HOW INDEPENDENT IS NIGERIA AT 60?

Firstly, being a proud Nigerian, I would love to join millions of Nigerians all over the world in celebration of the country's Independence day. Being an ethno-religious country compounded with multiethnicities and languages, Nigeria is not only blessed with natural resources but human assets, a situation that has attracted many foreign countries to the great African entity.

Nigeria gained the freedom to control her affairs by her indigenous people independently about 60 years ago. An event which left many people hoping for a greater country and development. Alas! Nigeria, being old at 60, is not only yet to experience real development but as well as going backwards while some of her counterparts are rapidly developing.

At 60, Nigeria is the poverty capital of the world. At 60, Nigeria is one of the most terrorised countries in the world. At 60, Nigeria is a classic example of backwardness, tyranny, insecurity, disunity, impunity, segregation, mismanagement of resources, corruption, nepotism, unemployment, high rate of crimes, cluelessness, confusion, and other uncalled names Nigeria has been able to achieve to herself in the last 60 years.

As a nation, those that fought for our independence probably did because they thought, an independent nation would provide us the power and opportunity to paddle the affairs of the nation in relation to catering and meeting our indigenous people's needs without the compromised influence of an external body. With the obvious sardonic and ill-mannered situations parading the country, should we conclude that the efforts of our heroes past are already in vain?

Let's ponder about this, how truly independent is Nigeria and Nigerians? A country, despite being bestowed with numerous resources still travels abroad for medical treatment. Nigerian leaders fails to develop and invest in the medical sector of the country and thereby spends a lot of money to get attended to medically in other developed countries, thereby, indirectly expanding their revenue.

What about the low value we place on our Education sector to other foreign countries' own? And our cultural values and norms we have abandoned almost totally for the western tradition. Our ancient tourist centers we have neglected and underated therefore adopting the ones cherished and well packaged by our neighbouring countries.

Our so much dependence on foreign countries is evident in the areas of importation of some goods we should have ordinarily provided enabling environment and comfortable means of local production of such goods in our dear country. Our irritating reliance on foreign countries could also be traced to the foreign significant intervention in the areas of infrastructural development in the country, electoral process, crude oil refinery, excess borrowed loans, among many others.

Nigeria and her people not only suffers from the above sub-mentioned catastrophic happenings but as well been agonized by the level of insecurity in the country. This state of distress has made many Nigerians concluded to find their ways out of Nigeria once they have the financial means to do so.

It is high time we began to restore the long lost title of our dear nation and as a people. We can't be practically dependent on the foreign countries as an independent nation. As Nigerian youths and the people at large, our democratic laws have empowered us to take decisions independently without necessarily a recourse to an external body. But we are still much yet to be liberated from the shackles of the shenanigans wrapped around the country as a result of bad leadership.

As democratically empowered independent youths and Nigerian people, it is expected of us to take reasonable political decisions that will eventually result to a productive and a working leadership at all levels of government.

An independent 60 year old nation blessed with numerous resources as Nigeria, should ordinarily ought to have been developed to a state where powerful countries would accord maximum respect to the country and her people but the reverse is the case. Arise O'compatriots, it is high time we toe the path of true independence by ensuring we elect good and trusted leadership to, with sincerity and visionary mindset tossed on nation building, paddle the affairs of the nation and therefore resulting to massive development at all angles of the nation.


Adeleke Azeez Olalekan,
Nigerian Writer and Youths Development Strategist.
adelekeolalekan2000@yahoo.com

Dependent in every respect, even in where to hide stolen money! Zero Independence!