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I am one of those who strongly believe there is nothing to celebrate as far as 45 years of independence is concerned.
It is okay (or should i say convenient) for some of us in Diaspora to want to celebrate while the majority of Nigerians back home are hard-pressed, and wallowing in wretchedness visited upon them by decades of misrule and gross political ineptitude.
Before even getting tempted to join the bandwagon of those who are quick to reach for the vintage Champagne bottle, or maybe some traditional Ogogoro (to add cultural flavour) to celebrate 45 long years of independence, I restrain myself by asking some rhetorical, but fundamental questions:
Are we supposed to celebrate 45 years of misrule by those who classify themselves as the political elites? Should we be dancing over decades of military dictatorship which recently have just being replaced by what is at best truncated 'democracy', wherein all what there is to behold are the crops of recycled politicians who in one way or the other have contributed to the woes of this beguiled nation?
Should we be partying while the ethnic and religious problems which right from birth has plagued Nigeria gets more intense due to the tactical and diabolic machinations of a certain group of people? Why should I be happy when my people are still being treated as third class citizens in their motherland? Why should I give a toss about 45 years of independence when my land can still be raped in this modern times and my people brutalised should they dare ask questions?
Trying to catalogue the reasons which makes celebrating uncalled for (at least on my part) is a herculean task, as the list is endless. However, one should not fail to mention, corruption in every level of government; economic brouhaha arising from mismanagment, gross ineptitude and nepotism; socio-political upheavals and tensions informed by tribal oppression; Religious wahala which could one day cut the days of the already almost crippled nation short; mass unemployment due to non-investment by government, and the private sector that is continually scared by re-occurring crisis and political instability; epileptic power and water supply; mainly un-motorable roads which at best are seasonal; a completely dead public transportation system; high insecurity complimented by a corrupt police and security forces; etc etc.
To many, Nigeria got her independence from Britain on 1st October 1960, but to some of us, we still feel we are yet to be independent. The oppression which was brought upon my people through British imperialistic rule was aggravated in 1914 with the creation of Nigeria, and when the British left in 1960, they only handed the mantle of oppression, suppression, exploitation and enslavement of my people to the so-called major tribes which you call Nigeria today.
We still suffer the same, and now even bleed more for the sake of Oil in our land. As oil price goes up, so does the value of our lives and blood to the Nigerian entity go down. WHY SHOULD I CELEBRATE 45 YEARS OF FURHTER ENSLAVEMENT?
Posts: 17 | From: London, UK. | Registered: Jan 2005
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