In a few days, Nigeria will mark her 65th independence anniversary. At such a moment, a nation is duty-bound to pause, reflect on its journey, assess its present, and project into its future. To borrow the words of George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” For us as Nigerians, remembrance is not merely academic; it is existential.
The Military Years: Order Amidst Iron Hands
Barely six years into independence, the military took over power. For nearly three decades out of our first forty years, they dictated the course of governance. It was a period many still recall with mixed feelings. On one hand, the military stifled freedom; yet on the other, they offered tangible socio-economic developments that have become reference points.
Under military regimes, Nigeria enjoyed free education in many states. Our currency, the naira, was stronger than the U.S. dollar. Infrastructure projects such as the Niger Bridge, Eko Bridge, and Third Mainland Bridge became realities. States were created to bring governance closer to the people. Industries thrived:
– Ajaokuta Steel Company, envisioned to make Nigeria the industrial hub of Africa.
– Kaduna Textile, employing thousands and feeding entire families.
– Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN), which symbolized industrial pride.
– Nigerian Airways, Nigerian Ports Authority, and other public enterprises that, whatever their imperfections, functioned.
As Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s founding father, once remarked, “A nation is great not by size alone. It is the will, the cohesion, the stamina, the discipline of its people and the quality of their leaders which ensure it an honourable place in history.” In those years, Nigeria still had a will and vision, however imperfectly pursued.
Democracy: The Promise and the Pain
Since 1999, Nigeria has been under civilian rule. By simple arithmetic, our democracy is 26 years old. Yet, what do we have to show? Instead of steady progress, insecurity festers. Corruption has become a system, not an exception. Unemployment grows. Public institutions collapse under the weight of inefficiency.
John Locke once wrote, “Where law ends, tyranny begins.” Today, our democracy is ironically plagued with too many laws and too little respect for them. Legislators enact statutes; yet the same custodians of law become chief violators. The judiciary, often described as the last hope of the common man, is increasingly compromised, delayed, or influenced, eroding the faith of the citizenry.
Nigeria now feels like what the Psalmist lamented: “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” (Psalm 137:4).
Lessons from Elsewhere
To understand our failures, we must look beyond ourselves.
Rwanda: Emerging from the ashes of genocide in 1994, Rwanda has become a model of purposeful governance. Though not without flaws, Paul Kagame’s leadership has made Rwanda one of the cleanest, safest, and most stable nations in Africa. Public institutions function, corruption is confronted, and innovation is encouraged. Rwanda today is attracting global conferences and investments that Nigeria, with her oil wealth, struggles to secure.
Burkina Faso: Known for the short but remarkable leadership of Thomas Sankara, who emphasized self-reliance, probity, and the dignity of the African identity. Sankara rejected luxury, cut government waste, and launched mass vaccination and literacy campaigns. In just four years, Burkina Faso witnessed transformations that still inspire the continent.
South Korea (outside Africa): In the 1960s, South Korea was at par with Nigeria in terms of GDP per capita. Today, it is among the world’s top economies, producing cars, electronics, and technology that dominate the globe. The difference? Leadership, vision, and discipline. While Nigeria squandered oil wealth, Korea invested in education, innovation, and manufacturing.
A Nation Without Hope?
Are we then, after 65 years, a nation without hope? It is hard not to think so. The giant of Africa now stumbles on every index of development. Unemployment, inflation, debt, power shortages, dilapidated schools, insecurity, and mass emigration of her best brains paint a gloomy picture.
Yet, hope is not altogether lost. As Nelson Mandela said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” The Nigerian people remain resilient, resourceful, and creative. What is required is leadership that channels this resilience into nation-building, not self-enrichment.
Conclusion
Nigeria must confront her contradictions. Democracy cannot merely be about elections every four years; it must be about service, justice, and accountability. We must revive our industries, strengthen the judiciary, and invest in human capital.
Until then, our 65 years of independence remain less of a celebration and more of a sober reminder: that a people can be independent in name, yet enslaved by their own failures.
As we mark this milestone, let us ask ourselves: Is our democracy a blessing, or has it become a curse we must urgently redeem?
Barr. Odoma Uwodi
