Predictably, President Bola Tinubu like his predecessors, will used the yearly commemoration of the nation’s independence to trumpet the achievements of his administration over the past year, with bogus claims that the country has made significant progress in various sectors of the economy. But given the terrible scenario playing out in the country, manifested in rising insecurity, mass poverty, high corruption, gross official recklessness and near zero governance, it is no surprise that the Nigerian ship of state is rudderless and adrift. There is hardly any aspect of governance that cannot be faulted for incompetence. All things considered, if October 1 calls for celebrations, the failure of leadership, particularly at the center, which has resulted in shattered hopes, broken promises and unfulfilled aspirations, demands only one thing: sober reflection. On this 64th anniversary, it is not too late for Nigerians leaders, to change and make democracy work for the people. And the job is simple: stop stealing, spend the people’s money on them, reduce cost of governance, entrench the rule of law, create employment opportunities, respect the rules of democracy and let a culture of service reign.
Independence in 1960 created a groundswell of euphoria, hope and faith in the Nigerian project. It is indeed sobering that, 64 years later, the anticipated gains of nationhood envisaged by the founding fathers are still being awaited. As the nation marks its 64th independence anniversary, it is not too late for Nigerian leaders, to change and make democracy work for the Nigerian people. Too much pain has been inflicted and now is the time for Nigerian leaders at all levels to focus more on the Nigerian promise – notably what is standing in the way of realizing that promise that, though tongue and tribe may differ, in brotherhood we stand. Today, a baggage of contradictions has emerged as independence has been compromised by unofficial pacts and backroom deals with political godfathers that throw up mercenary leaders; shackled to interests other than noble.
Nigeria at 64 is beset by many life and death challenges for anyone to expend time, energy and scarce resources on celebrating, given the current socio-political tension in the country. Serious issues of economic malfeasance, inflation, corruption, bad governance, and insecurity militating against the smooth running of the nation are yet to be addressed. Nigeria still groans under rising insecurity, mass poverty, inadequate social services, decrepit infrastructure and unemployment among a legion of challenges. These are issues begging for attention, not celebration of a history Nigerians can neither unwrite nor rewrite. Honestly, independence has failed Nigerians; if for the only reason that it engendered political instability that culminated in the civil war; which ushered military rule, marked by absolute disregard for the rule of law, large-scale human rights abuses, monumental corruption, economic mismanagement and decay of infrastructure.
With the return to civil rule in 1999, expectations were high. Against the impunity of the past, Nigerians expected the rule of law, where everyone is equal before the law; against a history of election rigging, Nigerians expected that their votes would count and the people will freely choose their leaders; against massive human rights violation, they expected the veneration of rights; against a history of political assassinations, Nigerians expected to see respect for lives and dignity of man; against a background of poor social services, they expected working hospitals, well-paved roads, well-equipped schools and uninterrupted power supply. Sixty-four years on, against the failure of the Tinubu administration to provide security as a basic ingredient of national governance, all these expectations have, at best, remained forlorn hopes.
On the economic front, Nigeria is a basket case and neck deep in debt with a majority of Nigerians living below the poverty line. Amid the sky-rocketing cost of living, Nigeria has been unable to cater to the welfare of its citizens, and since 2018, the country has remained the poverty capital of the world. Worse even, the Tinubu administration is taking the country into an endless cycle of debt peonage that will mortgage the future of generations of unborn Nigerians and the question then becomes: what will stop the Tinubu administration from borrowing? Also, there is widespread corruption and criminality and Nigerians are unhappy with a situation wherein Tinubu continues to appoint his kinsmen into the commanding height of authority positions in the army and public service in utter violation of the federal character principle; compounded by the president’s disdain for the rule of law. Distraught Nigerians are worried that the Nigerian state is set irretrievably on the path to disintegration. It is only non-discerning minds that can pretend that all is well.
