By
Mike Ozekhome
Many Nigerians at home and abroad, including elder statesmen and women, rights activists, NGOs, journalists and social media czars, have severally called upon me in the last one week to comment on my personal feelings about “Nigeria at 60”. I had hitherto resisted this invitation, lest I painted a horrifically gloomy picture of despondency. However, because the questions will not stop cascading in like a torrential rainfall, I am now compelled to share my honest, but very modest, thoughts about Nigeria at 60. I am extremely sad about Nigeria at 60.
Very, very sad indeed. Surely, a 60-year and above old man or
woman, is already a senior citizen; a grandfather, or grandmother. I am one.
This means such a man or woman has grown; or is at least, presumed to have
grown, in maturity and development. But, I am sad that Nigeria, “our own dear
native land” (words taken from the beautiful lyrics of the unfortunately
discarded old National Anthem), has neither developed nor matured.
