As Nigeria today marks its Sapphire Jubilee (65 years of existence) as an independent nation, after gaining independence on October 1st, 1960, the dispensation calls for deep reflection over the journey so far and a new vision, having undergone significant rites of passage over time.
Firstly, there is the need to congratulate this great nation and its people for having weathered the challenges of nation-building and remaining as one political entity for this long. It needs to be recalled that several nations, both in Africa and other parts of the world, which not only started before and after Nigeria’s formation but also shared the same dream of nationhood, are no more due to a multiplicity of both endogenous and exogenous factors.
The story of Nigeria could also have been otherwise, given its leadership circumstances. Assembled from a collection of disparate ethnic nation-states by the British colonialists in 1914, and subjected to different leadership scenarios comprising colonial and serial rule alternation between democratically elected civil administration and the frequent truncation of same by military incursions into governance through coup d’états in 1966, 1975, 1976, 1983, 1985, and 1993, the country’s retention as a single entity today remains one of the most successful exercises in unity in diversity, as far as nation-building is concerned. Of even more significance is that Nigeria has, since 1999, enjoyed an unbroken run of democratic rule for all these 26 years. This political positive accentuates the merit of celebrating Nigeria at 65, for holding on to the vision and sustaining the mission of its founding fathers, even in the face of vicissitudes.
Yet, the fact remains incontrovertible that Nigeria could have achieved much more at 65, given its innate, humongous potentials and resources. With a population of 45 million at independence in 1960 and 220 million at present, the country has always been a giant on the African continent, as well as a voice to be reckoned with across the world. In terms of economy, Nigeria is endowed with a rich variety of strategic resources, ranging from large expanses of arable land for agriculture, lush flora and variety of fauna, as well as humongous oil and gas deposits and other minerals, which guarantee its position as a rich nation.
However, against the backdrop of its endowments and potentials, Nigeria has, for this long period, been a victim of arrested development, courtesy of multiple leadership failures. While it was hailed as the giant of Africa in the light of its status and promise at independence, the current state of Nigeria leaves much to be desired, due to generations of leadership whose failures denied it a better course of progress. Hence, Nigeria is currently reeling from the ravages of insecurity, with insurgency and other tendencies that have negatively conditioned daily life across the entire country. For instance, on a daily basis, insurgents attack one community or the other with fatal consequences. To further accentuate the ravages of insurgency in today’s Nigeria is the fact that several communities, and even local government areas, are at the mercy of insurgents, with residents paying ransom to the occupying insurgents.
The crime of kidnapping human beings for ransom has become a growing business venture in today’s Nigeria. So bad is the situation that senior government officials at various levels are discreetly and openly negotiating peace deals with insurgents.
Beyond the scourge of insurgency lies the more pervasive syndrome of endemic corruption in literally all aspects of government business. Courtesy of the deep-seated malaise of corruption, public largesse has been largely privatized by the political leadership community, leaving the masses to their wits. As a result of the widespread syndrome of corruption, Nigeria loses the bulk of the public largesse to private interests, as public interest-oriented projects suffer. Also, courtesy of the syndrome of corruption, even the political space remains compromised, as the country serially fails to elect the right calibre of leaders to take charge of its affairs. In the final analysis is the concern over the prospect of redeeming the country from its largely self-inflicted challenges.
That is why the need for a new vision that will propel the country along a new course remains mandatory. This new vision needs to be anchored on the premises of a united Nigeria, as well as the rule of law. With respect to the fostering of unity, the leadership needs to work assiduously along the course of integrating the disparate ethnic nation-states that make up the country, as the amalgamation process that spawned Nigeria under the colonial rule of Britain in 1914 is not yet completed.
The goal of unity will hardly be realized unless there is a deliberate attack on the freedom of impunity. This is where the rule of law needs to be actualized to ensure that the constitution and the laws of the country are obeyed by all and sundry.
We at Daily Trust believe that this task is for all Nigerians to key in, put in their best, be more patriotic, and have a strong belief in Nigeria. Once we can do this, our journey to the Promised Land can be realized.
Daily Trust wishes every Nigerian a happy 65th Independence Anniversary.