Nigeria, Sept. 1 -- The map of our collective existence is drawn with lines much deeper than the temporary signatures of those who temporarily hold the pen.



To look at a nation is to look at a living, breathing tapestry woven from the resilience, labor, and quiet dignity of millions who rise each morning to till the soil, teach the young, heal the sick, and keep the wheels of daily survival turning.



Yet, for generations, we have fallen into the effortless trap of conflating the transient occupants of power with the permanent edifice of the homeland.



We treat governments as if they are the soul of the country, measuring our loyalty to the flag by our satisfaction with the ledger of those who govern. This is a profound and dang...