NIGERIA @ 54: WHICH WAY?
Zik Gbemre
The crusade for Nigeria’s Independence, spear-headed mostly by educated Nigerians was not an easy one.
This agitation came to a hilt with Chief Anthony Enahoro’s motion for independence on the floor of the Federal House of parliament in 1957.
According to Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa at independence Day On Saturday October 1,1960:
“Today is independence Day. The 1st of October, 1960. A date to which, for two years, Nigeria has been eagerly looking forward to. At last, our great day has arrived, and Nigeria is now indeed an independent Sovereign Nation.”
The British Union Jack was lowered for Nigeria’s symbol of self rule as the Green-White-Green flag was hoisted by Gen. David Ejoor. There was a sense of pride and patriotism for being a Nigerian back then.
But today, Nigeria at 54, the Dreams of our Nigerian founding fathers have all been crushed. The close to two decades of Military dictatorship plus the advent of Civilian administration since 1999, have left a Nigerian populace that is more disappointed with its political leaders than before.
Today, Nigeria is 54, but all we see around us as Nigerians, is the rising hunger, hardship and poverty; high-profile corruption at all levels with reckless abandon and impunity; increasing insecurity caused by our political leaders; every sector replete with dysfunctional attributes that makes them serve only the interest of the political class to the detriment of the common man, and the list is endless.
Sadly, the same crop of political leaders that are “wolves in sheep’s clothing” have already started gearing up for 2015 general elections; to continue the ‘vicious circle’ of bad governance, abuse of the rule of law with impunity.
While we honestly believe and pray that God will ‘divinely’ turn things around in the interest of the common masses of Nigeria, let Nigerians also start doing things differently by: stop praising our political leaders for doing ‘nothing’; demand for more accountability from our political leaders; realize that the future fate of the nation is in our hands, hence, use your votes wisely; stop all the praise singing and sycophancy because our political leaders are not doing us any favour for doing what they were elected to do in government in the first place.
After all said and done, let us pray for a Nigeria where peace, love and unity will reign above all selfish interests.
Happy Independence Day!
