Today’s October 1. The alleged Independence Day of Nigeria.
The streets would have been laden with hopeful and excited citizens in their green-white-green regalia, with possibly painted faces and a flag or two in hand, if hunger wasn’t the order of the day.
The citizens would have danced to the eardrum-bashing music blasting from the worn-out speakers hoisted on accident-prone rickety buses and trucksif they weren’t moving from market to market trying to make ends meet.
It would have been a sight for sore eyes. The citizens’ tired smiles would be seen as patriotic joy as they chanted and shouted the National Anthem. Their hands seated on chests while they chorused the National Pledge, and shortly after, the morning ritual would end.
At the National Stadium, carefully selected schools would parade their students in green shorts and white T-shirts around the arena, while those at home gaze longingly at the television.
The men in taxis would scream “Happy Independence my Gee” at each other, as a result of the loud chugging of trailers. Little children would have been excited because it is a public holiday, and as such, they can play all day, but they’ve been cooped up at home and this day is just like any other.
They could care less about the reason. The shouts of Happy Independence in homes would be drowned out by the loud vibrations of the generators. A steady power supply is no more than wishful thinking.
Independence day
When well-to-do families with kids crowd parks and game centres. With baskets of drinks and imported snacks, they stuff their bellies. Nigeria is 60 years old, they tell their kids as they use imported toothpicks to clean their teeth.
The traders shuffle through the market hassling prices with customers. Dollar don increase Madam, they quickly say, trying to explain why fruits and vegetables have spiked in price. In other words, even homegrown foods are affected by currency exchange rates. Cinemas and eateries are crowded with people of all ages wanting to catch the National Day discounts.
Schools would have resumed tomorrow, the Anthem would resound and so would the pledge.
Yet, the questions remain did we truly celebrate Independence? And if I may ask, what Independence exactly?
Independence, according to Wikipedia, is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over the territory.
In relation to this definition, can you boldly say that Nigeria is an independent nation? If your answer is Yes, I would love to know why.
It is not enough that we do not produce food enough to feed even one-third of the population. We constantly brag and pad our shoulders about being The so-called Giant of Africa.
I laugh in Engli-Igbo.
Giant of Africa that can not generate electricity that could last for at least 12hours a day. Where slaughtering of the youth and relentless genocide are the order of the day. With no working refineries, soot-infested air and waterlogged education systems.
On social media, we engage other Africans in brainless arguments about jollof rice and finer girls, while their economy rises, ours crumbles.
The “leaders of tomorrow” are bearing ammunition in allegiance with the tyrants of today, never stopping to ask why. You sell your vote for 50,000 today, they con you of your rights and privileges as citizens tomorrow.
We say we want a better Nigeria by do we mean it?
Or do we enjoy the loopholes in the system and the slight greasing of hands in offices to get what we want.
One Nigeria, we shout and sing. Together as One, they tagged it this time. But we can not put aside our differences and work as a team. Tribalism and ethnic segregation, is experience not the best teacher?
Advancements in technology are occurring all over the world. In Kenya, Roy Allela created Sign-IO, but here do we even have enough special needs schools? Are they well managed? How many of them are affordable? Our adoption systems are wack, living conditions are increasingly deplorable and our hospitals are less than reliable, so what independence are we truly celebrating?
In this pandemic, countries all over the world created ways to sustain and protect their citizens. Some handed out stimulus packages, some increased workers’ salaries and issued out non-interest loans, mortgages and rents were halted for a while and although a lot of people lost their jobs during this time, the government made provisions to support them. But what happened here, palliatives were shared to only those who know someone in power and the rest of the money disappeared like breeze. In this same pandemic, the price of foodstuff hit the roof, electricity tariff hiked in price and the price of fuel topped again, and we’re IN A PANDEMIC.
In China, 5G internet speed is almost everywhere. On the other hand, the “4G” internet speed we use runs at snail speed and is extravagant. Aside from Glo, do we own any other popular cellular network used in the country?
Our TV stations have low video and sound quality. No innovative sense, no creativity, it’s extremely appalling.
Should I talk about our lack of WiFi, dilapidated stadiums or our rundown airports? The unimaginable tax demands, the frustration of SMEs by Government Organisations or the unreasonable millions of naira channelled into the commission of the Nigerian Air project and was used to produce a logo.
A logo?? When there are a plethora of youths in Nigeria who are skilled in the art of graphic designing??
I ask again, what independence are we celebrating?
60 years of confusion, tyranny, backwardness, greed, corruption and suffering. Moreover, is this the Nigeria we’re leaving for the younger generation?
We need to sit back and think about the future of this country. Where will we be in 5, 10, 15 years from now?
We need to start working towards that.
Finally, I love this nation and wish it the best.
Happy October loves. May she bring smiles to your faces and love in your hearts.
Maraoma's Blog 