The 64th Independence Day anniversary was remarkable in many ways, but it ended up showcasing Nigeria not as an independent sovereign nation in the true sense of it, but as a country faltering and struggling to remain afloat in the midst of very huge potential. Leadership is at its lowest ebb, and the followership is fast succumbing to hopelessness. The challenge, more for leaders than followers, is to imbibe the culture of true independence that will ensure eradication of poverty, the harnessing of Nigeria’s resources for the gains and enjoyment of generality of Nigerians, eradicate corruption that has stifled development, and free the Nigerian space from common criminality, banditry, insurgency, terrorism and kidnapping that have jointly prevented Nigerians from leveraging on the country’s vast resources or even sleeping with their two eyes closed.
Expectedly, President Tinubu used the occasion to highlight performance of his government and renew the pledge to make life comfortable for Nigerians. However, Nigerians consider much of his claims as spurious and totally at variance with their reality. The President announced a planned conference for youths to discuss issues that affect them while youths used the occasion to protests against hardship in the land, as inflation rate hit a 28-year high, amidst alarming unemployment figures. The anniversary day protests were the second in two months, the first being in August, during which no less than 20 protesters were killed and hundreds arrested.
In all, it was an anniversary like no other, a convergence of contradictions;a supposedly solemn moment of reflection laced with mutual distrust between government and citizens. Characteristically, President Tinubu pleaded patience for a soon-to-arrive relief and comfort while citizens thumbed their noses in contempt and disbelief, having been led through similar unfulfilled promises for decades.
Nonetheless, President Tinubu reiterated his government’s determination to find lasting solution to the suffering of citizens, promising “light at the end of the tunnel.”
President Tinubu regretted that barely six years after independence, the nation found itself on the brink of dissolution resulting from a self-inflicted political crisis. He said: “Since returning from the brink of that darkest moment, we have learned to embrace our diversity and manage our differences better as we continue to work towards engendering a more perfect union.”
However, and on the contrary, the political class has not shown that it learned anything from the past, and this has aggravated the sorry plight of Nigerians. They have for instance handled lamely the crisis between farmers and Fulani herders which has consequently escalated out of control. Crisis entrepreneurs flourished in the North-west as local farmers battled herders in endless tussle over land. Plateau and Benue states became killing fields as herders attack farmers over grazing fields.
In the Southeast, lack of an inclusive government set the tone for the resurgence of Biafra nationalism and the deadly confrontations between violent members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPO) and security personnel.
Even in the 2023 general elections, ethnic bigotry was elevated in place of issues-based campaigns, which led to social disruptions and physical disconnect in the civic space. The ripple effects of such undemocratic encounters are yet to be acknowledged and addressed by government and the political class, and so it is untrue to claim that governments have embraced the country’s diversity and managed the differences better. And the union has not been this polarized apart from during the events and years that characterized the civil war.
Government at both federal and state levels should stay with the facts to be able to correctly diagnose the polity and embrace appropriate solutions to old challenges.
It is true that 16 months ago, this government came onboard at a critical juncture, with the polity facing many headwinds of a wobbly economy and a largely unsafe environment. However, the policies that yielded the chaotic system were those endorsed by the ruling party, which have been in place for nine years and six months. Therefore, Nigerians are no longer receptive to excuses and blame game. Cost of living and poverty index were far better before the All Progressives Congress (APC) came on board.
Now that the ceremonies are over, government should embark on immediate review of the very harsh economic policies it has foisted on the people. The economy has never been this bad, making survival an arduous task for millions of citizens. Prices of food, transportation and household items are no longer affordable. Companies are struggling to meet up with rising cost of production; many have closed shop and others operating far below capacity. Even government workers have stopped going to work every day of the week. This is the harsh reality that Mr. President’s speech refused to mention.
On insecurity, the war on terror and banditry is far from being won as President Tinubu claimed. Reports from states are quite different from the picture painted of “peace restored to hundreds of communities in the North, and thousands of people been able to return home.” Government should take decisive steps to bring all forms of insurgencies to a close, beyond propaganda.
The announcement by the President of a 30-day National Youth Conference sounds positive. But government needs be reminded that there are already enough conference materials with recommendations on how to address the diverse challenges that plague the nation, not just young people. Let this not be another money wasting jamboree with political connotation,whose recommendations will suffer same fate as others, left to gather dust.
There is need for deep reflection on the true meaning of Nigeria’s independence as a sovereign nation. The country cannot be beggarly and claim to be sovereign. Nigerians cannot continue to display crass incompetence in dealing with the country’s problems and claim independence.
Moreover, both leaders and the follower shave abandoned the virtues of discipline, hard work, contentment and honesty that Nigeria’s founding fathers left behind; yet Nigerians claim they are independent. The country is not where it should be, having been left behind by her peers such as India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil and other countries that gained independence about the same period.Nigeria is yet to design a clear timetable and blueprint on how to catch up. Nigerians must show the world that they can truly manage Nigeria’s independence, sustain her economy and build a united polity!
