Nigeria At 50: Should We Celebrate?

By Dimeji Ogedengbe

All the halls, event centres and every available space were occupied. Every patriotic Nigerian scattered across the world gathered in groups, either as a community, association or religious bodies, to wave the GREEN WHITE GREEN flag and chant the national anthem in the spirit of brotherhood and one love.

We recall the valor, courage, sacrifice, power and vision of our compatriots who gave birth to Nigeria 50 years ago. From our present day women of values, to our children and youths of hope, to our honest men who are sincerely guarding our treasury and genuinely protecting our interests as a nation till date – we salute them all today.

As much as our joy and jubilation should be bounty; a sober reflection on the drowning state of our nation keeps filtering in a corner of our hearts.

Should we even be celebrating or mourning Nigeria’s fifty years of failed system? One epileptic government comes; another illness-ridden government goes – a tiny cabal has capsulated the future of our nation. The rotation goes on and on. 

In our own country, we have been burned, torn and trampled on by those whom we voted in power. They have made our children go to bed hungry. Our teenagers are beaten by rain and dried by a scorching sun in their classrooms – their school structures are in a sorry state.

Scores of our relations and friends have died unnecessarily from very treatable ailments because medical practitioners are on strike for the Government’s decline to their needs. The roads have become death traps, sending our breadwinners to their early graves. For fifty year they sailed like blind sailors and paralyzed captains; yet no shore in sight – it hurts.

But one day, we’ll overcome. It will become a thing of the past. Senseless leadership will be past tense. The incorrigible administrators will be trampled upon and the state of penury will become mere memories.

One day, we’ll have good roads, working health system, potable water, enough jobs, power supply, and good education.

One day, our best brains come back home. They will jostle to occupy public offices to effect a positive change. The change that has made the United States the world power; the change that has made the United Kingdom a nation of nations. They will not come because they want to be part of the national cocktail – creating holes on our treasury and siphoning our collective gifts.

One day, corruption will become a taboo in our nation – it’ll taste like a sour soup to the regular man on the street. We’ll not have supposed corruption fighters technically championing the cause to executive robbery, looting and dealing. We’ll be glad to miss such people in our midst. We’ll feast; dance and pop-up champagne at their funerals. We’ll only remember them when we open our black books in the future.

One day, our musicians and actors will be well rewarded from their works. Piracy would be gone. Gone forever.  The entertainment business will turn over huge revenue for the nation. Royalties will not be treated with frivolity. Everyone will be paid according to his values. No cheating. No greed. No more. No less.

One day, we’ll have free and fair elections. The Independent Electoral Commission will be independent indeed. Our votes will count. There will not be shooting at the polls; no stealing of ballot boxes. There’ll be no zoning or kidnapping. No militancy!

One day, we’ll all vote for our desired candidates at freewill, even in our homes. Yes! I mean our homes on the World Wide Web.

Then we’ll be free. Free like birds.

That one day is called HOPE. We don’t know when it’ll be; for it’s not a day you can mark on the calendar. But that day will surely come. Let’s keep the hope alive as we wish NIGERIA a happy 50^th anniversary. I believe in a new Nigeria. Do you? God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.