Independence was one of the most sought after achievement of African countries in the 19th century. It didn’t spell reliance, it didn’t spread development, and it didn’t project growth. While reading History, we thought it did, the elites thought it did, teachers, lecturers, academies proclaimed it, Nigerians celebrated, and they were not wrong, we all were not wrong at least until the Nigerian civil war.
What we dreamt was total Independence, total freedom, absolute ownership of our identity, full claim of ideas but we only got free from the physical presence of the colonial masters through a document that was sealed by signatories representing different regions and protectorates.
Age fifty-eight was eventful for Nigeria following a few events like the presidential, national and gubernatorial elections, the declaration of June twelve as a public holiday to mark democracy, and the first time the presidential election result is being rejected and taken to court. It’s the time Nigerians celebrated having court affidavit over certificates and more than before a greater promotion of paper works over pragmatism.
A lot of things were done differently in Nigeria this year, even the Big Brother show did not begin early enough, the legal tender became scarcer and there was a rapid increase of unemployed graduates. SARS and other forces that are supposed to end crime have posed a threat to the progress of young Nigerians trying to earn legally. The introduction of the CBN cashless policy which Nigerians on social media tagged daylight robbery due to the charges dressed in penalties. Indeed, a lot happened! Good and bad alike, Channels TV captured patriotic citizens running from their polling units in Lagos, Rivers, and a few more states during the election. Fortunately, we still have a home to fall back to, we have a place of heritage, and we have Nigeria and Nigerians.
These series only amplify Fela’s voice in the minds of the people who echo “Which Way Nigeria?” there is a feeling of lack of freewill and a misrepresentation of democracy.
Nigeria celebrates fifty-nine but the challenges are no different from the problem Chinua Achebe highlighted in his book “The Trouble with Nigeria”; which is as he said, “the trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership”. Albeit, the result of “a failure of leadership” in Nigeria manifests in the power supply, export and import areas, the passport, the driver’s license, the economy and politics. Patriots are not willing to lose faith in Nigeria hence, we find a reason to smile in the face of crisis.
This land that harbours lots of mineral resources is a year away from sixty. Sixty will be very significant in Nigeria!
In the spirit of Independence, we pray the leadership of Nigeria to implement the promises attached to the manifestoes, to remember that we have Nigeria because of Nigerians; we pray equity, we hope for a better year because sixty will be significant!
We look forward to a fresh start, to a better year and we hope to see more youths groomed in politics like is being done in Oyo today by His Excellency Seyi Makinde. We want more policies to favour start-ups just like the discount that was given for business name registration. We look forward to a more humanitarian society than a religious society.
Our land is green!
Our land is fertile!!
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE NIGERIA!!!
