When Nigeria became independent and subsequently a republic in 1960 and 63 respectively, it was almost impossible to envisage a nation still struggling to crawl out of self-inflicted hardship 51 years later. No doubt, the effect of the civil war took the country almost 20 years back but should that be the case literally, it means that there should have been a geometrically human and economic transformation at least since the last 10 years since the deficit of 20 years would have been paid at 40th celebration of independent.
Unfortunately, like a match making company, Mr Lugard’s invention has remained a blind date even after 51 years of dating with no sign of compatibility in view. Of course the easiest thing to do is to lay the blame on the amalgamation and the not so logical reference to the western influence. Every other person is to blame except us and our leaders and the circle continues with no sign of radical brake from the visual circle.
Since the early 80s till date, it has been an unceremonious adventure from one self-styled president/government to another with each promising a radical overhaul of the entire social economical fabrics of the most populous nation in Africa with none lifting a significant stone higher than he met it, resulting to a downslide failure of the entire system.
Many times, the argument has been whether Nigeria is a failed stated or not and lots of seminars have been conducted by those for and those against the system with the collective financial involvement running to millions of Nira. Yet, at the end of it all, the governors (those in power) remain the masters while the governed are the semi-slaves or sometimes established slaves.
It’s not as if to claim that amalgamation is the problem, far be it. The problem as Achebe puts it is ‘failure of leadership and an endemic level of corruption. If corruption here would mean feeding on the general purse, it would have been easier to handle; it ranges from deprivation of basic rights to robbing peter to pay Paul, from killing opponents to frustrating critiques, from employing the unqualified to paying salary to dead people and the list continues as well as the effects infecting the most honest of men. Once again, our destiny is in our own hand, our ship is being captained by us. A New Year starts today in Nigeria and much more new resolutions are about to be made. Only heavens will attest to the end result when the year runs to 365 days from today.
All not withstanding, it is not all bad stories though. Nigeria is a great nation and most of us are ready to die for her if not on ground then in spirit. If not for the fact that our part is leading to a brighter future then, we do it because we believe that no matter how hopeless, there is always something to fight for. We know we shall win and we are confident.
What we need is not a bogus celebration with expenses running into billions of Nira when the workers cannot be paid N18000 minimum wage because there is no sufficient finance. We need to work together, both those home and abroad to change our consciousness first from egoistic pursuit to patriotic disposition. A hard task of course but we can if we accept.
I have always been proud of being a Nigerian no matter the odds. That is to imply that I believe that the things going on now are all long nightmares and we will soon wake up from them. But my fear however is, it will be disastrous if we wake up and the nightmares become real all of a sudden. So Help us God
HAPPY CELEBRATIONS BROTHERS AND SISTERS
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