The 1st day of October, 1960 remains one of the indelible dates in the heart of informed Nigerians for obvious reasons. It was the day the union Jack flag was lowered down by Naval Rating Akano at the command of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s ADC, Commander O. C Chiazor to signal the independence of the country from the British Imperialists. This was followed by the lifting of the nation’s green-white-green flag as a replacement in the presence of Princess Alexandra of Kent who represented the Queen of England, Elizabeth II at Race Course, Lagos.
The process that led to this began in 1953 when late Chief Anthony Enahoro moved a motion to that effect at the National Assembly. It was however delayed till 1960 when the British were finally pressured to grant the request of the founding fathers of the nation. Since this day, 65 years ago, till date, different governments of the independent Nigeria have continued to organize programs to commemorate the date as marking the beginning of freedom from slavery and oppression in the hands of the British colonial masters.
Unfortunately, the prevailing circumstances in the country today have continued to leave citizens divided on the progress made so far by the country. While some argue that she has made tremendous progress, others hold the view that her’s is independent departure into economic agony, political dinosaur, tribal strife, and bad governance. Many educated people are thus compelled to further re-examine the true meaning of independence in this context which have been found to be; “Freedom from being governed or ruled by another country”.
The analysts reason that if Nigeria is truly independent, she will not be relying on the opinions of foreign nations or organisations such as the International Monetary Fund, IMF and the World Bank in taking critical economic decisions and determination of the country’s planning data, including population and development growth statistics.
However, the country as a geographical entity can be best described in this 21st century as a nation that, though faced with myriad of challenges from inception, has kept herself on the path of development on the altar of the extravagant grace of God. In spite of daunting challenges, Nigerians therefore, deserve to celebrate the country for many reasons. For instance, she metamorphosed from a land mass ‘without form and void’ until 1893 when Lady Flora Lugard (nee Flora Shaw), a British journalist coined an identity – Nigeria as a name for her. Before then, the country was run as a business enterprise called “the Royal Niger Company” which later became what is today known as the United African Company, UAC.
So far, her location on the world map cannot be mistaken. She is presently the largest economy in the African continent and the most populous black nation globally. It could not have been possible for the country to take her pride of place among the comity of nations without the patriotic inputs from her citizens. Ironically, while most of the Diaspora citizens like Dr. Okonjo Iweala, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, Mr. Phillip Emeagwali and others are recording tremendous feats in their countries of abode and braking racial barriers, those at home appear to have remained adamant to changes, with corruption remaining a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the society.
It is worthy to note that despite a needless wasted three years of war and the incidences of capital flight that has caused companies like Volkswagen of Nigeria Limited, Leyland Limited and many textile companies to relocate from Nigeria, the country presently boasts of the largest oil refinery in Africa with patronage from great counties like the United States of America, USA and other indigenous striving motor manufacturing companies such as the Inoson Motors Limited, Nnewi, Anambra State. The richest man in Africa with a net worth of about $29 billion is a Kano state-born Nigerian, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
The country has also enjoyed 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance since 1999 despite the many discordant and bitter protest experiences within the period. Despite complains and criticisms that have trailed past elections, no section of the country or state have ever boycotted the general electoral contests.
In the meantime, the country is yet to organize democratic elections with generally accepted outcomes by all contestants and organisers. The one of 2023 seem to be most pathetically controversial. The cases against the outcomes at various levels were not resolved until the intervention of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Generally, the complaints of hunger in the land, tribal bigotry in Lagos, continued agitation for separation from the people of the south east, electoral brouhaha and insecurity level in the country do not speak well of a country that prides herself as the giant of Africa. These and many other disturbing issues must therefore be urgently tackled if the country is to be placed in the right independent perspective. And failure to do so will amount to stressing the grace at work in the country too far.
