Nigeria at 58: Chronicle of Our Political Journey vis-a-vis The Gain And The Pain | Abdulmajeed A. Muhammed
As Nigeria celebrate the 58 anniversary of its independence, there is need to remiscience on our historical journey to appreciate the factors that motivated Nigeria great nationalists to fight for Nigerian independence from British colonialist.
Historically, Nigeria was once a slavery ground before the British prohibited it in 1807, but yet replaced it with another injurious exercise, colonization of Nigeria.
The British divided Nigeria into three protectorates, viz; Lagos, Northern Nigeria and Southern Nigeria in 1861. 1900 mark the year that the Northern Nigeria protectorate and Southern Nigeria protectorate were merged into one entity. The two territories however got amalgamated in 1914 by governor Frederick Luggard. The two territories became colony and protectorate of Nigeria. The Lagos colony was however merged with the Southern Nigeria protectorate in 1906. The two were later merged with the Northern Nigeria protectorate in 1914.
The British took over our affairs and treated us autocratically and as children of a lesser god in which they describe us, they imposed an economic system on Nigeria with a view to profit from Nigeria labour, after military conquest over Nigeria. At the earlier days the British adopted indirect rule over us. The missionaries were part of the unarmed forces used by the British government to penetrate into the Nigerian minds. Nigerians welcomed the churches and subscribed to the western ways of life and this further quickens penetration of the Nigerian hinterlands by the British.
In addition, the British ran it course over us, they took Abubakr Tafawa Balewa, Namdi Azikiwa and Sir Ahamdu Bello as their policy adherents not knowing that these individuals will be the catalysts that will be necessary for the process of decolonization of Nigeria. There is a sense in which these individuals mentioned above started recognizing that they have been enslaved and colonized, we now have to liberate ourselves.
The agitation started and Abubakr Tafawa Balewa, Nnamdi Azikiwa, Sir Ahamdu Bello and other Nigerians acquired the independence of Nigeria in 1960, the reason was clear as to why we seek for the independence; we wanted to take charge of our affairs, we wanted to be the governor, self-government, we wanted our citizens to acquired standard education, we are eager to control our agriculture and infrastructure, we seek the independence to improve the health of our people and to eliminate poverty. The message was clear and we attain the independence, and now have the freedom to determine in our affairs.
The aftermath of the independence was something undesirable. The Nigerian women were suffering; the Nigerian women who thought upon attaining political independence should now deliver in a decent hospital was still the victim of village midwives, the citizens who thought they will now get water at the comfort of their home are still running five kilometres before they could get some water.
Amidst all these, our leaders are enriching themselves at the expense of the poor masses, laundering their clothes in foreign countries.
The Nigerian youth who thought upon realization of independence that they will get employment, are still unemployed. The Nigerian youth who thought libration will bring new things are now stranded, putting all hopes on football and music. The question now is: for what purpose did we gain independence? For a country endowed with such rich and fertile soils and Africa's largest oil reserves and Iron ore. It should be doing doing beyond or much better. It was in the sense of "bridge between potential and fulfillment" that provoked Wole Soyinka, who spoke sometimes ago demanding the Nigerian leadership to give it citizens better reason to celebrate the independence.
There is indeed nothing new in every year independence speech from previous leadership, with due respects and if I am allowed to crave the power-wrestlers indulgence. All interested Nigerians are already aware of all our problems and more shit that you will say, but like I will say, the question begging for a timely answer is who will bail the cat. Tribe, religion and culture, good as they are in themselves, have been abused by leaders of thought, prophets of all religions (except the traditional ones, because their deities do not tarry before breaking the neck of hypocrites), tribal champions etc. The way forward which must be agreed upon by all stakeholders in Nigeria is the only way out of the quagmire.
As a patriotic citizen, I say happy flag or internal independence to Nigeria.
Historically, Nigeria was once a slavery ground before the British prohibited it in 1807, but yet replaced it with another injurious exercise, colonization of Nigeria.
The British divided Nigeria into three protectorates, viz; Lagos, Northern Nigeria and Southern Nigeria in 1861. 1900 mark the year that the Northern Nigeria protectorate and Southern Nigeria protectorate were merged into one entity. The two territories however got amalgamated in 1914 by governor Frederick Luggard. The two territories became colony and protectorate of Nigeria. The Lagos colony was however merged with the Southern Nigeria protectorate in 1906. The two were later merged with the Northern Nigeria protectorate in 1914.
The British took over our affairs and treated us autocratically and as children of a lesser god in which they describe us, they imposed an economic system on Nigeria with a view to profit from Nigeria labour, after military conquest over Nigeria. At the earlier days the British adopted indirect rule over us. The missionaries were part of the unarmed forces used by the British government to penetrate into the Nigerian minds. Nigerians welcomed the churches and subscribed to the western ways of life and this further quickens penetration of the Nigerian hinterlands by the British.
In addition, the British ran it course over us, they took Abubakr Tafawa Balewa, Namdi Azikiwa and Sir Ahamdu Bello as their policy adherents not knowing that these individuals will be the catalysts that will be necessary for the process of decolonization of Nigeria. There is a sense in which these individuals mentioned above started recognizing that they have been enslaved and colonized, we now have to liberate ourselves.
The agitation started and Abubakr Tafawa Balewa, Nnamdi Azikiwa, Sir Ahamdu Bello and other Nigerians acquired the independence of Nigeria in 1960, the reason was clear as to why we seek for the independence; we wanted to take charge of our affairs, we wanted to be the governor, self-government, we wanted our citizens to acquired standard education, we are eager to control our agriculture and infrastructure, we seek the independence to improve the health of our people and to eliminate poverty. The message was clear and we attain the independence, and now have the freedom to determine in our affairs.
The aftermath of the independence was something undesirable. The Nigerian women were suffering; the Nigerian women who thought upon attaining political independence should now deliver in a decent hospital was still the victim of village midwives, the citizens who thought they will now get water at the comfort of their home are still running five kilometres before they could get some water.
Amidst all these, our leaders are enriching themselves at the expense of the poor masses, laundering their clothes in foreign countries.
The Nigerian youth who thought upon realization of independence that they will get employment, are still unemployed. The Nigerian youth who thought libration will bring new things are now stranded, putting all hopes on football and music. The question now is: for what purpose did we gain independence? For a country endowed with such rich and fertile soils and Africa's largest oil reserves and Iron ore. It should be doing doing beyond or much better. It was in the sense of "bridge between potential and fulfillment" that provoked Wole Soyinka, who spoke sometimes ago demanding the Nigerian leadership to give it citizens better reason to celebrate the independence.
There is indeed nothing new in every year independence speech from previous leadership, with due respects and if I am allowed to crave the power-wrestlers indulgence. All interested Nigerians are already aware of all our problems and more shit that you will say, but like I will say, the question begging for a timely answer is who will bail the cat. Tribe, religion and culture, good as they are in themselves, have been abused by leaders of thought, prophets of all religions (except the traditional ones, because their deities do not tarry before breaking the neck of hypocrites), tribal champions etc. The way forward which must be agreed upon by all stakeholders in Nigeria is the only way out of the quagmire.
As a patriotic citizen, I say happy flag or internal independence to Nigeria.
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