Independence Again!

On October 1st 1960, Nigeria gained Independence from her colonial Master, Britain. It was  the victory of a bloodless battle well fought by the likes of Anthony Enahoro, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa and Obafemi Awolowo. After other African countries gained their own freedom, it was like that of Nigeria would not come. The heroes who had fought long, held on till it was signed.

Great was the joy of every Nigerian that first Independence celebration. Loud was the celebration. Long it lingered.  Food and drinks were shared. Adults and children danced on the streets. Parties went on for days. Nigerians are an autonomous people, though with diversities, standing in unity , free to rule ourselves and enjoy the bounties of our God given land. Anyone and everyone could attain lofty heights as we together build a nation that thrives and protects her citizens.

I had not been born then, but I grew up in a Nigeria that was still prosperous. I and my contemporaries sang the songs of our Independence at school, on the play ground and we heard our parents talk about Independence day with light in their eyes and pride in their voices. Every 1st October was something to look forward to as a child.The pump and pageantry was unmatched during the national parade. 

Gradually, we grew older, we saw a Nigeria that was not for everyone. A few Nigerians shared the prosperity of Nigeria between themselves and their Family members.  Our future had been sold.  Limits had been placed for us, there where things we dared not dream of. We are  a people not free even in freedom.  Another slavery had begun. Corruption started to eat deeply into the fabrics of our country. Injustice and unemployment became the order of the day. Merit was thrown to the grounds. What mattered was who you know or how much you could pay your way through. Government after Government promised to tackle the issues, but sank us deeper. We saw coup after coup that awakened more dragons for the country to battle with. Democracy was restored in the late nineties, but the civilians were non the better. They were neck deep in corruption. They turned regions against regions, religion against religion. All for their own selfish ends. Nepotism and ethnicity became rife.

Celebrating Independence became a thing of the past. What was there to celebrate when the structures that were handed over to a free people had failed at exponential rates?  How could we celebrate when we were divided as a people in ways unimaginably? The nation groaned and sighed.

Me and my contemporaries are still way better off, we had tasted a little of the old Nigeria. The millenials have only inequality, injustice, unemployment, universities strikes, religious crises, Boko Haram insurgency, bandits and kidnappings, fuel scarcities, bad governance and post election crisis as their rewards for being born into this country . Many youths have been terrorized by SARS, an anti- robbery unit of the Nigerian Police. Many are presenting at home for almost eight months and still counting. Many families cannot eat even two meals in a day. Education has been in the reverse gear and so expensive that many cannot afford. Inflation is on the rise.

I see that ,that is the reason why the youth decided that enough is enough to bad governance . They have been more on the receiving end.

The youth threw their weight behind  a candidate whom the political class termed " structureless" and unpopular. The young saw in him the key to unlocking the doors of the fortunes of our dear nation. The youths volunteered to be structures for a credible candidate of their choice. 

This year's celebration of Independence day took a different turn.  The youth were able to mobilize young and old to match in solidarity for their candidate. Streets of major cities were flooded by people who were beginning to hope again.  Voters apathy has been broken. For the first time, many people are ready to vote in credible leaders .

Love the youth or hate them, they have awoken the sleeping giant in us. They gave us a reason to hope for a  new Nigeria.  Now ,we are a People who know that to get different results for Nigeria,  things needed to be done differently. They organised and self- funded campaigns, a diviation from the normal paid crowds we see every election. It happened this year's celebration of Independence day. We did not celebrate the lies and excuses that are dished out every 1st October, but the hope of what can be if we all arise to our duties to vote wisely.

Their message is clear. Youths can do far better than be used for only political thuggery. Leadership is for the capable, not for sale or compensation to a few entitled persons. Leaders should not be imposed on any people. Enough is enough.

It will be said that  that Nigeria got Independence again in  1st October 2022 ,when the people decided to say enough is enough to God fatherism in imposing political candidates on the people.  When the people decided to let their votes count by choosing based on merits and capability. When money was dethroned from being the decider. When  People refused to be given a few naira, but instead gave millions to support the one they believe in. Here is true democracy! A government of the people by, the people for people.

2023 elections will come and go, but we 

Will not be the same again. We know what it means to be colonized twice and are not willing to continue on this path again. Now the very soul of our dear country has been revived. It is ready to fight for it self. 

A line from the national anthem says, " the labor of our heroes past shall never be in vain ".

Today I say " the labor of our youths today, shall never be in vain".

Happy Independence again Nigeria!