Nothing tastes better than freedom, either individual or national. If there is any contrary opinion to this assertion, ask those who are languishing in jail for years without trial across the decrepit Nigerian prisons. That is why, today, Nigeria deems it fit and necessary to mark her 58th years anniversary since it got national independence from the British colonialism in 1960.
To this effect, today was declared as a work-free day for workers, especially those in the civil, public services, as well as corporate organisations. The military and paramilitary personnel were engaged in energy-sapping drills rehearsing for colourful parade ceremonies nationwide in commemoration of this auspicious event.
However, many citizens have been asking: Is there anything worth celebrating about Nigeria’s 58th independence anniversary? Are we truly free as a nation? Which regime is actually better: Western Colonialism as represented by Britain and Local Neo-colonialism as represented by Nigerian visionless, greedy and destructive leaders?
It is quite shameful that since independence, the political and economic management of the country has been, to put it mildly, rapacious, an act enacted and perfected by mindless leadership. In 58 years, the nation has been bitten, battered and rendered dysfunctional as a result of palpable misrule by greedy and visionless leaders who are more indulgent in ethnic and religious interests rather than national interest.
How did the nation come to this low? Where did we get it wrong? Why are we so rich yet so poor? Why are we so abundantly blessed with both natural and human resources, but are so confused, befuddled and directionless? This is the same story of other independent African countries.
From military rule to civil government, the nation has been struggling to actualize its potential as a great nation with enormous destiny to lead the black race. From Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Barewa, Aguiyi-Ironsi, Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Muhammed, Olusegun Obasanjo, Shehu Shagari, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Ernest Shonekan, Sani Abacha, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Obasanjo’s second coming, Umaru Musa Ya’adua, Goodluck Jonathan to Buhari’s second coming, Nigeria has been wobbling from woe to woe because none of those that ruled the country before had what it takes to provide purposeful governance to the country and her people.
Nigerian leaders have been associated with the highest form of corruption in the world. Nigeria has the highest rate of infant and maternal mortality in the world. In spite of trillions of dollars gotten from oil revenue, the country remains in a state of arrested infrastructural, economic and social development because of wanton profligacy. There is no electricity, bad hospitals and educational system, etc. Brazil and India that were rated with Nigeria in terms of prospect for future development in the 1960s are now industrialized nations while the country is still tottering.
The most painful hollow part of it is the pedestrian predilection for passing the blames of failure, inaction, poor governance, as well as the internal enslavement of our people to either colonialism or previous governments.
Perhaps, no government in the history of this country is guiltier than the present administration of President Buhari-led All Progressive Congress (APC). This government came to power with so much sugar-coated promise of changing the fortune of the country and the lives of the citizens; however it has further worsened and complicated the matter.
Democracy has come under severe attacks and threats by abuse of the rule of law and subversion of electoral system through criminal hijackings of electoral process. Internal democracy in our political party system is being throttled and killed.
Nigeria is bedevilled with bloody insurgency, marauding killer herders and rampaging kidnapping activities that are constituting embarrassments to her military, police and intelligence agencies’ capacity. The rate of unemployment and job losses is soaring to heavens. Hunger and poverty are on the rise. Companies have continued to pack up and running from Nigeria, etc.
It is a shame that at 58, Nigeria is like a full grown up man who is still being spoon-fed, bed-ridden and on life support. This anniversary is an opportunity for our leaders, as well as all Nigerians to be sober and reflect on our journey as a nation. We have to decide to act like a sane and sound people if we want to be taken serious by the rest of the world.
