Nigeria@ 51: Nigeria, A Dream Deferred

BY UDUMA KALU, VANGUARD

Our founding fathers did not negotiate that at 51, Nigeria would become the 14th failed state in the world. Neither did they agree that it would be among the nations with the least human development index, nor that it would still be crawling five decades after independence. Our founding fathers did not dream that their great grand children would be treated with contempt as a result of mismanagement of its abundant resources.

Indeed, they dreamt dreams and had visions for the country at independence. For example, modern Nigeria’s founding father and first president, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, had envisioned Nigeria to be Africa’s super power and hope of the black race. But today, that dream seems to be in the wind. This is what is agitating the minds of Nigerians as they mark the country’s 51st independence anniversary today.

In its unique manner, Saturday Vanguard assembled its team of journalists to examine, through interviews and features stories, the fate and state of the nation at 51.

From the reports gathered from all corners of the country, the verdict, though somewhat mixed, is the same: Nigeria at 51 is still a country, not a nation. This is the view of Chief Richard Akinjide, the former NPN chairman, Evangelist Elliot Ukoh of the Igbo Youth Movement, social critic Abubarkar Umar, Attahiru Bafarawa who was former governor of Sokoto, among others. While some want a radical approach to tackle the infrastructural decay in the country, others want a restructuring of the polity entirely.

But Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the veteran politician, put it more succinctly, “I want a system whereby Jonathan would have been there as of rights. If he leaves that place without ensuring that the constitution of the country is reviewed in a way that we will be living together, he will divide Nigeria.”

Things must have gone too bad for Adebanjo to say this. In fact, more frightening statements came from other eminent Nigerians such as Abubakar Umar and Prof. Oyebode, the two of who believe that colonialism would have been better than the independence we have now.

Saturday Vanguard also looked at the state of our infrastructure since 1898 when the railway system and the electrical plants were established. What we found out is a nation at 51 that cannot manage its development. From a bankrupt railway to epileptic electricity, from dead steel mills to ineffective textile and automobile companies, we discovered a nation whose promise at independence of a super power and hope for the black race has been mortgaged by selfish, greedy and cruel power blocs which staying power is to impoverish and wreak bloodshed on the citizenry. In fact, all the variants of making Nigeria great, which it had more in abundance than Malaysia and Brazil but which have overtaken it, have not been allowed to flourish. This saddens those who dreamt the dream of a great nation, including concerned patriots.

Ironically, Nigeria began well at independence. Its civil service was among the best in the Commonwealth. Agriculture was its main economy. The different regions were doing very well. In fact, the Eastern Nigeria was reported as the fastest growing economy. Graduates had easy access to employment. The industries were working. Then, it was a thing of pride to say you were a Nigerian. No nation could refute, deride, or treat Nigerians with contempt at its borders. Then the military struck, due to political mismanagement, and there was a civil war which tore the soul of the nation apart.

Today, the dreams and visions of that ‘Promised Great Nation’ flutters in the wind like a rag. Industries have collapsed. Some of them have fled to Ghana and other neighbouring countries. Our youths have no jobs and no hope of a simple decent life in Nigeria. Some seek greener pastures abroad in droves. The dignity of Nigerians all over the world is spilled in the mud. We are like pests to all nations of the world.

Oil, which was meant to comfort us, is now our albatross, our curse. Even in our plenty, we are among the world’s poorest. The UNDP report says we are among the least developed nations with high rate of illiteracy, mortality rate, life expectancy rate, among other ugly decorations that dot our independence celebration today. UNEP says the oil spills in Ogoni are the worst in human history and will require billions of dollars to clean.

Nigeria today is at its most intolerant period. Religious bigotry has taken over the land. Value for human life is lost, exemplified by the insurgence of militia groups and religious extremists, killing the weak and the innocent. Our educational system is in a shambles, with mass failure results posted every year.

Yet, this is a country that produced the Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, Father of Modern Literature Chinua Achebe, Father of Africa’s 20th Century Poetry Christopher Okigbo, Fela Anikulapo, JP Clark, Ben Okri, Chimamanda Adichie, Dick Tiger, Power Mike, Nwankwo Kanu, Philip Emeagwali. Yet, there is still hope that Nigeria can still make it as the IMF and the World Bank tell us but only if it listens to the words of the wise and does the right thing.