Opinion
Nigeria At 57 — We Have Only 1 Reason To Celebrate [OPINION]
By Adigun Temitope
As an intern student of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria, I was under the tutelage of a Vanguard Reporter late last year for two-month Industrial Training which served as a prerequisite to moving to the next level in my department. At exactly two-day to celebrate 56th Independence Day of Nigeria during my training period, I was told to gather people’s reaction on the topic, “Is 56 years of Nigeria worth celebrating?”, and unfortunately, it was the time when recession was at the apex of the nation’s affair.
The reactions I got from people I interviewed drew tears from my eyes. The level at which these people plied their problems and also proffered solutions to the country’s greatest problem (recession) at that time kept me wondering if God can just change the world and give them the positions of some of these politicians, so that they can act on the solutions they gave me in order to solve Nigerian woes.
October 1st, 1960 is a day many of us have fondly called “Independence Day celebration”, a day most of the citizens in all the 36 states of the country are usually found in their state-capital to celebrate the day Nigeria as a country escaped from the hands of the colonial masters. It was a year that can never leave the lips of many Nigerians, especially those that witnessed the glamorous historical event. It was a year that my grandpa loves to share with his grandchildren. A close look at his eyes and the little smile on his face explained to me how glorious the year was. The flame of anger that comes through him whenever he listened to news about the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)’s agitating for secession, also added a plus to my belief for his feeling for one Nigeria.
In an article published by a British-Nigerian Freelance Journalist, Ade Onibada, he wrote: “’When you toast to independence, you are toasting ignorance and a culture of impunity”. He was however not criticizing the government based on corruption or bad governance but he was saying that rather than making toasts, throwing parties and tying gaudy ‘geles’, what we should do on this Independence Day is to prompt critical thought about what these years of self-determination have produced. Certainly, it has not produced anything tangible to the country and her citizens.
Are we celebrating a country where one section is clamouring for secession, another is asking for restructuring and the other is busy giving quit notices to those that are not from her tribe? Are we to celebrate a country that has impregnated hatred in the souls of youths and sorrow in the minds of adults? Is that what we are supposed to be celebrating?
We live in a country of over 180 million people, with diverse of natural resources, but it has only helped in tearing apart the nation, rather helping it gain good grounds. A country where graduates of higher education institutions walk by the roadside, praying to God to rain cents that could feed their stomachs at least a day, is certainly not worth celebrating. Perhaps, we are to celebrate with those incorrigible lawbreakers that have turned to distinguished lawmakers. We have the likes of Sister Stella, Brother Saraki, Brother Dasuki and many others that have an imprint of questionable character on them. They are in the realm of affairs, putting smiles to their pockets only, forgetting their backgrounds and where they came from.
Are we to celebrate a country where the inconvenient truths would identify the number of public figures who manoeuvre and manipulate political circles for personal gain, including an investigation that unearthed and confirmed suspicions of Boko Haram financiers? Maybe, we are to celebrate a country where IPOB agitation is seen as the greatest threat to the government against the deadly Boko Haram that has killed over a thousand of people since its inception? Are we to
celebrate Nigeria as a 57 year-old, while our military men continue to give us Python Dance?
We are in a country where the political figures control public resources under the pretence of democracy and continued cultural conflicts have been allowed to divide a nation already historically fragile.
How do we celebrate our country when there is no wine to toast and no food to eat on our table? Instead of focusing on celebrating our independence day or, rather, being indifferent, let’s go deep into personal reflections and ask ourselves: where did it go all wrong? If we are to toast to anything this year, then let’s celebrate ourselves for enduring all the hardship that has eaten deep in us and the denial of our rights from those we elected to serve us.
However, let’s be optimistic. Let’s believe strongly and greatly that things are going to turn out for the good in Nigeria, as she clocks 57.
Op–ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Oriental Times
Adigun Temitope is a final year Mass Communication student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Eke Safe
October 1, 2017 at 8:59 pm
Only reason to celebrate is that the president is older than the country
Chbuike Anyadiegwu
October 1, 2017 at 8:54 pm
is yesterday not today
Chbuike Anyadiegwu
October 1, 2017 at 8:55 pm
Nigeria is fake
Mack Chanchin'g
October 1, 2017 at 8:14 pm
failed govement
Evang Abel Success Abel
October 1, 2017 at 7:20 pm
Nigeria is dead
Uche Okwuoha
October 1, 2017 at 2:00 pm
Death to 9j 4ever. This evil Zoo must fall TOTALLY.
Baba Japara
October 1, 2017 at 1:34 pm
08173940332 BABA IJEBU HERBALIST HOME
CARE FOR YOU IF YOU NEED
SPIRITUAL ASSISTANT ON WHATS BLOCKING YOUR WAY FOR BLESSING TO COME*YAHOO BLESSING *MARKET SALE*CONTRACT CLAIM* SILENT RICH*BARREN WOMAN* FOR ORACLE CONSULT* AND OTHER SOLUTION TO RICH AND WEALTH
CONTACT
HOME ADDRESS
NO 17 OKETAKO OKE SOPIN IJEBU IGBO OGUN STATE NIGERIA
(+2348173940332)
BABA CURES GOD’S HEAL
Daniel C Unakalamba
October 1, 2017 at 1:07 pm
Useless Reason. Up Biafra.
ओनो आदमी आदमी
October 1, 2017 at 1:02 pm
Your fada no well.
