As Nigeria marks its 56th Independence
Anniversary, very few Nigerians would expect any
form of celebration or excitement. Independence
from colonial rule in 1960 has brought the country
so much to be cheerful about, but 56 years later,
also a lot of regrets.
I am not one of those who imagine that we would
probably have been better off if we had remained
under British rule, but that there are some
Nigerians who still entertain such impossible
thought indicates the depth of the people’s
anxiety about Nigeria’s post-colonial reality.
The big issues are well-known: the failure of
leadership, corruption, and perpetual anxiety about
the future. Every October 1, Nigeria is described
as “a crippled giant”, a “toddler”, “a broken
nation”. And the various editorials, year after year
sound so repetitive as they focus on an economy
that is not working, the failure of public
infrastructure, leadership crisis, the bad habits of
the political elite, religious and ethnic violence,
disunity, national insecurity, and so on.
As we mark October 1 this year, we should
perhaps avoid the beaten path and draw attention
to the reasons why we should be happy with our
country and proud to be Nigerians. Whatever
problems we may have, hope is not lost. We are
still the country of some of the most talented
people in the world. Nigerians are gifted,
hardworking and in many ways exceptional. This
is the country of Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe,
Jelani Aliyu, Chimamanda Adichie, Philip
Emeagwali, Kanu Nwankwo…It is the land of great
achievers of all time in all fields of human
endeavour. It is the heroism of the talented
Nigerian who has put this country’s name on the
global map that I remember as I think of Nigeria
at 56.
I also look around and admire the energy and
creativity of the Nigerian youth. Those young men
and women who are excelling and whose
distinction inspires some level of confidence in the
Nigerian system. For more than 20 years, we
have been lamenting that the Nigerian education
system has failed, collapsed or to use the usual
phrase, “fallen”.
But this same system continues to produce young
men and women with amazing talents. With a
better education system, the harvest could have
been richer and better, but oh come on, the
entrepreneurial ingenuity of the Nigerian youth,
their sheer brilliance and industry reassure us that
if we could get it right, this country will yet attain
much greater heights.
We are in every way, a blessed country. Beautiful
flora and fauna: the poor fortunes of the national
currency has not affected that. Abundant mineral
resources: we only need to manage these better
and properly. Travel round Nigeria: our diversity is
inspiring. And when you attend any social event in
Nigeria, watch out for the gaiety, the beauty of
cultural expressions and the capacity of the
average Nigerian to force drama out of every
situation.
When people talk about Nigeria from a distance,
they tend to focus on the negatives: the high
crime rate and the mismanagement of resources,
but no one denies the fact that this country has
what it takes in every regard to be as great as it
once was and still be greater. That is what I think
of as I reflect on Nigeria at 56.
We are also a country of resilient people. It is
what keeps us going. There may have been a
sudden rise in reported cases of suicide in recent
times, but most Nigerians are fighters. They are
ready to survive under any situation. They are
determined. They never lose hope.
They have this special ability to cover up their
frustrations, dress up nicely and go to the church
or the mosque or other places of worship, and
dance and pray and ask God to take control. This
may be a form of temporary escapism, but the
confidence with which the average leaves
everything to God and draws strength from so
doing is a unique national characteristic.
We are still the biggest market in Africa. Many
investors may have shut down their businesses
and fled the country due to the current economic
recession, but as surely as night follows day, they
will return. The Nigerian market boasts of over
200 million people who need all kinds of services.
This country will always be a destination for those
who want to sell and buy and invest. We may be
weak, but we are still a giant nation.
There may be violence in the North East and
other parts of the country, but Nigerians are
generally peace-loving and hospitable. As we
celebrate Nigeria at 56, we should remember that
this country has survived a civil war; it has
survived religious and ethnic violence. It has
remained one entity despite calls for its
dismemberment.
What is required is a re-dedication to the ideals
of unity and national progress. This is not a task
for the leaders alone, but for all Nigerians, young
and old, male and female. We must collectively
resolve to make this country work and to ensure
that the forces of good do not allow negative
forces to overwhelm a nation which has the
potential to become one of the greatest nations
on earth. People make nations. But too many
Nigerians are experts at the blame game. We shift
responsibilities. We fail to act as true citizens.
