

Some of the conflicts stem from the marginalisation and disenfranchising of citizens. Most African leaders, on ascending to power, deliberately fail to address the very concerns of the electorate that they used as a platform to assume power. Borno state, for example, is the poorest state in the country by every human-development indicator. The Federal Republic of Nigeria has failed to deliver on promised programmes to tackle unemployment, improve infrastructure and provide adequate healthcare and education facilities in northern Nigeria. Extremists have ridden on the ensuing exclusionary climate to exploit the citizens.

Other conflicts largely stem from the fact that Africa has no bigger picture of where it wants to go and the role it is supposed to play in global affairs. The continent is still mired in inherited divisive colour, ethnic and religious differences.

We [Africans] are confronted with bigger issues. Despite the fact that our continent is rich, it is the most aided continent. Despite the fact that we occupy many seats in the UN, we have little global influence. While other regions are reaping the fruits of regional unity, we are disintegrating. As we fight amongst ourselves, other nations are advancing their technological and scientific prowess, sending people to the moon, discovering cures for diseases, strategising on how they will survive should the current resources run out; and scheming on how to take advantage of Africa’s predicament. Unless we wake up, stop meaningless side-shows and face our real problems, we shall be serfs, recolonised and backward.