Independence is a reminder of how our forefathers suffered in the hands of the colonial masters. Today, Nigerians are celebrating independence day but unlike every other independence day, our own calls for reflection and not celebration.
It is true that it marked the beginning of a new country with vision. But where is that vision today?
I would like to ask, are we really independent? What has really changed since 1960 to the present moment? How many development can we really point at? Is our present situation economically and politically different from that of the colonial era? Why celebrate when we cannot do anything without borrowing?
While people celebrate, i will rather reflect and ask some questions.
I was already thinking today would go down in history book because of the strike by labour but as usual, i was reminded that this is Nigeria when i heard that labour has suspended the strike. Now the word 'suspend' is like a bait. We will see if there would be any continuation or even an increase from the 18,000 naira minimum wage.
This is a country that lacks every ingredient of democratic settings. A country where it is very hard to dethrone incumbent. A country where politics is always a war and the survival of the fittest.
If you ask average Nigerians about the upcoming elections, you will only sense fear in their words. This is a country where lives are 'always' lost to election. The just concluded Osun election is a vivid instance.
You wonder why this still happens to a country that is 58 years old. Am i really surprised? Nope! And why? Because same people have been recycling the leadership position. Perhaps you are wondering or thinking of asking why i haven't contested? Well you will be deceiving yourself to ask that question.
This is where godfatherism is at its utmost. Here, you must be able to engage in stomach infrastructure to have 1% chance. Even at that, you also need to lobby these godfathers and it is not a guarantee that you will get their support.
A respected elder of mine recently quit his political ambition. When i ask him why, he said in Nigeria politics, you need to know how to use charm, consult alfa and pastors. He said members told him he needs different charms for different occasion. He also said one needs to drink alcohol (which he doens't take) because it is like a disrespect to buy alcohol for people and refuse to join. To crown it all, once the godfathers choose a candidate, it is done for the other aspirant no matter how beautiful his mandate.
People can celebrate, but many issues trouble this nation that is being celebrated. The president last week said the common man on the street made him a president. But i ask, how come he just realised that few months to another election. But i quickly remember Jonathan's era where he made the infamous statement: "I have no shoes"!!!.
The Nigerian sociopolitical space is a caricature of an real world where the citizens assume they are in paradise but their future is constantly and always being determined by the leaders in power.
Perhaps we are only celebrating raising Nigeria's flag in 1960 and nothing more. If that is the case, then i join you guys to appreciate our forefathers for what they went through then and nothing more.