At independence in 1960, there was a groundswell of euphoria and hope in the Nigerian project. It is sobering that, 64 years later, the anticipated gains of nationhood envisaged by the founding fathers are still being awaited. Not a few have marveled at the exemplary character of Nigeria’s founding fathers: the simplicity of Tafawa Balewa, the selflessness of Ahmadu Bello, the patriotic nationalism of Nnamdi Azikiwe and the enduring vision of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, all of which tower above their personal ambitions. Despite the sense of foreboding that the new multi-ethnic nation was unworkable, Nigerians envisioned a great and bountiful country. Today, Nigeria is so greatly afflicted that some wonder at her prospects. Nigeria is a country where a few citizens live in untold opulence while the vast majority wallow in poverty and are scavenging daily to survive. The trouble with Nigeria, noted famous writer and intellectual icon, Chinua Achebe, is a failure of leadership. This failure has resulted in shattered hopes, broken promises, missed opportunities, and unfulfilled aspirations.
So, a good place to start Nigeria’s redemption is for Nigerians to learn the culture of patriotism and other virtues that build successful nations. Today’s generation of moral orphans need to know and understand that the present obsession with inordinate materialism, the rabid pursuit of power for its sake and the abysmally low productivity in virtually all aspects of national life stand in contrast to the vision of the nation’s founding fathers. Besides, the nation’s political space must be fumigated to keep political scavengers and adventurers away from public office. Judging by the frenetic struggle over political positions, it is clear that material aggrandizement, primitive accumulation and other perks of office are the prime motivations of today’s ruling class, not service.
On all accounts, Nigeria is yet to fulfill her destiny. Since the return to democracy in 1999 the political class has shown impetuous and irresponsible behavior at the expense of the people. The looting and the waste going on in Nigeria in the name of governance has no parallel anywhere else in the world, and is responsible for breeding an angry and alienated citizenry who see no dividend in this democracy. At independence, the strength of the Nigerian project was its diversity, even if harnessing that diversity has in some ways become part of the problem, as desperation for power has turned politics from being a contest of ideas to a do-or-die affair in which the winner takes all. Sixty-four years on, there is democracy without true democrats and it is hardly possible to point to a free and fair election ever held, except “June 12”- the milestone in Nigeria’s quest for its true identity.
June 12 was the manifestation of the hopes and aspirations of all Nigerians to be governed by leaders chosen on the basis of democratic principles. On that day in 1993, Nigerians said goodbye to primordial considerations and a Muslim-Muslim ticket was not seen as an incongruity; instead, people saw an all Nigerian ticket. In a powerful message that signaled an end to the usual appeal to ethnicity and the dawn of a New Nigeria, Nigerians voted massively for MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe, despite their religious affiliation. Indeed, a new nation was being born in which there was one ethnic group: Nigeria and only one religion: Nigeria. But in a streak of authoritative madness, the IBB-led military junta annulled that great moment of history and pulled Nigeria into the abyss of despair in which it still gropes today, 64 years after independence. It was probably the most wicked act ever perpetrated against this nation as dictatorship and a bestial culture of impunity returned with a vengeance; and in the process, a once united country was bifurcated along Muslim-Christian, North-South and East-West cleavages.
It is just enough to say that with IBB’s annulment of June 12, Nigeria snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and the nation’s manifest rendezvous with destiny was halted by a mindless dictatorship. The result has been a Nigeria still questioned by many Nigerians; a nation full of promise but still in doubt of itself. After 64 years of independence, Nigeria still remains shipwrecked in the island of gloom and doom, leadership doppelgangers, socio-economic cliffhangers, tribal jingoism and utter cluelessness. There are no functional hospitals, no roads, no affordable housing, no jobs, no food security, no power, no portable water, no effective transport system, no affordable education and no roadmap to strategically reposition the country. The nation is perambulating in concentric circles of buck-passing and trading blames; first we blamed the colonial masters; next, army blamed politicians; then politicians blamed army. Now, APC and PDP blame each other; the legislature blames the executive and vice-versa; Muslims blame Christians; tribes blame each other, zone blames zone, private sector blames public sector, public sector blames private sector, followers blame leaders, leaders blame followers and the blame game never ends.
While Nigeria at 64 suffocates under insecurity, bureaucratic overweight, political immaturity and corruption, and an economy in tatters, it is not too late to rescue Nigeria from the brink. Exemplary leadership is imperative at all levels to realize the dreams of the founding fathers who toiled for Nigeria’s statehood. It is unpatriotic to hear Nigerians say Nigeria has failed us; Nigeria has not failed, we have failed ourselves! Nigeria will work only if Nigerians make it to work. So let us commit ourselves to the work of making Nigeria to work for all Nigerians.