Nigeria @ 60: Farthermost Below Heroes Past Visions
Fisayo Olafusi
In time immemorial, in their efforts to sustain freedom otherwise known as independent to some Africa countries, most especially, Nigeria some leading Africans under the aegis of nationalists, craved for self governing as against the egotistic ingratiation of the white colonial race.
Differents strategies that could mechanize towards achieveable total freedom from enslavement of the white
were exploited among which, were the creation of the first national newspaper called “Daily Times” by the first prime minister of Nigeria Sir. Albert Marculay which trended across the nation and series of progressivism meetings held mostly in Ghana under the watch of Casely Heford, a Ghanian lawyer.
At long run, they succeeded in taken over their government from the white colonial masters which revolved in the joint agreement between some notable political frontiers in the then Nigeria among which were, the premier of Western region, Chief. Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe (1st president of Nigeria), Tafawa Balewa( 1st prime minister), Albert Marculay and representatives of the colonial masters in resolving to handover power to them(Nigerians) come October 1, 1960.
On October 1, 1960, Nigerians were granted freedom from the colonial masters with which the Nigerian flag of white and green substituted the Britain’s and Nigerians were equally permitted to design constitution and currency which gave birth to Naira and Kobo.
The aim of the then Nigeria heroes past was that, the giant of Africa country would have developed in few years to come even when they were no more in existences. Not knowing, that the reverse is the case.
Nigeria got its appellation of the giant of Africa as a result of its vast in development and in population. Indecisively, such prestige couldn’t stands to make headlines of the dailies today in our country due to hypnotism of corruption, insecurity, maladministration, nepotism, tribalism and other social vices.
The then Nigeria was seen in the eyes of beholder as most peaceful haven for all where virtually, all other countries citizens loved to reside had in recent time turned to the den of lion sporadically, taken over by all sorts of menace which kidnappings and insurgencies couldn’t be left out.
Quite disgusting, our pattern/style of government, deterrent the philosophy of acclaimed Democratic system of government being practice amidst our peers due to incessant in electioneering rigging, snatching of ballot boxes, inducements at polling units and others in time being.
Had it been some of Nigeria’s past heroes who in one way or the other sacrificed their lives for its self governing were opportuned to look back from their respective graves, most of them would have be in tears today when their country clocked 60 years of freedom from obnoxious laws of the colonial masters without tangible recorded achievement(s). The most common slogan of any government in power is raising of abusing fingers on past administrations until its tenure wade off instead of filling the lapses gaps created by its predecessors.
The future of this country is fresh to be bright for we are blessed with resources that some of the most developed countries don’t have. If only our governments/political players are not being self-centered in sharing the national cake, I am optimistic that, Nigeria would be among developed countries in few years to come.