Nigeria’s independence did not come on a platter of gold. Men of goodwill and of great vision and courage bound in love and unity toiled, sweated day and night for her freedom. Virtuous women with impeccable character and steel heart midwifed, labored and nurtured the baby to life.
Red-faced colonial masters were reluctant to see the face of the baby, but at God’s appointed time they superintended over the birth of Nigeria, which is today 61.
Over the years, the country has undergone pains of war, riots, pogroms, assassinations, coup d’etats. Songs by ethnic militias for self-determination, as well as drums of religious bigotry, corrupt practices, political brigandage, academic atrophy, environmental degradation, leadership deficit, insecurity and social malaise have combined to weigh down the Nigerian state.
Like a cat with nine lives, the country has survived all the mounting vicissitudes. The undying spirit of our forbears has continued to weld together the various components.
While the country has recorded some landmark achievements to go up the ladder in the comity of nations, some Nigerians are busy redrawing the graph of the country’s socio-political and economic infamy, while the rest are equally paying their dues in their different callings to place the country among her equals in the annals of history.
Unfortunately, Nigeria once prided as the ‘Giant of Africa’ is living on life support. Our economy whetted by appetizing foreign loans and hyper-inflation is nosediving; our democratic setting is heavily chocked by money mongers and self-serving politicians; our social fabrics is ebbing; our educational sector is falling apart; our religious life is speckled by hatred and fear; our peaceful co-existence is threatened by bandits and other societal creeps; our communal life has been swallowed by egoistic sentiments; and our common wealth is raped beyond redemption.
What is left of a once-beautiful country splattered with gleaming stars and shinning gold is just the name-Nigeria immortalised by the girlfriend of a colonial master.
As we celebrate the birthday of a sexagenarian, Nigerians in one accord and one heart must come together to foist on the country the missing visionary and altruistic leadership that will right the wrongs and restore her to the position of dignity and envy. Where the leadership is hemmed in by ethno-religious and class garb, the propensity of the country sliding into oblivion is probable.
Another sleeping sickness is bigoted and gullible followership irrespective of their education and status in the society. This is another albatross that bedevils the country. Where the followers see all things within the prism of ethnicity, religion and politics, then no sacrifice could be undertaken to birth meaningful but lasting development.
Let them be washed away from these crimson ”sins’’ else the country will continue to mark time on the sands of time. While tiny Rwanda will go to the Mars, Ghana heads to Moon, Nigeria will plot to dip Koran in Atlantic Ocean and establish Ruga settlement for cattle rearing. What a fated but retrogressive step of a once-giant of Africa!
May the labour of our heroes, according to our cherished National Anthem, not be in vain as Nigeria keeps on counting years of political independence! May her citizens be free from despoliation of poverty, squalor and lack! And may our urban centres and rural areas roped in power outage, unemployment surge, social amenities deficit- poor roads network, and pipe-borne water, and dearth of schools’ infrastructures be free!
