What is Nigeria celebrating at 53? On October 1, 1960, the future of Nigeria was bright. But, 53 years after, there is gap between expectation and reality.OKORO SIMEON writes on the country’s snail-like movement to progress, despite its rich human capital and abundant natural resources. Many Nigerians living in the towns and cities may not have the opportunity to listen to President Goodluck Jonathan’s live independence broadcast today. It is not because they cannot afford television sets. As usual, electricity is beyond their reach due to power failure. Those taking the advantage of the independence holiday to travel will endure the hardship of a boring journey on the roads, which are death traps. From this week, many people will transfer their ailing relations from the public hospitals to private clinics in sorrow because another strike is imminent in the health sector. Already, confused and restless university students are at home, owing to the prolonged lecturers’ strike. There is no end in sight yet. This week, the polytechnic teachers will also resume their suspended strike for welfare package. Also, their counterparts in the Colleges of Education are threatening to down tools. The fear of the future that has engulfed the tertiary students is heightened by the awareness of the soaring number of unemployed graduates roaming the streets in search of elusive jobs. According to the embattled governors, it may be difficult to pay salaries in some states because of the sudden drop in monthly allocations from the federal purse. Across the six geo-political zone, there no peace. In the North, the Boko Haram sect is on the prowl. The state of emergency has not restore normalcy. In the Middlebelt, the Ombatse Group has intensified killings. The brands of terrorism in the South are armed robbery and commercial kidnapping. Corruption, according to Transparency International, has not abated among public office holders. Rather than making the transformation agenda to work, the preoccupation of those in power is the 2015 calculation. This is the story of Nigeria at 53. It has been a tortuous journey from 1914. Crisis of development have continued to assail the fragile federation. At independence, Nigeria emerged as a country of many nations struggling for relevance. The sustaining power was the subscription to federalism by the leaders who built on the foundation laid by the colonial masters. On October 1, 1960, the future was bright. World leaders acknowledged the enormous natural endowment, quality and quantity of its population, and vast opportunities available to the former British Colony. The three premiers have laid examples of transformational leadership in the Western, Eastern and Northern Regions. Also, the colonial masters predicted that, by the mid seventies, Nigeria would become a medium ranking world power playing enviable roles in the comity of nations and shouldering continental responsibilities in times of peace and war.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 06:28:24 +0000