As Nigeria marks its 63rd Independence anniversary, the voices of Nigerians are those of despair, worry and pain, resulting from the harsh economic times and heightened insecurity that have worsened the living condition of the people.
Yesterday, 1st of October, even the usual independence celebration in Awka, Anambra State Capital organized by the State Government, was without the usual spark and excitement, despite the directive given for all civil servants and appointees to attend.
1st of October 2023 marks 63 years of Nigerian’s independence from the British Colony, and 24 years since the country returned to elective government after 17 unbroken years of military rulership.
It was the opinion of majority of respondents who spoke with TNC correspondent in Anambra, that there is nothing for Nigerians to celebrate about the country’s independence, as the people are now worse off.
According to a former Commissioner for Information in Anambra, Chief Maja Umeh, the most worrisome aspect is the hopelessness among Nigerians especially the youths, resulting in mass exodus from Nigeria.
“It is the hopelessness among our youths that is driving the outflux of human brains from the country to other developed climes. Because the people do not have any hope that anything good can come out of the country for them, they are now leaving, to commit their life and future to other countries, where they can find some respite.
“So, the story of Nigeria at 63 is that of a totally failed state,” Umeh noted.
An educationist, Professor Dennis Aribodor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, attributed the nation’s woes to the failure of successive Nigerian governments at various levels.
According to him, Nigeria at 63 is a celebration of lost hopes, aspirations and opportunities, because the political leaders at the Federal, State and Local Governments, have decided to put themselves first above the nation.
“The leaders have persistently over the years, used illiteracy and poverty to weaken the Nigerian masses from rising to hold them accountable.
“In the 80s, a great Nigerian, Chinua Achebe wrote a piece and titled it ‘the Problem of Nigeria’ which rested squarely on leadership. Till today, that book which is over 40 year-old, is still relevant, speaking to the insensitivity of our leaders in the country.
“The various problems Nigeria is facing are things leadership through government can solve,” Aribodor said.
He harped on the need for the people not to lose hope entirely in the system, but to continue to demand accountability and transparency from the political leaders and everyone occupying positions of authority in the country.
The university don also called on government to identify the abundant talents in the country and harness their potentials to be able to move the nation forward, stressing the need to shun ethnicity, nepotism, and corruption.
From the civil society and rights group angle, Okechukwu Nwanguma believes the numerous socio-economic woes of the country and the fast depreciating value system, calls for serious concerns among all well-meaning citizen.
Nwanguma, who is the Executive Director of Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, RULAAC, insisted that there is really nothing that one wants to be happy about in Nigeria, except, perhaps for those who are still precariously alive, having survived the debilitating times.
He said; “All we have is a failed country. A richly endowed but corruptly mismanaged country. A collapsed economy with a constantly devaluing and almost worthless currency in relation to the US dollar; unchecked corruption, unabated insecurity that continues to reduce the worth of human dignity and life and constantly destroying life, property and livelihoods; mass impoverishment and misery; official ineptitude in addressing insecurity and tackling corruption, instead, official complicity in promoting corruption and insecurity; collapse of infrastructure, failed promises to deliver free, fair, peaceful and credible elections; impunity for human rights violations, and denial of justice; state capture by a cabal of unpatriotic, corrupt, incompetent, visionless and self-serving political class with criminal records; subversion of the democratic principle of separation of powers among different arms of government; promoting nepotism in governance; mass despondency and loss of faith in the country resulting to mass exodus of Nigerians to foreign countries including less endowed but comparatively better run Africa countries.
“Insecurity has halted farming, production, living and livelihoods, and retarded development.
“Government’s shameful inability to guarantee uninterrupted electricity has killed businesses, impeded production, discouraged investments and forced local and foreign investments to close shop and leave the country. It has also disrupted and denied children access to education.
“Educational and healthcare institutions are dysfunctional and incapable of solving the manpower development and healthcare needs of Nigerians. Consequently, Nigerians die untimely of poverty and from preventable diseases. Government is completely distant and absent from the people.
“While workers salaries are grossly inadequate and further diminished in value by daily skyrocketing increase in the cost of living, government is not providing palliatives to cushion the effects of policies that deepen poverty and misery. Yet, government officials continue to unconscionably benefit from undue and unmerited earnings and frivolous multiple allowances.
“There’s a high level of oppression, exploitation and deprivation of the masses, with citizens exploited and dispossessed of their meager income in different guises, yet are denied basic infrastructure and social amenities and services. To illustrate, whereas, in some parts of the country, vehicle users are subjected to road worthiness tests, punishment and exploitation, yet, the roads are not maintained and kept safe and worthy of use.
“Law enforcement agencies are deployed as tools of oppression and injustice rather than as agencies to maintain law and order, provide safety and security, guard and protect human rights and uphold the rule of law. They serve and protect the ruling powers and people of influence, and prey upon the helpless poor masses.
“The man ‘elected’ as the President of Nigeria following the recent largely flawed and widely disputed election continues to grapple with legitimacy crisis on account of the dubious conduct and outcome of the election, as well as questions surrounding his true identity- questions about the records of his birth, paternity, age educational qualifications and indeed, nearly every aspect of his life. This fact alone, summarizes the tragedy of the state of the country and its reputation and rating in the eyes of the world.
“What, then, do we really have to celebrate at 63?”
For a renowned legal practitioner, Chief Mrs Caroline Orji-Ekwerekwu, the only thing Nigerians can boast of is their resilience and never-say-die spirit, to survive in the very bad situation they have found themselves.