Ekezie C Frank
October 1, 2017 at 12:52 pm
Rip zoo
Sunday Onyekachi
October 1, 2017 at 12:10 pm
Nigeria is dead like buhari
Samuel Anya
October 1, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Rip nija
Sonny Kprince
October 1, 2017 at 11:55 am
I hate Nigeria
Sonny Kprince
October 1, 2017 at 11:55 am
They is noting to celebrate in Nigeria zoo
Sonny Kprince
October 1, 2017 at 11:54 am
Nigeria is a country were corruption flows Nigerians are killers and betrayers
Sonny Kprince
October 1, 2017 at 11:53 am
Nigeria is condemned
Ikay Kalu
October 1, 2017 at 11:39 am
Fallen state, mediocrit
Precious Diala
October 1, 2017 at 11:25 am
Oriental Times do not betray BIAFRA. Take down this post now
Tochukwu Ekeh
October 1, 2017 at 11:09 am
like my page by clicking on this link…
For Nice write ups and jokes
Thanks
https://www.facebook.com/OliverComedyspot/
Ekeh Donald
October 1, 2017 at 10:32 am
I don’t think there is any reason to celebrate the independent. Biafra restoration all we are looking forward to
Okey Mike C Chukwueme
October 1, 2017 at 10:30 am
What a pity.
Nwachineke Biafra Freedom
October 1, 2017 at 10:18 am
From the zoo CALLED NIGERIA. One reason but your showing two fingers as the two reason…you see the picture is saying another thing
.like what the army are saying now about our leader…lie lie conutry
Uche Chidiebere Joe
October 1, 2017 at 10:14 am
Nonsense
Ik Brown Brown
October 1, 2017 at 10:06 am
Zoo to zoo is dead call nigeria zoo
Victor Edeh
October 1, 2017 at 10:05 am
Froggggggg
Johnson Chukwu
October 1, 2017 at 9:40 am
R I p zoo
Chinedu Ebenezer
October 1, 2017 at 9:40 am
Biafra forever
Okino Edward
October 1, 2017 at 9:36 am
Cassidy Aniede
October 1, 2017 at 9:35 am
one Nigeria is dead as nd buried. Biafra must go
Charles Osuigwe
October 1, 2017 at 9:32 am
For me I couldn’t even see any reason to celebrate Nigeria’s independence
Chigozie Uche
October 1, 2017 at 9:29 am
Zoo country
Nicodemus Mba
October 1, 2017 at 9:28 am
A fool at 57
Osita Ayigbo
October 1, 2017 at 9:28 am
God punish the zoo call Nigeria
Rising Sun
October 1, 2017 at 9:16 am
Nothing to celebrate in Nigeria, evil country
Rossi Mordecai
October 1, 2017 at 9:16 am
Sending Python to kill Biafrans is the reason you celebrate abi?
Mmiri Nke Udo
October 1, 2017 at 9:11 am
Josiah Ikechukwu
October 1, 2017 at 9:11 am
Nigeria @57. What are we celebrating as a nation?
*Celebrating importation of toothpicks
*Celebrating insecurity
*Celebrating unemployment
*Celebrating the mass killing of unarmed protesters and illegal arrest of IPOB
*Celebrating our inability to build a modern/standard hospital to treat the President
*Celebrating our inability to provide infrastructures for her citizens
*Celebrating our inability to provide 24/7 power supply
*Celebrating our inability to pay the salaries of our civil servants
*Celebrating injustice and looting of public funds
*Celebrating Independence and depend on foreign consumables
*Celebrating our inability to have a database to know the real identity of true Nigerians
*Celebrating our inability to curtail the menace of Boko-Haram and Fulani-Herdsmen
*Celebrating the inability of an average Nigerian who couldn’t have a three square meal daily
I am a proud Nigerian, but I have chosen to be sober on this day rather than celebrate.
Lazarus Ezeh
October 1, 2017 at 9:10 am
NO REASON!!! U ARE STILL A BABY OK?
Mike Obodoefule
October 1, 2017 at 9:06 am
pls which reason?
Idewater Uchenna Akachuckwu
October 1, 2017 at 8:59 am
Idewater Uchenna Akachuckwu
October 1, 2017 at 8:59 am
Terrorist …..small criminal
Godswill Uche
October 1, 2017 at 8:56 am
Enukaorah Clems
October 1, 2017 at 8:56 am
Genocide, countless killings of Biafrans, terrorism by buhari and his marauding terrorist army, herdsmen, hunger in d zoo called nigeria. An illiterate with no certificate, no brain.a man who is dead and buried long ago but has an impersonator. Lies and propaganda, no single truth has been told by dis lawless contraption govt.a ruler of 97% against 5%.perfect definition of backwardness.
Godswill Uche
October 1, 2017 at 8:55 am
God bless Biafra
Samson Kanayo
October 1, 2017 at 8:44 am
Uchenna Ossai
October 1, 2017 at 8:41 am
What Reason
Sparkle Kings
October 1, 2017 at 8:40 am
One reason but your showing two fingers as the two reason…you see the picture is saying another thing
.like what the army are saying now about our leader…lie lie conutry
Bright Aduekwue
October 1, 2017 at 8:40 am
Chekwube Ojekagu
October 1, 2017 at 8:40 am
Aneke Thaddeus Okechukwu
October 1, 2017 at 8:37 am
Today is October 1st, if you and your alamajiri war machineries fail to evict the igbos from your evil region then you are a frustrated dying old fool and a coward
Ekene Udensi
October 1, 2017 at 8:34 am
BIAFRA IS DE ONLY REASON… Nig my foot..
Esomchi Prince Echem
October 1, 2017 at 8:33 am
https://youtu.be/3OVB6aVSaKo
Ezeh Donatus Ozoemena
October 1, 2017 at 8:33 am
This is nonsense
Don Obi
October 1, 2017 at 8:32 am
Biafra all the way