The 60-Year Old Toddler -By Emmanuel E. Ndubueze

The influence of colonialism and its domineering effect is one thing we cannot easily forget. It went to the very fabric of our existence and left an indelible mark on our history as a people. But while colonialism was a big battle, our heroes surmounted it. They surmounted the hard-biting colonial Lords who wanted to remain at the helm of affairs and control our fortune forever.

Independence was not gotten on a platter of gold, it was bittersweet story of determined men and women who put out their lives on the line to win independence for the country only for the country to be overtaken and resold into slavery or neocolonialism by another set of internal aggresors who have wrongly defined patriotism to mean what it means to them alone.

It is sad to say that at 60 Nigeria is yet to comfortably stand on her feet and we the people are yet to see the emancipation our heroes fought for, the economic stability, the freedom of speech and self-government, security of lives and properties, quality education, food security among many other peculiarities of self-governed nations. The struggle of the days of colonialism is still evident in our country even at 60.
At 60, my country is still a toddler, unable to make sound judgment and progressive economic policies. At 60 we still copy policies and programs from the very people we sought emancipation from. What makes a nation independent if it cannot carter for itself?

At 60, we import what we produce even with false closure of borders which only is applicable to the poor while the ‘men that matter’ still had their ways of smuggling-in things that a peasant farmer in Nigeria produces. We export! Yes! We export the best of quality – intelleligent medical doctors and health professionals, lawyers and other professionals who if given a chance would stay back to make the country great.

At 60, we have a government that is too old to listen to advice of well-meaning and concerned Nigerians, too big to obey court orders, too selfish to carter for the needs of her striking workers rather forcing them to work as slaves without remuneration. Is it not unfortunate that at this stage of our political maturity that we are still struggling to stand on our feet.
But what is the problem? The entity or the people?

Permit me to say the government first because a sacred book taught me that there are only bad leaders and no bad followers. Let me not sound paradoxical also if I say the people who have sold their conscience in defense of what is not right. The few favored compatriots who are at the sugary end of what is unjust to the general populace. So, the blame is shared.

A kind man told me that in a democracy, it is the people that make the government responsible and force it out when it refuse to be responsible. But it is unfortunate that at 60 the people are more concerned about their personal gains or make a government glory in failure even when it is obvious that it has failed. The people selfishly enthrone injustice and tyranny all in an attempt to advance selfish interests.

At this age dear compatriots, we are already too old to know what we want of a government and press hard to get them while making sure that we don’t compromise our standards. At 60, there should have been a smile on everyone’s face (or at least a good number as it is impossible to please everyone) but no, apart from those milking our dear nation, raping her mercilessly and sapping her natural resources, no one else believes there is any reason to celebrate. Come to think of it what should we celebrate? The health workers who have risked their lives to contain a deadly virus but get no encouragement or remuneration or the laborers (civil servants; especially lecturers) who toil tirelessly only to be owed salaries in the tune of 7-8 months. I’m sure I am not the only one that knows that almost every sector is either on strike or embarking on one soon. Almost every region is seeking secession in the hope that it will be a turning point and renewal of hope for the people of their own people.

It is only of hope that I write to pacify all agrieved citizens who have lost hope and confidence in the corporate existence of the entity called Nigeria. In all honesty there is nothing to celebrate and I think October 1 for now should be a National Day of mourning, to among many other things; appease our heroes past for failing their goals and aspirations, to console that lecturer who has not been paid salary since May, to pacify that health worker and other workers who have not received their promised hazard allowance, entitlements and salary, to quench the anger of the youth whose future looks gloomy because of poor economic policies, to wipe the tears of the orphans widows and victims of insurgency, herdsmen attack and banditry who have lost their homes, loved ones and means of livelihood because the government has failed in its primary responsibility of protecting the people, to boost the morale of the men of our Armed Forces who have lost loved ones and colleagues and in fear of being killed or taken into ridiculous captivity because funds meant to provide them with arms have been siphoned and most importantly to reflect on our failings as a people and retrace our steps for a greater Nigeria.