Naturally, today is a public holiday in Nigeria. States and the Federal Government traditionally line up activities to celebrate and mark the day Nigeria became free of British rule on October 1, 1960.
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In the past, we do also see independent bodies organise street parades – with people donned in beautiful shades of Green, White, and Green – connoting the Nigerian Flag.
Aside from the Nigerian National Anthem which is now often sung without verve at national events, the one or two popular songs that have spoken directly to uplift the psyche of Nigerians in the past few years are also becoming monotonous in People’s ears.
Timi Dakolo’s Great Nation and TY Bello’s The Land is Green songs have spoken directly to the hearts of a new generation of Nigerians – hoping to spark anew the spirit of patriotism – but negative actions of selfish leaders keep countering that objective.
It may seem as though ordinary Nigerians are willing to change positively, to move the nation forward to greater heights after 61 years of independence, but unscrupulous leaders keep engaging in vices while thwarting the law to their will.
Would some of the heroes such as Anthony Enahoro, Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa and others who fought for the independence of Nigeria, feel pride and be elated at the current state of the Nation?
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Independence Day celebration, this year, and for the umpteenth time, calls for a sober reflection in a nation fast losing its streak of greatness. The unction which once decorated Nigeria as the Giant of Nigeria needs to be reworked and monitored by all patriots.
Independence Day celebration, this year demands that we as Nigerians evaluate why a deluge of young citizens are trying to escape from the shores of the country as if they are running from enslavement or colonialism all over again.
The irony of the Nigerian reality is deep and severe: it begs the question that if Nigerians are truly free of colonial rule, are they really free of bad leadership, dilapidated infrastructure and the plunder by the aristocratic class?
Independence Day is Nigeria’s birthday. Ordinarily, every day people also do a sort of self-reflection and evaluation amidst the celebration of marking their birthdays.
It would not be anything out of the world for all Nigerians to do a candid reflection on the State of the Nation and the State of their Personal Affairs/Well-Being, this Independence Day; let the gallivanting and gyrations come another day.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, NIGERIA!
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