It seems I am the only one reluctant to wish YOU a HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, Nigeria. Almost all my Facebook friends have written through every niche of promising and optimistic notes wishing YOU greater tides in the days ahead. I am even beginning to be ashamed of not queuing on the line, having been in October 1st whole 8 hours ahead of those waking in the homeland. But I don’t know why I have been so reluctant. But I was all day, and I am still even now.
But there was something I did earlier today. I played through the recordings of the speech of Sir Abubakar Balewa on this day in 1960, when the British Union Jack was lowered for the last time over the expanse of land YOU are named after. Ah, that articulate man, Balewa, I was so surprised of his so sweet, British-like accent. Why are Northerners of today not so refined as that man, Tafawa Balewa. But it was in his speech I found some part of the explanation (surely not all) for that reluctance that hung over my heart since morning. I heard all he said in 1960. They are the things we are still repeating today. They were messages of hope, of how Nigeria will rise, be a beacon for Africa and the rest of humanity. 54 years after, OUR LEADERS still make the same set of promises, 54 year after we still talk about uniting the nation, 54 years after, we still talk about alleviating poverty, 54 years after OUR VERBS OF DISCOURSE still are WE WILL/ WE SHALL. Not really WE HAD or WE HAVE. All these because over these years, YOU, Nigeria have remained ‘a promise’ that never is. All the messages of today, like I said earlier, are still all about hope, of how YOU will rise, of how YOU will be a great nation, a glory for all to behold. And something in my heart kept telling me all day that my friends who join to write these things (like others) are just doing so to feel part of the popular culture. Because they too know that what they are writing is not true. They understand deep down in their hearts that they are not expecting anything to change about YOU, not today, not tomorrow, not in the near future. Tomorrow, people will return to their various offices and business places, and it will be business as usual. Those who loot will continue, those who pilfer will continue. Those who shortchange the common good of everyone for personal gain will continue. Nothing will change in October 2nd. Truth.
Yes, all the people who have been in governance since 1999 when democracy (which was our last beacon of hope) returned are still here, either still in power, or part of power, or declaring to run for the posts that will be vacant in 2015. Since 1999 nothing has changed for most of the masses. But since 1999 some of them in power have become some of the world wealthiest men. Those of us who still post on Facebook about the hope of YOUR greatness are yet to see our rising. Our poor parents once shared this hope. Some of them are dead, some have become like Benjamin of Animal Farm; they know that nothing is changing, not for good, except the rich getting richer. Year in year out, budget in budget out, under Hausa Presidency, Yoruba Presidency, Ijaw Presidency, the politicians have only get richer and the masses have either remained as they are or get poorer. All World Bank and other world organisations indices in the last 50 years and more have not given us any reason to be glad. Our youths are still being decimated. Common Nigerian have no date of birth because his age changes with each opening of a perceived opportunity, and importantly as he strives to be young with the years the fact of being Nigerian steals from him. The ages lost seeking admission into few Universities, years lost to strikes by academic unions, years lost as he looks for the unavailable jobs. So he has to constantly remain young, young as his mates elsewhere in the world, yet he knows he is old enough to father some of those mates of his in these places.
I am reluctant still, because I understand that there is nothing actually to wish YOU. YOU are already blessed. Wishing YOU blessing is just to join in the myopia that has eaten into everybody from the Sunday pulpits that have preached us away from truth. Because no nation in the world with YOUR worth in human, material and mineral resources will not count itself blessed. Why will I wish YOU blessing when the budget of 2014, from the produce of your soil and investment of people in you (by jagbajantis mathematics of dividing 4 trillion naira by 170 million people) is capable to make every Nigerian a millionaire. But at the end of December this year, World Bank will still tell us that 61 percent of YOUR citizens still live below poverty line, and that the previous year had been better than this year; in essence it is a declining progression. Yet, this year still, some men who preach to these poor folks every Sunday and week days will purchase jets with which to cruise around the world. Some who are leaders, rulers and heads of one thing or the other, will built build churches and mosques and donate to God, and men of God from all places will gather to dedicate THIS HOUSE OF GOD and pray for the man whose income could never have worth a tenth of such massive project.
While I lament the irony of the whole situation, I confront myself with the reality that there will be those who will surely call me names and shout me down for being so unpatriotic, because to them patriotism means living a lie, and pretending all is well when they are not. They see my criticism not as truth, but a calculated attempt to run down those they love, even when those they love have not loved them as I do, nor have been fair in their dealings with them as me; only that they represent a picture of their tribal or state sentiments, or in remote cases they still naively hope those people in high places still represent a voice they themselves fail to speak.
I am still reluctant, because I know that YOU don’t really hear me. YOU are abstract, a piece of land rounded by a boundary. In truth what exists is ‘US’ who live within this boundary. If WE are ever sincere, then these desert places of sadness and austerity will suddenly turn to Eden of good. It has happened and is happening in places. And in those places, integrity, patriotism, fear of God and true love for the land and her people have driven men who brought the changes.
So, as I hang my pen, I will stay on like the prophet who cried against Jerusalem. Years after, Jerusalem weeps and the words of the prophets are carved on the marble for the people who still read but cannot comprehend. If there is anything I can ask, (if it’s possible YOU hear me today) it is that YOU remain steadfast for YOUR TRUE CHILDREN. I don’t know how long it will last, I don’t know if it this generation or another. But one day, it will happen; a sun will rise, and your glory will manifest. For that time, I dream and wait.
Izuchukwu Okeke is a Master Student (Mass Communication) at the Pukyong National University, Busan, South Korea.
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