On October 1, 1960, my country Nigeria got her independence from the British colonial powers, and in 1963, the Nigerian State became a Republic.
Since then, the largest black country on earth have had to grapple with issues of underdevelopment and nation-building. During the pre-colonial era, the independent regions that now makes up Nigeria, were prospering principally in farming, fishing and trade, and their system of self-governance was monarchical, though varied among the communities.
The amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates by the British in 1914, and the colonial dispensation that followed after, saw the emergence of political and economic power blocs within the new Nigeria. While political power was concentrated [ consciously or unconsciously ] in the North, economic power was concentrated [ consciously or unconsciously ] in the South. At independence of Nigeria in 1960, these blocs have matured in a manner that made them visible.
The military interjections into politics since the first incursion in 1966 has been described as the darkest nights in Nigerian history. The discovery of crude oil in the Niger-Delta in the late 1950s, rather than be a thing of joy to generations of Nigerians, it has indeed become a pain in the neck.
But, how dark can a night be ?
And talking about darkest nights, only a few Nigerians would agree that the last 8years of civil rule in their country [ 1999 - 2007 ] has shown more light than darkness in our polity. Many Nigerians feel otherwise.
Two days ago, on October 1, 2008, as the Nation marked her 48th Independence Day, I watched and listened to my television all day long to opinions of Nigerians from all works of life--- students, professionals, business people, market women, politicians, etc. I could see the courage and resilience of Nigerians.
The verdict of most Nigerians is that, though there is nothing to celebrate about Nigeria at 48, yet there is hope for a better future. On what that hope is premised, I don't know. But there is hope anyway.
And that is the spirit.
I really wonder if there is any Nation on earth whose people are as resilient as Nigerians. Beaten and battered, they are ready to go into the future with hope for a better life and a better Nation.
I think the political elites in Nigeria [ who are mostly blamed for the woes of the country ] should bury their heads in shame, because the real heroes of the Nigerian State are the Nigerian people-- the ordinary masses, whose hope for a better tomorrow is incurable. It is the ordinary people who have braced all odds to send their kids to public schools, not minding the dilapidated state of those schools. And it is the ordinary people whose votes no longer count in general elections.
Kudos to the Nigerian masses. They are worth celebrating.
My prayer is that the government in Nigeria [ federal, state and local ] should not continue to disappoint the collective hope and expectations of their people. The people's patience may actually be running out.
There must be a clear-cut direction for Nigeria---economically and politically. This goes beyond Vision 20:20:20, and it goes beyond mere partisanship or party loyalty. The ruling party [ PDP ] as well as the opposition parties must understand that Nigeria and the Nigerian people deserve respect at all times, and that no political party or movement is greater than Nigeria.
The task of nation-building is a daunting one, and so, we must rise to the challenge.
At 48, it is time to move Nigeria forward. It is time to move the economy forward. It is time to build the infrastructures. It is time to educate our children qualitatively. It is time to allow the votes of the masses count in elections.
It is time to build our Nation.
God bless Nigeria.
Adedayo Adetoye
Tel: +234 805 191 2385
e-MAIL: adetoyeadedayo@googlemail.com
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