Nigerian 66th Independent Anniversary: What Are We Celebrating? -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

On October 1, 1960, the British Union Jack flag was lowered for the Nigerian green-white-green Nigerian flag signaling the birth of a new nation formerly under British protectorate. The people inhabiting the area christened Nigeria by Flora Shaw, the Lord Lugard’s wife rejoiced. Nigerians from all walks of life rejoiced. Everyone expressed hope of greatness of the new nation. There was belief in the growth of the new nation on account of its population and abundant natural resources. Our leaders and founding fathers gave us hope in their speeches. There were projection and great expectation. Nigeria has potentials of greatness because of its abundant natural resources. Nigerian scholars were the leading light in Africa in different fields of knowledge.

And soon after crisis came because our leaders derailed. There was ethnic and regional rivalry. Our leaders could not hold the people together. Then came the military. They seized power and threw the nation into a deep crisis that resulted in a three-year fratricidal war. The military intervention disrupted our democracy and reversed the progress of our humble beginning as a nation. Many has blamed the pitiable state of the nation to the long period of military rule. The military was in power for 29 years, from 1966 to 1999, broken by Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s four years of civil rule (1979 – 1983).

In 1999, following local and international clamor for a return to civil rule, democracy was restored with the former military leader, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo coming in as the President of the Nigerian Third Republic. Again, after the inauguration of the Third Republic, there was renewed hope of restoration of the country to the path of peace and progress. But, after about 27 years of unbroken democratic rule the hope of growth and progress seems to be a mirage. Initially under the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) regime between 1999 and 2015, there was a glimmer of hope that democracy might take a root in the country.  But since the coming of the All Progressives Congress (APC) regime, things have turned upside down in the country.

The APC regime especially, the current administration under Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that took over power in 2023, has reversed the modest progress the nation made when the PDP was in power so much so that many a Nigerian has lost faith in the unity of the country. And as the nation marks its 66 independent anniversary, the question on the lips of everyone is: “what are we celebrating? Others are asking: “why are we celebrating?

Indeed, those are the pertinent questions. When we were younger, even under the military juntas, we look forward to the independent day ceremony. It used to be the most important day of the year after our religious festivals. I still remember them with nostalgia. We prepare for it. We get inspired after listening to speech of the head-of-state. We want to be patriotic; we want to serve in our nation. But today, that is no longer the case. Nobody remembers the October 1, Independent Day until the Ministry of Interior announces public holiday. The speech of the president today is meaningless because it promises nothing. Every youth now want to “japa”.

The youth of today are not interested in the Independent day event because it means nothing to them. They want to know what progress we have made as a nation. They are asking if we see ourselves as one. They are requesting to know what hope and vision we share as people. And why it has been difficult for us as a people to build the nation of our dream. Yes, they are demanding to know exactly has gone wrong.

There has been many theories about Nigerian failures and woes in past 66 years of nationhood. For 66 years the country is still walking like a toddler instead of a full grown man. For 66 years, the giant is still wobbling, encumbered with myriads of problems. Some attribute the nation’s problems to the plot of the western nations to keep the country disunited in order to continue to exploit its vast natural resources. Some attribute it to ethnic rivalry and religious bigotry.

While the conspiracy theory might sound true, I think the ethnicity problem, mutual suspicion and recrimination among the major ethnic groups is the worst problem of the country coupled the role of the unscrupulous politicians that have taken advantage of tribal and religious differences to keep the country perpetually disunited. Our diversity that is supposed to be our strength has become our worst weakness.

But, the worst problem as the late Prof. Chinua Achebe pointed out years ago is the problem of leadership. Clearly, a good leader with vision would have been able to mobilize and sensitized the people in pursuance of common goals for the nation. We have seen that happen in other nations. In Singapore, China and the Asian Tigers, we saw it. Even in African it is happening – in Rwanda, Seychelles, and Tanzania…But in Nigeria, our leaders especially the current leadership, is corrupt, inept, self-seeking, crude and visionless.

The current leadership has done more damage to the image, unity, peace, progress and the continued existence of the nation more than any other. And it is unfortunate and regrettable that those at the helm of affairs now; those that claimed to have fought for the restoration of democratic governance in the past are the ones working hard to destroy the very democracy they that they fought for.

As the 66^th Independent anniversary party is going on, I am joining the youth in asking: what are we celebrating? What hope for the nation? When will this nightmare of toxic leadership stop? The youth have a great role to play in solving this leadership gap and nightmare. The youth must step up and not allow themselves to be used as thugs by the selfish politicians. They must register and vote and ensure that their votes count. And together we can reclaim our nation and build the future that we desire. Long live Nigeria!

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed
Hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com
An actress, a social activist, politician
London, UK