Celebrating Nigeria at 62 with UNMSA SCORP:
Walking down memory lane to the precolonial times to commemorate historic demonstrations of raw integrity, resilience, and strength by iconic imperial leaders like King jaja of Opobo, Sultan Mohammadu Atta the first, and Oba Ovoranmwen of Benin who fought forefront to ward off the colonial domination of their individual constituencies while innately honoring a Nigeria, unfounded but living; the lineage of heroes with the blaze of valor, neither daunted by the heavy ammunitions of foreign convoys scrambling for the exploitation of West Africa nor by the simplistic hand-carved quality of their spears, bows and arrows wielded for defense, but driven by their unflinching loyalty and servitude to their clan; remembering the losses in million folds of soldiers and warriors both in the leaders and people-- local communities plundered like fruits awaiting an effortless and unrequited harvest-- to slavery and the many sacrifices meted to preserve the wholeness of cultures, distinct and beautiful in their various timbre but all playing tunes that meld in the symphony of a Nigeria; revisiting the cornerstone amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates that birthed the borders and structure of a state independent and sovereign, emanating from the concerted efforts of founding fathers like Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, and Sir Abubakar Tafawa BaLewa and upheld by the passion of iconic figures-- activist and pacifist-- like Funmi Ransome-Kuti who advocated for life and equal rights and Jaja A Chuku who fought for self-government. Indeed, it was a country likeable to the human body bearing cells cum the people, head, organs and systems cum the federal, state, and local government or the legislative, executive, and judiciary domains; all compatibly aligned to complement their bureaucratic functions under the command of the rule of law: a body healthy, vibrant and blessed with variant traits and nourishing minerals overflowing its tributaries to irrevocably cause sumptuous growth and development. A country that was home to the elites
and plebs, a facilitator of the dreams and goals of the common man, a pilot of the interests, liberty and equity of the people.
Regrettably, however, "was" becomes an unapologetic expression that shields the sheer beam of reality, a past glory; a disgrace in our failings to buoy the baton of greatness forged from the sweat and blood of our predecessors; a bitter reminder of a story of the birth, growth, and evolution of a country that ought be told to suffice a befitting climax of development, connoting "what should have be", By its very grammatical function, "was" becomes a nostalgia-- a buffer against the intoxicating and stifling hurt of the present "what is".
60 years now since independence, the country practices a democratic system that is a façade and the rule of law a mere eye-service. The nation meets crossroads where leaders place premium on nepotism, corruption, greed, selfishness and manipulative gains over the onus of their service to glory of the nation. Alongside their hustles of to thrive, survive, pay their bills and make ends meet; in their nonviolent movements, clamor for amenities, protests for their natural entitlements, and lament for the value and security of their lives, the people ask: ‘‘Do they too feel the weight of poverty? How it strips your identity, emotions, and rationality making hopelessness a glimpse of life; hustle and struggle become a lifestyle. Why would the so called "lazy youths of the nation’’ beat their chests, strides and strikes in marches for their freedom?"; activities in a hurry as much as the African continent towards growth and fulfillment. Brain drain becomes an inevitable fate in the face of utter insecurity and lawlessness; more so as the arms of the military were (and sadly still are) openly fired at civilians carrying the Nigerian flag in the peaceful ENDSARS protest at Lekki Tollgate, Lagos. Carrying the brunt of this carnage, the bodies of the citizens continue to decay to enrich a soil stumped by bad leadership; meanwhile, death and poverty remain neighbors next door. Education battles to deny the imposed fate of an uncelebrated course/ageless strike actions as the young generations are lost to the vulgarity of the streets and fraudulence in offices take on a looting spree.
Nevertheless, it is safe to say that we should neither be products or victims of these circumstances but rise up to the occasion to project the true Nigeria. She is alive; mugged and
mutilated as it is but still alive, alive in each of us; that even as we grieved, we grew, as we hurt we hoped, or as we tired we tried.
As we are and have been true Africans, one in eight black people anywhere in the world; comfortable in a skin that runs tanning melanin and proud of a heritage as descendants of slaves and primitive civilizations; a race despised but capitalized on, diminished but upheld by our dominating potential, disgusted but ever beautiful in the high places, degraded but appraised "exquisite" among the best when groomed, educated, and tried, or as much as exploited when our high-spirited and high-performing mannerism are confused for a treasure to be tapped; let us focus and reflect on events that are naturally "what should be". In our veins run bloodstreams so thickly and momentously ours that it radiates waves of true success, raw intellect, talent, and charisma across the world. We are Noble prize winners, Olympic gold medalists, Grammy Award winners, Prince of the Vatican, Oscar nominees, giants of literature, distinguished scientists, musical icons, novelists, activists, music stars and sportsmen; virtuous people with roots in the dusty Sahara of the North, the rich Rain forest of the East, the rocky hills of the West, in the warmth of villages, but tied together in solidarity to embody Pan-Africanism. So, why sow a course as divisive and discriminant as secession when we have always been connected? Why tear open the walls of a Nigeria that unites a multiverse of societies, tribes, ethnicity, and traditions-- variously potent and elegant in their own rights—believing in the revolutionary power of their oneness? Why give up midway into the race because the finish line is not in sight?
This clarion summons a new dawn to reach for the Soul of the nation, placing our gaze past the faze belying a positive change and unto the pressing reality of what lies before us; redefine our purposes from the cliche "if you cannot change them (bad governance), you join them" to "if you cannot change them you be the change"; rewrite our story to capture the strengths in our endowments even as a nation wounded but whole; and so help us God that we learn from our past errs resolved to correct, repair, build, and restore, seeking optimism in "what
shall be": We, successors of an era where the mechanics of science and technology make the impossible possible, would emerge a world power with unity in diversity our element, our rich human and natural resources teeming and surplus, empowered with the indisposable element of a 21st century standard of education, entrepreneurship, commerce, local and mechanized agriculture; our produce, dexterity, inventions, and ingenuity harnessed, all cooperating as one mind--sane, sober and hence powerful-- bearing uniform goals that cut across the borders of our differences to include mutualistic foresight, and agenda bent on engineering the growth and stability of the nation.
Being Nigerian means more than what meets the eye. She takes form in the way we carry ourselves, our gestures, behaviors, intelligence, lifestyles, livelihoods, cultures, and services; virtually the spheres of our lives contribute pieces to the making of Nigeria; From the confines of our political concerns, of the theories and ideologies guiding due process and the norms or notions of justice and equity; through the smallest unit-- the family --where the value of the smallest moral principle like gestures are made to matter and the least demeanor, street littering, reprimanded; respecting and accepting other ethnic identities and religions, defending our entitlements, franchise, and civil rights; submitting to the constitution and rule of law, obedience of constituted authority (rightly servants of the people, fairly and justly enforcing entrenchments of the constitution and laws only by the pledges of their jurisdiction, and protecting the fundamental rights and freedom of the people, to the summit of our obligations, to contest for presidency or governorship, demonstrate true leadership that is humble but defiant with a pure love and vision for the nation, and maintain honorable political behaviors, socialization, and cultures worthy of an integrated people and species with sensible minds and empathetic hearts; encourage an inclusive society, and government system well rooted by the core fundamentals of democracy. From the north, South, East and West, through the mineral hills of the center plateau, the cattle grazing pastures, down to the coast and swamps of central delta; we shall lend chisels from all geopolitical zones and etch the truths of a story deserving to be told and descended through generations of the giant of Africa.
See the piece here: 62 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE. ARE WE THERE YET?