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Nigeria at 49: Between Hope and Despair! By Kabiru Tsakuwa
Unlike before when the nation’s partial-independence anniversary was used to be celebrated with pomp and pageantry across the country, this year’s was remarkably different; as the usual colour and enthusiasm usually associated with it was peculiarly absent. On the one hand, many Nigerians were so indifferent that they chose to remain indoors throughout the day, while others go about with their normal daily businesses as if the day has no any iota of significance in the history of our excessively raped and deflowered country.
Indeed, right from October 1st, 2009, when Nigeria celebrated her 49th anniversary of partial freedom from colonial subjugation, Nigerians across all walks of life were unanimous in their condemnation of the pathetic state of affairs of the country. There have been so must deluges of complaints and misgivings about the pathetic state of the nation. In fact the nation’s media, especially the print media has been a washed lately, with the excessive outpouring of grievances, hopelessness and fatalistic resignation to fate that one can not avoid feeling the impulse in the murky air. But have Nigerians any right to loose hope and become so cynical, someone might ask?
I think yes of course they do have every right to be so disillusioned at the ugly turn of things, because, over the years, they have seen with their very eyes the serial bastardizations of their beloved country by its supposed handlers. They have realized painfully, how positive hope and aspirations for a better Nigeria, the pride of Africa and black man gradually and steadily continue to erode right from the first republic up to date, forcing many into becoming incurably doubtful and sneering; and believing that rulers (Military and Civilian), always act from selfish motives and are only concerned with their own personal interest and those of their families, cronies and the like.
As a matter of fact, Nigerians truly have every justification to be gravely disturbed at the ugly situations of Nigeria today, because at the attainment of self rule, the country shows greater promise which was per more than many of her now very developed contemporaries. For apart from being blessed with both human and material resources, the founding fathers of the nation who successfully secured her partial independence were patriotic enough to have led the country on the path of greatness then; but their lives were cut short by some military rascals at the prompting of the neo-colonialists who for obvious reason could not allow Nigeria to realize her full potentials.
So contrary to the general perceptions, this so-called independence given to us in 1960 was only a partial self rule. The colonialists still dictate albeit clandestinely, the pace of our nation’s evolution, while plundering and enjoying our natural resources at will. Indeed, we still miserably belong to the queen to do as she so wish with our destiny through the instrumentality of her local puppets. This explained their excessive meddlesomeness in the affairs of this country and underscored the many regime changes of especially, ultra-patriotic Nigerian leaders who show greater promise to take the country to greater height, which starts with the tafawa balewa administration to those of Murtala, Buhari/idiagbon and to some extent general Abacha, and that was exactly the same reason why puppets like Obasanjo could be tolerated for eight solid years despite his disastrous escapades.
But as Nigerians rightly continue to express righteous indignations and thinly veiled reservations about the sorry state of affairs, they ought to individually think of the way out of this logjam, if not for anything else, but for the sake of our children yet unborn. They need to rediscover the will and strong desire to change their country for the better, remembering that just as one sad chapter of life get closed, a new window of opportunity get opened. They should also know that such collective lamentations of the past, can not take them anywhere near the promise land. The only panacea to all these man-made troubles lies in their ability to chart a new course. There is need to utilized fully that God-given Nigerian ‘can do spirit’, in order to liberate the country once again from the clutches of underdevelopment and plunder.
But for them to realize their full potentials and join the comity of responsible nations, Nigerians need to evolve a mechanism that will truly set them and their beloved country free from the yoke of underdevelopment and servitude. They need to be independent in the true sense of the term. They must of necessity demonstrates a greater resolves to live as free citizens of the world devoid of any extraneous intrusions by any power however overbearing!
There is also an urgent need to individually and collectively change the current perceptions of excessive cynicism, wrong value systems and ways of doing things, in addition to adopting sound values in order to transform the current ugly status from despair to hope, and from failures to success! I believed with honesty of purpose and commitments, that dream is quit achievable!
Lastly, Nigerians must put it at the back of their mind that this country is greater than any body. It is per too important to be allowed to self-destruct. It requires a new thinking on how to salvage it from those who think that, it is their birth right to lord it over others. They must not continue with their current discouraging attitudes of hopelessness and despairs, while putting their trust in God almighty for deliverance. This is the only guaranteed for us to reach the Promised Land and be able to deploy our vast resources in the service of our badly traumatized Nation. Happy 49th partial independence!!! |