By Charles Eyuwoko Pemu 
A Clarion Call for Immediate Local and Global Intervention In a chilling forecast once voiced by Nigeria’s former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, he declared:
“Mark my words, war will soon break out in Nigeria.”
Today, that warning echoes with increasing urgency.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and economic powerhouse, is now teetering dangerously close to an internal collapse fueled by deepening ethnic tensions, systemic inequality, and alleged agendas of ethnic domination. At the center of this storm is a growing sense of displacement and resistance—especially concerning policies perceived by many indigenous communities as a covert plan to redraw ownership of ancestral lands under the guise of national unity.
The Alleged Agenda: Repeating a Tragic History
There are growing concerns among local and international observers that the current trajectory of governance under past and present northern leadership has inadvertently mirrored the failed experiment of the Central African Republic (CAR)—where one ethnic minority reportedly commandeered military, political, and economic institutions, leading to widespread unrest, violence, and eventual state collapse.
A similar narrative appears to be unfolding in Nigeria. The fear is that a particular ethnic group, empowered through political ascendancy and economic leverage, is seeking to institutionalize land settlement schemes, such as the controversial RUGA project, that could disenfranchise indigenous populations across the South, Middle Belt, and parts of the North.
Critics argue that such moves are not mere agricultural policies but form part of a larger attempt to dominate land ownership and national identity. This has triggered calls for resistance, with communities expressing readiness to defend their ancestral heritage at all costs.
A Nation at a Crossroads
The combination of economic marginalization, insecurity, and aggressive land policies has ignited tensions that may soon erupt into widespread civil unrest. Armed groups, militant factions, and youth-led resistance movements are already forming in response, recalling the tragic civil war of the 1960s that claimed millions of lives.
The current situation is exacerbated by:
- A surge in kidnappings and rural attacks allegedly linked to criminal elements exploiting ethnic conflicts.
- The militarization of land-related policies and suppression of dissent.
- A lack of cohesive national dialogue to address the grievances of affected communities.
What is at Stake?
Should Nigeria spiral into chaos, the repercussions would ripple across the continent and the world. As the anchor of West Africa’s stability and the economic engine of sub-Saharan Africa, any disruption in Nigeria would endanger regional peace, spark mass displacement, and collapse critical oil and trade routes.
The precedent set in CAR—where institutionalized marginalization sparked a civil implosion—should serve as a grave warning. Nigeria cannot afford to follow the same path.
A Global Call to Action
Now is the time for the international community to act. World leaders, human rights organizations, and multilateral institutions must:
- Demand transparent and inclusive governance in Nigeria.
- Monitor and mediate ethnic-related land conflicts with urgency.
- Support civil society movements working to promote unity and justice.
- Hold accountable any actors seeking to incite violence or sow division under ethnic or religious pretexts.
Nigeria’s crisis is no longer a domestic issue—it is a continental and global concern. Peace, justice, and equity are the only paths forward. The world must not wait until conflict breaks out to pay attention. The time to listen, speak, and intervene is now.