Inde…. wetin or Inde….what?

This past October 1, 2024 was a Tuesday, and it happened to be the 64th year of your country my country our country’s independence from GB – Great Britain. Actually, I did not want to dwell on this in my column today. I never gave thought to the subject. Nigeria’s independence anniversary is not a matter with which our gifted and intellectual columnists and commentators can afford to bother over much, or with which they should, as a rule henceforth, in practice greatly concern themselves.

It is true that from year to year since October 1, 1960 our journalists, columnists, scholars and commentators have been performing the ritual of October 1st, ‘classicists’ – if I am permitted to so delightfully label them. Several of this group of creative coiners and penners of words and talkers some of whom consist/consisted of delightful professors, historians, lawyers, political and cultural scholars and writers, literary artists, creators of literature and of the fine arts as well as historians of the arts in general, and scientists are, were and have always been taken seriously.

Despite their thoughtful thoughts and opinions, their supreme value has always been temporary, and political and their chief relevance has always been in the domain of topical matters and issues. Their names were and are known glaringly in the contemporary publics of their respective times. But what damage have they done their reputation! What damage have they done to their image! But why am I talking like this?

The politicians and political leaders, or better the political rulers, of the different dispensations since our so-called independence, have they ever taken them seriously, or as seriously as they should? Indeed, what has significantly changed in our polity especially since 2015, and prior to 2015?

What significant or supreme change or changes have we witnessed since the different groups or classes of professional or un-professional politicians entered our lives and political spaces? What differences have we witnessed in our lives as individuals or collectively as a nation every October 1 since, for instance, the time of Dr. Jonathan up to now? Have we not been moving from one pain and deprivation to another – and steadily so? Which of the groups or classes is not bereft of one political virtue or morality or the other? Is there any total or complete or standard sum of vices which we may not arrogate to any of the classes?

With each succeeding ruling class, we witness a sharp deterioration of human values, and broken promises – no matter with which schemes of our individual or collective valuation. Every successive regime or class tends to tell us that it is worse and more dangerous than the preceding one it succeeds.

Ultimately, what do we do? And what do our anniversary wishes, desires and all what not that is good fetch us? We will only end up in systematic (or unsystematic) misunderstanding, and futile controversy if we elect to continue or to pursue what I am canvassing in accordance with our ideals, general excitement of passion and prejudice – rather than by reason. Of course, we are reasonable enough to know that this October 1, is not worth dwelling on or celebrating in any guise – ethically, theologically, politically, in fact, by any standard. But our number one personage allowed it to be celebrated, and even declared it a public holiday! What for?

Was he compelling us to celebrate his new presidential plane, his new presidential cruise ship or the new presidential loan from foreign Western institutions? Where are our public universities today? Where are our hospitals today? What are the states of our roads toady? What is our security like today? What is the colour of our military today? What is the complexion of our police force today? What do we make of our intelligence service and institution today? And our stomachs – do they have healthy, nutritious foods to eat and digest? And our take-home remunerations, are they giving new meanings to our lives and existence? Questions, questions, questions……. And more questions and questions and questions……. With no concrete answers in sight.

I did not bother to listen to the president’s speech. I also did not bother to watch him on television. I did not want to hear his insipid insipidities and platitudinous platitudes. After all, I have had no official light, official electricity, for centuries. And he and his lieutenants expected me to glue myself, to a radio or television to hear and watch him offer us what they normally and usually offer us – broken promises and expectations with no sunlight at the end of day of the president and his jotters of platitudes?

What many compatriots looked forward to celebrate from Warri to Maiduguri was President Bola Tinubu’s announcement that henceforth all rogues in our political institutions and offices and elsewhere shall be given the Chinese drug that never fails. Did he say that he would do this? Did he say so in exactly the same manner that he announced the abolition of fuel subsidy in his inaugural presidential speech? If he did not, he, I honestly think, should fly to China again to study, even for a brief day, how to manufacture and give the Chinese drug to those who deserve to be administered and given it to. Unless he does so, I will keep on asking: What did you chaps celebrate? What kind of inde… did you celebrate? Inde…wetin or inde…what did you celebrate? Whatever it was, I will keep on expecting inde… waiting!

On October 1st, I Played Fela’s “Independa” all through. That was the music of the one and only typical Fela of the 1960s when he played the music he described as a “jazz super-imposed on highlife.” I am talking of Fela of the Koola Lobitos days when he and his band boys dressed in complete three piece suits.

Make of this how you will. I shared the music from my WhatsApp among several of my chums and pals, including my English Literature teacher (now a grand old man) in my Higher School Certificate class who thanked me for sharing “this nostalgic piece.”

Afejuku can be reached via 08055213059.