At 57, Nigeria Is Not Near Greatness

By Ikechukwu Amaechi

On Sunday, October 1, Nigerians marked the 57th anniversary of the country’s independence from Great Britain. It was all pomp and ceremony.

Being a Sunday, the Christian community weighed in forcefully. Many churches became de facto cultural centres. Congregants were asked to dress in national attires to showcase the country’s rich cultural heritages.

The Federal Government, as it is wont to do, declared Monday, October 2, public holiday. For a country in recession where the economic indices continue to look south, that was one more day sacrificed on our national alter of mendacity.

“Leaders” sent out beautifully crafted congratulatory messages, telling us how much they love Nigeria and how prepared they are, if need be, to make the ultimate sacrifice in defence of her territorial integrity.

Nigeria: Building A Nation Without Nationalists?

By Kayode Komolafe

While Nigeria marked the 57th Anniversary of her independence on Sunday one streak of the national mood was not explicit in the messages sent on the occasion. Here is the point: it is hardly fashionable anymore to wave the flag of Nigerian nationalism or defend the unity of the country as a matter of historical responsibility. The latest fad is that of championing ethnic, regional or religious interests at the huge expense of national integration and cohesion.

*President Buhari

The tragedy of the moment is simply that it used not be like this; a generation of Nigerian youths once made Nigerian nationalism their career. For example, the young men in the Zikist Movement proudly and selflessly fought in the spirit of Nigerian nationalism; they did not champion northern or southern interests. No, a century of British colonialism did not come an end on October 1, 1960 without a fight.

To be sure, there were no guerrilla fighters who went to the bush; but there were radical youths agitating in the cities. As the late Marxist historian, Bala Usman, used to put in his inimitable polemical fashion, the struggle for independence was for the nationhood of Nigeria and not for ethnic or regional divisions. In fact, 70 years ago, some of the young men were so immersed in the liberation of Africa such that Nigerian independence was expected to be the launching pad for the total liberation of the black people. It was not for nothing that the appellation of the chief inspirer of the young nationalists, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, was not “Zik of Onitsha” or even “Zik of Nigeria.”