And the greatest irony of it all is our religiousity
and the gap between private and public morality.
When you see religious Nigerians, they can quote
the Holy Books with such expertise you’d think
they have deposited those books inside their
brains. When they pray, they do so with such
fervour, you would assume they have a direct
telephone line to God. When they wear religious
garments, they put up a mien that encourages
you to lower your guard. But at other times, they
do not translate their religious piety into daily life.
This is a part of our national persona that is at
the root of all the problems we face.
Our institutions still need to be strengthened. The
failure of institutions accounts largely for the
spread of despair in the land. We also need to
give full effect to the words of our national
anthem. The second stanza in particular is a
prayer that should be reflected upon for the
precision with which it captures our main national
needs. “Oh God of creation/Direct our noble
cause/Guide our leaders right/Help our youth the
truth to know/In love and honesty to grow/And
living just and true/Great lofty heights attain/To
build a nation where peace/And justice shall
reign.”
Independence day should be a day of citizen
pride. It should be a day of sober reflection. It
should be a moment when the entire nation
should pause, and look back and look forward
into the future. Nigeria’s journey as an
independent nation may have begun in October
1960, but our history goes far back into the past,
even long before the Amalgamation of 1914. We
are a nation of different peoples, cultures and
ethnicity brought together by destiny, and
circumstances and colonialism. To transform this
into real nationhood is the main challenge we
have faced since 1960. As we mark Nigeria’s
56th independence anniversary, let no one blame
the British for the various fault lines that continue
to affect our nation. The British ruled Nigeria for
46 years (1914-1960). We have been in charge of
our own affairs for 56 years: that is long enough
for us to get our acts together as a people and
as a nation.
Leadership counts – sincere, honest and
purposeful leadership, that is. It is the duty of
leaders to show the people the way. Too many
Nigerian leaders have no idea in what direction
the people should be led, and this has been an
abiding source of all-round confusion. I began
this piece promising not to complain as Nigeria
turns 56, but it is hard I suppose not to do so.
But let no one despair. Surely, it shall be well with
Nigeria.
As Nigeria marks its 56th Independence
Anniversary, very few Nigerians would expect any
form of celebration or excitement. Independence
from colonial rule in 1960 has brought the country
so much to be cheerful about, but 56 years later,
also a lot of regrets.
I am not one of those who imagine that we would
probably have been better off if we had remained
under British rule, but that there are some
Nigerians who still entertain such impossible
thought indicates the depth of the people’s
anxiety about Nigeria’s post-colonial reality.
The big issues are well-known: the failure of
leadership, corruption, and perpetual anxiety about
the future. Every October 1, Nigeria is described
as “a crippled giant”, a “toddler”, “a broken
nation”. And the various editorials, year after year
sound so repetitive as they focus on an economy
that is not working, the failure of public
infrastructure, leadership crisis, the bad habits of
the political elite, religious and ethnic violence,
disunity, national insecurity, and so on.
As we mark October 1 this year, we should
perhaps avoid the beaten path and draw attention
to the reasons why we should be happy with our
country and proud to be Nigerians. Whatever
problems we may have, hope is not lost. We are
still the country of some of the most talented
people in the world. Nigerians are gifted,
hardworking and in many ways exceptional. This
is the country of Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe,
Jelani Aliyu, Chimamanda Adichie, Philip
Emeagwali, Kanu Nwankwo…It is the land of great
achievers of all time in all fields of human
endeavour. It is the heroism of the talented
Nigerian who has put this country’s name on the
global map that I remember as I think of Nigeria
at 56.
I also look around and admire the energy and
creativity of the Nigerian youth. Those young men
and women who are excelling and whose
distinction inspires some level of confidence in the
Nigerian system. For more than 20 years, we
have been lamenting that the Nigerian education
system has failed, collapsed or to use the usual
phrase, “fallen”.
But this same system continues to produce young
men and women with amazing talents. With a
better education system, the harvest could have
been richer and better, but oh come on, the
entrepreneurial ingenuity of the Nigerian youth,
their sheer brilliance and industry reassure us that
if we could get it right, this country will yet attain
much greater heights.
