Nigeria, undoubtedly, is a country blessed with numerous essential resources. However, the populace eat from the crumbs of deceit and corruption of its bad leadership. The history of Nigeria is well documented, from precolonial to colonial era and beyond. An important part of this history was the consolidation of the Northern and Southern protectorate in 1914 by the then governor, Sir Lord Luggard. From 1901, when Nigeria became a British Protectorate, to 1960 when it won her right to become an independent state, her future has always been uncertain. Nigeria became a Republic in the year 1963 but succumbed to over 30 years of military rule and polity disruption.
Before the discovery of oil, Nigeria had actually made tremendous landmark in Agriculture which was the main source of economic growth. Cocoa, palm oil, groundout and other cash crops were heavily invested in and exported in commercial quantity. The forceful takeover of governance by the military and discovery of oil shifted the focus of our economy from a producing one to that of consumption .
It is however sad to discover that Nigeria is still an infant at 62. A Nation so blessed with Natural and Human resources, which stands as the envy of other countries, is now referred to as one of the most corrupt nations and poverty capital of the world. The sole predicament of Nigeria is easily attributed to bad and selfish leadership it has unfortunately had.
A country of about 200 million people cannot boast of a well and adequate standard of living for it citizenry. About 78 percent of Nigerians live below poverty lines. The youths are not gainfully employed and thus a very bad. A Nation whose youth are jobless is like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.
26years of Democracy(1999 to date), Nigerians are yet to benefit from the dividends of Democracy as a result of selfish and corrupt leadership its been plagued with. Nigerian politicians make empty promises at the detriment of their people and for selfish personal gains. Presently, at 62, the reality stares in the faces of all as almost every country that gained independence in the 1960s and 70s are better off and developed. Countries who also discovered oil in the 60s and 70s have utilized the benefits of being an oil producing state.
An African proverb says “if we don’t know where we are headed, at least we should never forget where we are coming from”. There is an urgent need to awaken as patriotic Nigerians and put our destinies in our hands. There is an urgent need for Nigerians to take back their country from the old destructive leaders that have looted the resources of the nation. With hope and enthusiasm, Nigerians need to boldly fight and declare that ‘the labour of our heroes past must not be in vain’.
Kunle Ayano
