When, on the saturday morning of October 1, 1960, the new Nigerian flag of green-white-green was raised in place of the “Union jack flag”, there were many hopes in the air. As the new Nigerian flag was being raised, Nigerians have a new sense of belonging, and a high hope of a better future. Subsequent events since that Saturday morning will however prove them wrong.
We are 52years today, yet we were never at ease. Corruption, mismanagement, maladministration and poor governance structure coupled with a citizenry with a vague picture of
what patriotism is or should be, stares and hits us hard on the face. Its scary, yet true that this is a nation run on auto-pilot, one for which after 52yrs, we are still plagued largely by the same problems.
From one of the richest and most promising 50 countries in the late1960s and early 1970s, Nigeria is today among the 20 countries in the world with the widest gap between the rich and the poor. The nation has gradually declined in fortunes for its people to become among the poorest in the world. As one of the world’s top 10 crude oil producers, Nigeria currently fares very poorly in all development indices. Average annual percentage
growth of GDP from 1990 -2000 was 2.4. The Gross National Income, GNI, per capita is less than US $260; under-five mortality rate per 1,000 live births is 153; average maternal mortality ratio
per 100,000 live births is 545; and life expectancy at birth is 48 years for males and 49 years for females.
First, corruption has been a bane to our development. How can we develop when more 95 percent of our national income will always find its way up into the “looters’ pockets”?. Successive administrations has come and gone with various promises, which ultimately fails, and most times leads into more problems. The various business organisations in Nigeria are well used to getting involved in questionable “sharp business practices”. Little wonder Nigerians are asked to recharge with #200 to win an aeroplane. Absurd!
Moreso, the state of security has been on a very sharp decline, especially with the recent activities of the Boko Haram sect. Yet, the government appears helpless as to how this situation should or will be solved. The health and education sectors has been “well funded” with no result. Our leaders finds it easier to treat ordinary malaria at a clinic abroad rather than getting treated at a Teaching hospital in Nigeria.
We have been living with the delusion that since we have been able to survive up till this point, we will continue to survive. This is fallacious!. We are in a state of decline, or rather call it “coma”. If urgent steps are not taken, we might lose this privilege of celebrating another independence anniversary. Both the government and citizens therefore have roles to play. Everyone should ensure that corruption is flushed out, then Nigeria will surely be on her feet again.
GOD BLESS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!!!
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