Congratulations compatriots, it has been 55 years since our liberation, 55 years since the Union Jack was lowered for the last time signifying the end of colonial rule.
This was one of the most joyous periods of our modern history: as a people we seized our basic right of being able to rule ourselves. We were optimistic as we were blessed with a lot of resources and like freed captives, this was our new dawn.
In the space of five decades, together; we have survived a civil war, suffered various political instability, varying epidemics and disasters, and witnessed daunting tasks in nation building, endured terrorism and just recently celebrated “change” amongst many other occurrences documented in our national history.
However as we continue our daily lives it is more or less we have forgotten the path that have lead us to freedom although we have not had our own central unifying figure who would have rallied us as a people and built an ideal nation as South Africa had Mandela, India had the duo of Ghandi and Nehru, Singapore had Yew; least we forget every nation has its own historical peculiarity and in our case as archaeological research has shown that as early as 11,000 BC our forebears cohabited peaceful, traded with one another and tolerated each other’s diversity.
Following several events that eventually led to our colonialization, it is worthy of note that we have become one of the very few nations on the planet who have had men and women whose sacrifice made our sovereignty a reality.
Martin Luther King Jr did say “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering and struggle; the tireless exerrtions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals” Today as the green and white flag hoisted across the country flies high, I ask where is the nation our founding fathers fought and died for?
The country, the father of Nigeria’s nationalism Herbert Macaulay campaigned against colonial rule and discrimination, before his unfortunate death.
The country Emmanuel Ifeajuna was proud to represent whilst becoming the first Black African to win a gold medal at a major international sports competition.
Oh that mother land where sages like Obafemi Awolowo stood up against mediocrity and drift in its government, fighting for liberation and seeking a Path to Nigerian Freedom and been critical of British policies of indirect administration.
That country where Ahmadu Bello who dedicated to his struggle toward unification of his people was assassinated in cold blood with his wife; saadatu.
That country where Wole Soyinka, was charged in absentia with treason, while on exile.
That beloved great country whose patriot of a Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was overthrown and murdered with his body discovered at a roadside six days after he was ousted from office.
The giant of a country the great Zik of Africa continued to seek to unite nationally and attaining the rare status of a truly national hero who came to be admired across the regional and ethnic lines dividing his country.”
This is the very country where Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Mother of African nationalism advocated the Nigerian woman’s right to vote.
Nigeria that country whose foremost anti-colonial and pro-democracy activist Anthony Enahoro’s continuous attempt to move the motion for Nigeria’s independence lead to our liberation today.
Ohh Nigeria where Moshood Abiola was arrested, imprisoned and died of a heart attack.
The great pride of Africa whose dogged Nigerian daughter Margaret Ekpo advanced the rights of women and their participation in politics whilst also becoming a principal actor during the early political history and struggle for independence.
This is the very country whose son Samuel Ládòkè Akíntólá who was a thorn in the flesh of the colonial masters was killed in the bloody coup of January 15, 1966.
The very country angels like Stella Adadevoh sacrifice their lives for its very survival and existence.
Akanu Ibiam, Michael Imoudu , Mallam Aminu Kano, Remi Fani-Kayode, Joesph Tarfa, David Obadiah Vrengkat Lot, General Yakubu Gowon, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Victims of terror, The chibok girls, men and women of the army, everyday citizens who suffer mismanagement of our resources daily. The list of our heroes is endless!
These splendors that come today, before we could peaceful inhabit this “geographic space’, before the coming of democracy and the right to vote or any right what so ever that comes with it. We would continually remain indebted to their sacrifice because as Dr. Oby Ezekwesili puts it “Leadership is the sacrifice offered that others may thrive.”
So 55 years later we say thank you to these hero’s!
Happy Independence day Nigeria
Alhassan Ismail Mustapha is a trained archaeologist and a freelance writer.
@The_mustyhassan on twitter
.Views expressed are solely that of author and does not represent views of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates
