Nigeria at 50, the story of a failed nation

From my memoir of October 1st (50th Anniversary Independence Day)
by Folarin Samson

It was Independence Day. I was at home reclining on our sitting room sofa when I thought of a message to send across to my friends in the spirit of the Independence Day. Yes, I was able to compose one but, sorry it was negative. Here it is:

‘Compatriot, we celebrate Nigeria’s golden jubilee, but is it worth it? As long as education is a calamity and electricity is an albatross, I refuse to join in the mediocre celebration’.

I shared the text with my mum who opposed and criticised it on the ground it was pessimistic. My grandma was however close by to support my argument. She added an ancient dimension by saying that my sceptical remark reminded her of late Major General Tunde Idiagbon’s once broadcast controversial statement. He was quoted to have said Nigerians are suffering from the problem of not knowing when to cry and laugh. He allegedly said Nigerians should laugh once in a year because we have no reason for such luxury of mirth. Perhaps that’s too much of an extreme. But fellow Nigerians (as those politicians hypocritically tease us), was the 50th birthday of this toddler called Nigeria a day to laugh or mourn? 50 years of independence from what or whom? Wole Soyinka, the great eccentric Nobel Laureate was recently quoted as saying that those who celebrate Nigeria are suffering from acute ignorance or amnesia. I share his view.

To have a proper perspective of this issue, a review of the word ‘Independence’ will be helpful. Independence in today’s world connotes such general terms as freedom, choice, liberty, right to self-determination. Are these depictions of the entity called Nigeria? I will quickly share the aspects of our national life that affect the average man.

Mobile phone communication used to be foreign to an average Nigerian until 2000 when MTN blazed the trail with its foray into the Nigerian telecommunication industry. Then others followed. It was a good relationship at first. But now, Nigerians have a unanimous verdict on the telecommunication companies. The poor service of these companies is nauseating and still, they don’t offer apology. Many of them exploit consumers through bogus packages and Greek offers. On the day when Nigerians were supposedly celebrating their 50th independence, none of these companies (for all I know) appeared to be sharing in the delusive euphoria. For instance, my service provider only wished me well through my account balance checking with this: ‘*** celebrates you Mycustomer as we celebrate Nigeria at 50. Happy customer week!’ What does that show? I thought they would be nicer by declaring October 1st a day for free call or free text; or give recharge cards or credit bonuses. Despite all the billions of naira these companies make from helpless Nigerian consumers, they still want more. For independence, they churn out exploitative offers and all other commercial sophistry and deceptions. Independence day, exploitation day!

Well, this has already become part of our lives. So, the hue and cry over poor services is silenced by aggressive advert campaigns and the unsurprising ineptitude of governmental regulatory agencies. Few months to the independence however, NECO released another ground breaking result. It was another celebration of mediocrity. 79% of those who wrote the exam failed English, a core subject. This was an improvement on the previous year woeful and scandalous result in which 98% could not obtain five credits in core subjects including maths and English. So, with these ‘beautiful results’ I guess October 1st should be a day to throw party. It is common knowledge that our educational system is frivolous and faulty. Our wall is not cracked but crashed. What is the hope of a nation whose future is bedevilled with academic poverty and intellectual bankruptcy? Can we see another Wole soyinka, Philip Emegwelli, Obiageli Ezekwesili, Chinua Achebe, Dorah Akunyili in this generation. It is comforting that our youths are also not idle. But what are their preoccupations? Thuggery, crime, cultism, beauty contest, music, football, home video and other transient and ephemeral things that can add no value to our structure and culture as a African nation. Thanks to the foreign multinationals that have imported these dregs into our society. It was in such a tensed atmosphere of failure as this I heard over the radio someone was saying they are trying to encourage sports among the youths so they can re-channel their talents to useful things. I laughed, I mean, I cried. Japan that is dominating the world today has never won a world cup and yet, we invest chunk of our scarce resources on hiring and firing foreign coaches. What of education? Not so important, you know. 6% of the budget is okay. But isn’t it a shame that Botswana and Ghana invest 29%, south Africa 35% and Singapore 37% of their national budget to education despite their less mineral, material and human endowment in comparison with Nigeria.

It is not only education that is nothing to write home about, the epileptic power supply in the country to say the least is depressive. I just returned from campus where we had a measure of constant power supply. But when I got home, I came face-to-face with the reality of an average Nigerian. For days, you may not have the benefit of a ‘flash’. Then few hours to 50th independence, someone tipped that there would be an unprecedented 24 hours power supply in commemoration of the celebration. Yours sincerely, the heat of that day was terrible. A little boy innocently but sarcastically remarked: ‘Nigeria is not independent, if we were, then there will not be power outage on such a day as this’. Ah, it’s hard to be a Nigerian. Even after 50 years, electricity is still a mystery no government has been able to unravel. Former president Olusegun Obasanjo remains an unforgivable villain anytime the electricity debacle crops up in public discourse.

What can be said about our inter-ethnic correlation? The dust was yet to settle over the Jos carnage in which 500 souls were reportedly lost in a reprisal inter-ethnic clash when recently again, the Boko Haram sect resurfaced to continue their pogrom. Is there no cause for grave concern over the security of lives and property in the country? From where is this group of murderers coming again? At 50, we can’t sleep and snore peacefully in our homeland without the fear of being killed by some extremists or religious bigots. We seriously need supernatural intervention or else we might all be dead before the wake of another day. I am sure Mr. President knows he is not as safe as the air around him suggests. Saboteurs are everywhere.

Our hospitals are preparatory mortuary grounds. The apparatus and facilities are either obsolete or in a state of utter disrepair. The rich are flown abroad for proper medical attention, the poor die like fowls with no one to come to their aid. We lost over 1500 of our people to cholera just this year.

At 50, I want to submit from the foregoing analysis of our paralysis that Nigeria has got no reason for celebration. The democracy we are quick to mention in the actual sense of it is no democracy. Votes don’t count; the electorate is not sovereign; justice is selectively served. At best, we can say Nigeria has a re-invention of democratic tenets and principles, not the one Abraham Lincoln had in mind in his Gettysburg speech which he defined as the government of the people, by the people and for the people.

So, currently we are celebrating 50 years of exploitation, epileptic power, inter-tribal conflict, sub-standard education, failing economy, sick foreign diplomacy (thanks to the Abdumutallib genius of a boy), poor health care services, ailing banking system, corruption, political god-fatherism, unemployment, brain-drain and legislative thuggery.

On the day of the independence, I stepped out of my room. Then I saw true Nigerians; I mean the masses, still going about their businesses: a truck pusher trudging along with a sand-filled truck and a young man giving him a support. Although looking haggard, with sweats adorning their pulsating fore-heads, they moved on in the Nigerian spirit, oblivious of any celebration. A vulcanizer bent to pump air into the threadbare tire before him. A pepper seller wearily waiting and expecting interested passers-by. I saw little boys and girls romping the streets in tattered dresses, their uniform to celebrate Nigeria. These are the masses. Forget about the myriads and crowds you see at the stadia. As long as the common man is not touched, there is a yawning hole in our national harmony.

So, what’s my prescription for an ailing nation like ours?

First, let’s dedicate our independence day to reflection; a day when we consider our past, present and future. What are our potentials? What are we supposed to have achieved? Where have we lagged behind? What makes us a laughing stock in the comity of nations? How do we address our national challenges? It should be a day for Nigerians to have unrestricted access to their president to counsel, advise, appeal, encourage and challenge him. Independence Day should not be devoted to frivolous fanfare and funfair that makes us insensible to our predicament, pour garlands and lay wreaths on our shame and sure in the hope it will fizzle out with merriment.

Besides, the president with other governmental and NGOs should touch the common man through condescending gestures of kindness. The masses should be made to smile. They should be clad in national uniforms and rewarded for their industry. Business organisations and companies should give unconditional benefits to their customers.

Finally, we must pray. Religious leaders should assemble their members on Independence Day to fast and pray for the peace, prosperity and posterity of Nigeria. Politicians, traditional rulers, elders, leaders, government officials, business tycoons should unite to pray. Prayer works; prayer walks.

My prescription may appear too simplistic to solve our monstrous crises. But isn’t it true that small and insignificant drugs cure great and terrible sicknesses? This is all I think we need for a change. I started with a text message; I’ll end with the reply I got from one of my friends.

‘As far as we’re not in Somalia, Afghanistan or Palestine, let’s thank God and have hope. Let’s be optimistic despite the problems’

Sounds like a typical Nigerian.

By Folarin Samson,
Mass communication, University of Lagos, Akoka
08030572852, childofdkingdom@yahoo.com