Nigeria: 50 Wasted Years Of Independence

Nigeria: 50 Wasted Years Of Independence
Fifty years ago (or rightly 48 years), our countrymen and women waved the green-white-green flag of self determination, filled with proud and confidence, with a lot of hope and aspiration, in their minds. Six years later, less than a decade into the independence, a group of disgruntled, unpatriotic and greedy soldiers staged a coup plot and overthrown the nationalists government of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, killing the Prime Minister and many other top government officials, including the Premier of Northern and Western regions, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Samuel Akintola.
This singular incidence in 1966 drew the hands of clock backward and open door for crop military adventurists, who ushered in dictatorship in place of credible leadership. No doubts the years of military rule, if not for few months of General Murtala Ramat Muhammad of blessed memory and his friend General Buhari can be termed as wasted years of the Nigeria's history.
The generations of Nigerians born for instance after Nigeria's civil war have never for once experienced good governance in their lives, as a result, many are regretting why the British made a mistake of handing over power to Nigerians. They came to the conclusion that our independence years were wasted years, at best should be considered to the dustbin of history.
The Nationalists, who struggled to chase the British imperialists and founded independent Nigeria, were men of integrity. In their short stay in power, they were able to lay a solid foundation, designed plans and executed projects that were to drive this nation to a league of industrialised countries of the world. Unfortunately, these founding fathers' lives were cut short as I said earlier by a group of selfish soldiers hungry for power. The exit of these patriotic leaders early in the march left the stage according to Onyekakeyah, 'military card players who toyed with the nation's destiny'.
After the civil war that followed the 1966 bloody coup, General Yakubu Gowon, who took over was faced with arduous task of re-uniting and reconciling a hitherto divided nation. It was during this time that the oil boom came. Huge amount of money flowed into the country's economy. The oil boom provided a rare opportunity for the country to be part of world leading industrial nations. Sadly, this opportunity was squandered. The money accrued to the nation's treasury was misappropriated; the government main concern at the time was how to perpetuate itself as civilian government. Until when it was toppled by General Murtala Muhammad, who came with a well designed plans to tackle the country's problems. Unfortunately, some disgruntled soldiers under the pretence of patriotism assassinated him on January 13, 1976.
Subsequently General Obasanjo took over as Commander In Chief. Out of what one described as 'fear and infancy in governance', he quickly handed over power to a civilian government under Alhaji Shehu Shagari. Shagari's government lasted for only five years before it was ousted by the military on alleged corruption and attempt to perpetuate itself in power by all means.
The military exchanged power among themselves for fifteen years, until 1999, when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was elected? as the President. Of all the presidents that ruled Nigeria since independence, Obasanjo was the luckiest. Out of its 48 years of independence, Chief Obasanjo steered the country for twelve years. He held the reins of power longer than any Nigerian. Even with that he wanted to succeed himself, in 2007, if not for strong opposition from well meaning Nigerians - civil groups, trade unions and the media. He staged managed an election regarded by election observers as the worst in the nation’s history. It saw the emergence of Mallam Musa 'Yar'Adua as the new president of Nigeria.
Discussing Nigeria's history and its independence, is very sad not because we are not part of the major players, but the way this country was run in the last forty years was pathetic. Our 48 years of existence has produced little or nothing to impact on our lives as ‘independent Nigerians’. The Nation is still grappling with issues of poverty, hunger and underdevelopment; we are still yet to fight the killer diseases; polio, malaria, cholera, infant mortality and other curable diseases. Our country is still suffering from serious leadership crisis at all levels. Corruption remains a major obstacle in our quest for national development.
The return to democracy in 1999 gave us hope but that hope was soon dashed, no thanks to Obasanjo's maladministration. Nigeria is celebrating another historic day, October 1, but with little to make its citizens proud. Today, the Niger-Delta region remains a curse to us. Hopeless youths, who were used by politicians during campaigns, have turned into monsters; killing not only political opponents but everybody unlucky to come their way.
I always belief that the country will not continue the way it is now. Though am still pessimistic about whether 'Yar'Adua will salvage this nation or not. We are still yet to take the way to development. Nigerians are suffering and nobody is even talking about ways to alleviate our immediate problems, not to talk of the ones to come next year or in ten years later. We are working towards becoming one of the 20 industrial nations in 2020, but majority of our children are out of school, even those who managed to go to school are not gainfully employed. As long as we continue to pay lip service to major issues and concentrate on white elephant projects, the dream of attaining a status of industrial country by 2020 remains wishful thinking.
Instead of celebrating October 1, Nigerians are suppose to shed tears, because countries that attained independence the same time with Nigeria are not complaining of power, malaria or poverty. October 1, is a time for sober reflection not fanfare, but as the say 'endless hopes are better than hopeless end'. Our independence, therefore, is a mission yet to be accomplished; and only when our leaders channel our resources towards national development for all that we can proud ourselves as independent nation and then come to realize the importance of Independence Day. But for now the day is less important to majority of Nigerians who find it very difficult to survive.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village,
KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA,
Gombe State.