We are in every way, a blessed country. Beautiful
flora and fauna: the poor fortunes of the national
currency has not affected that. Abundant mineral
resources: we only need to manage these better
and properly. Travel round Nigeria: our diversity is
inspiring. And when you attend any social event in
Nigeria, watch out for the gaiety, the beauty of
cultural expressions and the capacity of the
average Nigerian to force drama out of every
situation.
When people talk about Nigeria from a distance,
they tend to focus on the negatives: the high
crime rate and the mismanagement of resources,
but no one denies the fact that this country has
what it takes in every regard to be as great as it
once was and still be greater. That is what I think
of as I reflect on Nigeria at 56.
We are also a country of resilient people. It is
what keeps us going. There may have been a
sudden rise in reported cases of suicide in recent
times, but most Nigerians are fighters. They are
ready to survive under any situation. They are
determined. They never lose hope.
They have this special ability to cover up their
frustrations, dress up nicely and go to the church
or the mosque or other places of worship, and
dance and pray and ask God to take control. This
may be a form of temporary escapism, but the
confidence with which the average leaves
everything to God and draws strength from so
doing is a unique national characteristic.
We are still the biggest market in Africa. Many
investors may have shut down their businesses
and fled the country due to the current economic
recession, but as surely as night follows day, they
will return. The Nigerian market boasts of over
200 million people who need all kinds of services.
This country will always be a destination for those
who want to sell and buy and invest. We may be
weak, but we are still a giant nation.
There may be violence in the North East and
other parts of the country, but Nigerians are
generally peace-loving and hospitable. As we
celebrate Nigeria at 56, we should remember that
this country has survived a civil war; it has
survived religious and ethnic violence. It has
remained one entity despite calls for its
dismemberment.
What is required is a re-dedication to the ideals
of unity and national progress. This is not a task
for the leaders alone, but for all Nigerians, young
and old, male and female. We must collectively
resolve to make this country work and to ensure
that the forces of good do not allow negative
forces to overwhelm a nation which has the
potential to become one of the greatest nations
on earth. People make nations. But too many
Nigerians are experts at the blame game. We shift
responsibilities. We fail to act as true citizens.
And the greatest irony of it all is our religiousity
and the gap between private and public morality.
When you see religious Nigerians, they can quote
the Holy Books with such expertise you’d think
they have deposited those books inside their
brains. When they pray, they do so with such
fervour, you would assume they have a direct
telephone line to God. When they wear religious
garments, they put up a mien that encourages
you to lower your guard. But at other times, they
do not translate their religious piety into daily life.
This is a part of our national persona that is at
the root of all the problems we face.
Our institutions still need to be strengthened. The
failure of institutions accounts largely for the
spread of despair in the land. We also need to
give full effect to the words of our national
anthem. The second stanza in particular is a
prayer that should be reflected upon for the
precision with which it captures our main national
needs. “Oh God of creation/Direct our noble
cause/Guide our leaders right/Help our youth the
truth to know/In love and honesty to grow/And
living just and true/Great lofty heights attain/To
build a nation where peace/And justice shall
reign.”
Independence day should be a day of citizen
pride. It should be a day of sober reflection. It
should be a moment when the entire nation
should pause, and look back and look forward
into the future. Nigeria’s journey as an
independent nation may have begun in October
1960, but our history goes far back into the past,
even long before the Amalgamation of 1914. We
are a nation of different peoples, cultures and
ethnicity brought together by destiny, and
circumstances and colonialism. To transform this
into real nationhood is the main challenge we
have faced since 1960. As we mark Nigeria’s
56th independence anniversary, let no one blame
the British for the various fault lines that continue
to affect our nation. The British ruled Nigeria for
46 years (1914-1960). We have been in charge of
our own affairs for 56 years: that is long enough
for us to get our acts together as a people and
as a nation.
Leadership counts – sincere, honest and
purposeful leadership, that is. It is the duty of
leaders to show the people the way. Too many
Nigerian leaders have no idea in what direction
the people should be led, and this has been an
abiding source of all-round confusion. I began
this piece promising not to complain as Nigeria
turns 56, but it is hard I suppose not to do so.
But let no one despair. Surely, it shall be well with
Nigeria.
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