At Nigeria’s independence, I wasn’t there but I read that what we had the most was hope and optimism of a new Nation. The overwhelming expectation that we can now march on and meet our homegrown needs after the white man leaves us alone.
There were not enough hospitals, there weren’t enough schools, there was not enough housing, there wasn’t enough infrastructure, there was not enough electricity, there was not enough water, human rights were abused, security forces were oppressive, there was insecurity, there was a dearth of human dignity, etc. So we demanded to be independent in the hope that our independence will avail us the driving seat to solve these incongruities.
Sixty-two years later, not even a single of these problems have been solved. Not even one. We have a very perfunctory, predatory, parasitic, and criminal political class that doesn’t think about problem-solving but only about resource feasting. Some Nations have solved their basic problems of energy supply, provision for basic education, housing, social security, health insurance, pensions, and a few others for their citizens and are now only grappling with emerging world challenges and migration, etc. But over here, even things that were given at independence, things that the colonists had instituted before leaving, have all become unreachable luxuries.
62 years after the joy of independence, our taps, where they exist, are still not running water, energy companies are still billing us for darkness and we pay, only the roads and bridges the colonialists and military built are still surviving, the politicians can’t even maintain them not to talk of building new ones, our hospitals have become mortuaries, our schools are whatever you want to call them yourself, our security forces are still oppressive militias for the elites, there is no social security, we still cannot travel on our dilapidated highways without the fear of criminals. There is simply nothing that has been solved or addressed in 62 years. Government at all levels is of no use whatsoever to the generality of the population unless as an oppressive overlord over us.
It is frustrating as a citizen. Let me even use myself as an example and stand in the gap for many Nigerians like me. When will I ever say the Nigerian Government has solved one problem for me?
Whether it is Local, State, or Federal Government, when will I ever have a reason to give a shout-out and say MY GOVERNMENT HAS DONE THIS FOR ME? Maybe when the Super Eagles or Falcons score a goal? Because this question is on the lips of millions of Nigerians. I have never had a reason to since I was born. Rather, like most Nigerians, the government has been a pain in our lives even when we are law-abiding citizens.
Is it just an irony of life or it is a Nigerian situation? Can our leaders listen to their conscience and solve even one problem?
Yours sincerely.
Citizen Agba Jalingo, Publisher of CrossRiverWatch and a rights activist, is a Cross Riverian and writes in from Lagos.
NB: Opinions expressed in this article are strictly attributable to the author, Agba Jalingo and do not represent the opinion of CrossRiverWatch or any other organization the author works for/with.
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