Hurray Nigeria is 59 that is the song in the air!
However, a lot of Nigerians are pouring out their reactions how they felt thus far.
In this particular write up, Our World Gist’s Super Writer, Sani Michael omakoji, Reacts Sufficiently to Nigeria’s at 59.
Here is His write up;
” The Holy Book, the Bible, says in whatever situation we find ourselves, we should find something to thank God for; so, we thank God Nigeria as a country is still existing.
Having said that, looking at the system call Nigeria, does our staying together really worth it or is it according to the dream of our founding fathers?
With the current height of leadership docility coupled with injustice in the land, a right thinking Nigerian will simply say that if our founding fathers envisaged what has happened over the years, they wouldn’t have dreamt of Independence for Nigeria.
Dishearteningly, those clamping down the values of Nigeria today were never part of the dream why Nigerian Leaders of precolonial era fought for self government.
Let me recall with sense of humanity that it was between life and death when Late Anthony Enahoro along persons like; Sir Tafawabale, Sir Nnamdi Azikway, Herbert Macaulay, Sir Ahmodu Bello, Sir Awolowo, and many others moved the motion for self government in 1958.
It was a matter of life and death because, the colonial masters were never willing to grant us independence and as such Late Anthony Enahoro put his life and that of others at risk to have made such statement.
The Independence which eventually came on 1st of October 1960 was for the economic prosperity of Nigeria and Nigerians as well as respect for core values of Nigeria as a Nation along side with the freedom of Nigeria and Nigerians.
It may interest the readers to know that one of the core values of Nigeria is the unity of the Nation.
Looking at the system today, do we really have the unity as issues like; gross nepotism, Regionalism, favouritism, ethnicity, Qouta system, cashment areas, state of origin and all forms of discrimination have taken over the system?
If Nigerian Leaders today truly admonish one Nigeria as it was meant to be, why will Fulani Leader or Yoruba Leader or Igbo Leader prefers his kinsmen in the area of key appointments to the disadvantage of merit or qualification?
Again, if we is truly one Nigeria, why should the position of President be the birthright of some ethnic groups like; Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo?
Are we not deceiving ourselves when Hausa/Fulani particularly prefers to lead even when we have intelligent brains from other tribes to do better?
If we continue to have this preference and imposition or injustice, why not regionalise the country as it were in 1963?
Must we even continue to stay together when we don’t have equal rights because of the areas or the tribes we come from?
As a feeding bottle Nation, I suspect as a researcher that we are only existing together because our leaders are hitherto blind to the natural resources in Nigeria except crude oil that they are exploring from the south, south of Nigeria.
No wonders, the current Government released a whooping sum of money for same oil discovery/exploration in the North East, unfortunately for them, the crude oil where no where to be fund as that huge sum was skillfully looted in the name of crude oil discovery/ exploration in the North East.
One wonders at this point if Federal Government still remembers Ajaokuta Steel complex that was established to be the hub of African Economy.
This complex has been ignorantly and satanically abandoned because Kogi State which is the host state is not part of majority states where the so called Nigerian Leaders today are emerging from.
Is so sad to report that the Local politics playing around Ajaokuta Steel complex is far more than international conspiracy as our leaders refused to think out of the box.
Investigation has further uncovered that the money wasted on Crude oil discovery/exploration recently in the North East was substantial to resuscitate Ajaokuta Steel complex and if this complex is working today, Africa will be a destination for all continents but is being abandoned because is not located in some favoured States… Oh, what a blind Nation!
While lamenting on the state of the Nation, let me also say that if Nigeria is working as a Nation, are the Institutions of Government supposed to be acting this way?
For example, Judiciary is no longer a hope of a common man as money inducement and disobedience to court order have become order of the day.
What about the injustice and social engineering in the Security as well as the INEC?
It is rather heartbreaking to state that these Institutions have all compromised to the power that be or favour the highest bidders.
Some of us watch the state of affairs with disdain as INEC who supposed to be an electoral umpire is now acting like a hook in a fisherman’s hands.
For example, we all witnessed in Kogi state where the INEC disqualified the candidate of SDP, Natasha Akpoti, which Political Pundits foresaw that she might likely cause an upset in the voting pattern from Kogi Central where the anointed candidate of Mr President, Yahaya Bello, comes from.
To continue to point at our woes even as I have not touched the rubber stamp lawmakers, is like telling the wounded lion to continue to talk when the pain is still eminent.
On this note; if we must continue to exist together as one Nation as it were meant to be from the abinitio, we must quarantine our Institutions like Judiciary, INEC, Legislation, Security and equally restructure our system towards the dream of our founding Fathers.
Finally, Nigeria must be free from under development and accidental Leadership for her to take her pride among the comity of Nation “.
Sani Michael Omakoji
Public Affairs Analyst
Abuja – Nigeria.
