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Gbajabiamila, others charge Nigerians on liberation from mental slavery

By Margaret Mwantok
11 October 2016   |   4:11 am
Gbajabiamila argued that with that song, the musician was referring to the military government.
Femi Gbajabiamila

Femi Gbajabiamila

Nigerians have been urged to liberate themselves from mental slavery in order to gain economic freedom.

The appeal was made by the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Adebola Williams and the Executive Director, Moyo Pan-Afrikan Solidarity Centre, Sister Affiong L. Affiong yesterday at the eighth Fela Debate Series in Ikeja, Lagos.

The debate was moderated by the Executive Director, Centre for African Culture and Development, Prof. Sophie Oluwole

They spoke on the topic “Movement Against Second Slavery,” which is a title of one of Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s songs.

Gbajabiamila argued that with that song, the musician was referring to the military government.

According to him: “Perhaps, he meant religious, social and economic slavery. Nigeria imports virtually everything today, including food, despite our agricultural endowment. The consequence of this is the scarcity of food we are experiencing.”

Gbajabiamila lamented the negative influence of foreign movies and music on the younger generation. He added that: “Some of our children don’t even speak our languages. The dress sense and supposed high fashion copied from the West leaves nothing to desire.”

He said Nigeria can still win the battle by retaining her values.

Williams, in his contribution lamented that instead of the black man to unite with his kind, he is rather doing the opposite. He urged the media to be credible in educating the public on the achievements of the black race.

He stressed the need to include history in the country’s school curriculum, saying, “The people who do not know their past cannot comprehend the future.”

He urged Nigerians to shun mediocrity and give their best to the country.

Affiong argued that Nigeria is a neo-colonial country still enslaved by the colonial masters.

According to her: “The developed countries are like that because of our labour; we elevate our oppressors because of inferiority complex. We need to have a revolution to loosen the chains of slavery.”

She further described second slavery as advanced colonialism with implications for the state of mind. She also said the removal of history in the school curriculum is a total anomaly.

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