Nigeria’s 57 th independence ceremony reminds us of our colonial past and our eventual victory in our fight for self governance. But a slow motion cascade of the Nigerian fabrics throws us back to the stark ethos of the Stone Age society, one mired in all forms of brutish behavioral projection which are still self evident.
It was first the Portuguese blazing the trail in slave trade with the first raid dating back to 1444 and as African native rulers sold their conscience for objects like mirrors, guns etc, the continent was mired in under population. And to enjoy their much promised benefits from the Europeans, the continent became a theatre of warfare enveloped in the Darwinist idea of “the survival of the fittest”. Over 12.5 million People across west and central Africa were lost to the slave trade episode. Notable names like Ajayi Crowther, Olaudah are innocent victims involved in such ineptitude and thus first form of shaving a man’s hair in his absence became visible.
Post independence experience has not been far from the aforementioned narrative, as self acclaimed custodians of power subverted the instrument of power through the military in usurping power oneself evident in the January 1966 coup that crumbled the existing political format created by the Brits, however without the consent of Nigerians. The outcome cannot be worse than the Biafra crisis that renewed ethnic rivalries and patrimonial politics that still pervades the political landscape. General Babangida’s defied the odds of Nigerians by annulling the 1992 election which on all fronts Abiola won. To save his face, a caretaker government headed by Ernest Shonekan did little in banishing his erroneous action. Similar scenarios are still self evident in our 4th republic with election manipulation becoming norms.
So the question I raise today is in view of financial mismanagement prevalent in our dispensation. Do our votes really count during elections? Are the funds stashed in foreign banks in our interest and with our consent? Abacha’s financial manipulation, 1.9 billion naira Ebola funds and other cases of financial misappropriation cannot be said to be in the interest of we Nigerians. Senators and political representatives wine and dine in financial prosperity of funds for constituency projects while electorates wane in poverty lacking access to facilities that can better their lots.

To continue reading check

http://economicplatform.ng/politics-act-shaving-mans-hair-absence/