Nigeria as a geographical expression termed originally as Niger-area came into existence in 1914 at the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates by the British colonial masters. It became an independent nation on October 1, 1960. At October 1, 2020, Nigeria attains 60 years of independence as a nation.

In 60 years of independence, Nigeria has undergone change in government, economy, security, education and infrastructures etc under indeginuous rule. The days of military regime bedeviled the nation with relative development of yet devastating impact and finally paved way in 1999 for civil rule. The civil rule is operative uninterruptedly till date.

60th anniversary is christened Diamond Jubilee. By necessary implications, Nigeria is in her Diamond age at October 1, 2020. While this epoch day and event is worth celebrating, many a Nigerian receive the news of this celebration with mix feelings, viz is Nigeria a Diamond or a Demon at 60?

A cursory examination into the Nigerian State historically, presently and futuristically leaves a critical mind in a myth faced with the below sectorial malady:

Leadership: an institution of official embezzlement

Economy: a failed sector gross misfits as active players and lords safe the private sector.

Security: a luxury only accessible to the political lords and a selected few, leaving our streets and rural settlements as grounds of mindless killings and bloodshed.

Corruption and Poverty: Nigeria’s international identity and local reality amidst huge natural and human resources.

Education: the most abused and near-dead enterprise of public sector with a fast raising replacement from the private sector aimed at maiming the common man.

Industry: a colossal loss of passing administrations from time immemorial for the benefit of the country’s misfit with all the parafelaria of governance and political showmanship.

Politics: the bewitchment coven and incubator of our collective woe with a few players as the lords of selfishness and greed with sycophants and collaborators that fake ignorance and deception.

The list is endless as all sectors are affected.

VISION 2020 TURNED MIRAGE BY THE DEMON FACTOR.

These sectorial epidemy discussed above among others were projected by visioners to be surmountable by 2020. however, from the inception of vision 2020, the Demon factors of Greed, Selfishness, Sectionalism and grave Wickedness particularly by the political class, their families and allies murdered the reality of the vision leaving the country at the mercy of good paper policies with degrading realities even by the coming years.

To this awful state of the nation, all Nigerians regardless of their political, religious and social affiliations etc share in the blame and/or responsibility to remedy same. This is true even as the marketers cheat, farmers and teachers defraud, the men steering the wheels of affairs are grossly corrupt and self-centered, and the youths taking to drugs, killings, election rigging, massive irresponsibility and other vices too numerous to mention, for reasons appealing only to the bewitched.

Despicably, these plights that have overwhelmed us as a nation has continuously serve as sources of wealth acquisition and fortune accumulation for a few individuals or a section of the nation. From one administration to the other, certain people and/or  region remain in influence and affluence regardless of their under-performance or not to the detriment of the general public. While some remain as active beneficiaries, others are seasonal or periodic beneficiaries and a large population wallow in unimaginable deprivation of our common good. To these fellow who parade themselves in the myth of class, unprecedented display of wealth embezzled from public funds for personal aggrandizement through different guise, office and time, Nigeria at 60 is DIAMOND worth celebrating but to the majority of her citizenry wallowing in hopelessness, lack, gross marginalization and death, Nigeria at 60 is a DEMON, the bane of their misfortune.

From these realities, Nigeria at 60 is both a Diamond and a Demon. Gong forward however, let us allow the True Diamond of selfless service at all levels and responsible living to thrive and kill the Demon of Greed, selfishness, sectionalism, nepotism, abject poverty and chronic corruption. For Diamond last Forever. Lets make the Nigerian Diamond last forever.

HAPPY 60TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY NIGERIA.

David Oheobe Ede,Esq, AICMC