"Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains". This epistemological saying by French political philosopher and thinker, Jean Jacque Rousseau, encapsulates the situation of Nigeria and its citizens 53 years after flag independence from Britain. The country's political and economic odyssey has been one of torments and tribulations with no triumphs in between. The chequered history has been a monumental dirge of mourning and miseries for majority of the inhabitants.
When on October 1, 1960, the citizens were giddy, effusive and full of expectations having been freed from the shackles of colonialism by ruthless imperialism, they and their leaders saw history beckoning on them to not only make the country great, but also take it to dizzying heights as the epitome and example of what the black race can achieve if unencumbered. Those heady days infused in them not only pride but also patriotism that they can at last chart through the tricky waters of international politics and build a civilization rivaling, if not surpassing, those of their colonial masters.
Such dreams were made possible at that time because Nigerians were united in a common vision for the future irrespective of tribes and tongues. But like a people benighted, it did not take long before the old curse returned. Akin to a bad dream, we all saw our leaders, who earlier were smiling and hugging themselves before an ecstatic and exuberant crowd like school children, suddenly turning against themselves even before the Union Jack was lowered down. All their proverbial unity in the struggles for freedom blew in their faces as a vicious war to run political opponents out of town took centre stage. The internecine conflicts became so ferocious as to melt any iota of camaraderie that existed and which in turn affected the relationship among their followers. That was even made worse with the coming of the military onto the political stage.
The January 15, 1966 military coup, ostensibly executed to end the festering shenanigans, was perceived as a jihad to impose an ethnic agenda on other Nigerians. The loss of faith and innocence led to a devastating civil war that shattered the dreams of entire generations, thereby sowing the seeds of distrust, mistrust and irredentism that have continued to hold the country by the jugular till this day. Matters were not helped by the succession of military coups that followed, as they added more fodder to an already combustible milieu. Nigeria's tragedy is exacerbated by the fact that those pretenders indulged in such exercises for purely personal ego and private greed.
Today, the chickens have come home to roost. The destructive policies left behind are now haunting the very soul of the nation. It is a crying shame that decades after independence, the gulf between the ethnic groups has not only widened, it has turned to a chasm of irreconcilable differences on everything under the sun. Shamefully, the country's politics has become a zero sum game where the gains of any group are seen as loss to the others. Nigeria is now one vast war zone of contending forces trying to corner the nation's resources for their ethnic and geopolitical zones. This mortal struggle has made it imperative for different groups to mar the efforts and even impede the progress of others perceived as rivals and enemies. The consequence is that Nigeria continues to retrogress on all indexes of human development. The dreams of decades ago have not only vanished, they have been replaced by the byzantine demagoguery of today. The fallout is that our politics have become militarised both in form and function.
Whenever one watches proceedings in the National Assembly, you come to terms with our legislators turning themselves into military caricatures in civilian uniforms. Also, the executives in the states have become little Pharaohs driven by zeal to conquer and subjugate those who elected them. In such flights of fancy, the issue of effective leadership has been left to fester. That is why 53 years after independence, the country has remained without adequate and reliable electricity, while it remains the largest destination for all manners of generators manufactured in such exotic places as Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand.
Nigeria has become a byword for corruption and violence on a mindboggling scale, and this is in spite of official platitudes and incessant noises at fighting these twin evils. The country is now a haven for kidnappers, religious bigots and all manner of skullduggery on a scale that would shame such failed states as Afghanistan, Somalia and even Iraq. Youth unemployment has become part of national life as it no more sends waves of revulsion among the elite.
This is the sixth largest producer of crude oil in the world, and yet ranks among the lowest on the Human Development Index (HDI) ladder. The dreams of the founding fathers have since faded and we are stuck in a quagmire with no redemption in sight. Sadly, nothing looks like changing for the better because we have continued to do the same thing and expecting different results.
It is time the country convenes a Sovereign National Conference (SNG) to chart the way forward if only to wish for a better future. The fear of disintegration would continue to haunt the polity until we bring back the lost vision of 53 years ago. Anything contrary would be running on the same spot.
Source: Independence in chains (http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/independence-in-chains/)