An Ode to Nigeria At 50 by iwuh dozie

WITH LOVE AND STRENGTH AND FAITH...

these are all virtues that would be generated by those who have received the love of their father, who have seen the strength and resolve, of their father, in seeing that justice and peace maintained, who have seen the unshakable faith of their father, a faith that can move not mountains but planets. And yet our father possesses in great quantum the opposite. He is the chief custodian of vice, this is because all he has trained to lead us in the way of right have shown us how vice-inclined they are. If our father- Nigeria, ever had love then I tell you, that word, LOVE, does not exist. If he does have strength, why does he show us weakness, for even an ant can be able to defeat him in a game of wrestling. If he did have faith, then, it would not be able to move a grain of sand. How can we generate these virtues that would enable us serve our fatherland well? it is just impossible. But if you speak of serving him in vice, then we can all see the possibility and indeed shout HURRAY!!!


THE LABOURS OF OUR HEROES PAST... who are our heroes? And you would say- Awolowo, Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, Herbert Macaulay,etc. At the mention of these names, one would think them to be the greatest Nigerians that ever lived, considering what they achieved with respect to Nigeria's independence. To say the truth, they indeed laboured for our independence, but they had very selfish motives. I was reading a book written By Chinua Achebe, and in this book, he outlines the numerous reasons why our heroes are not really heroes. These heroes of ours had only one thing in mind, and that is their development and that of their kinsmen. And that is why Chief Obafemi Awolowo, gave free education to only his tribesmen, that is why he was able to take, Zik's rightfully thumbprinted votes, claiming the absurdity of an Ibo man winning elections in a Yoruba land. That is why Zik sought out refuge in his people and deceived them into removing the then priemer of the eastern region-, who was from the south-south. If these individuals were really who we take them to be, they would not have been so intoxicated by power that they would fail to see that we all share in the Nigerian cause and not in a tribalistic cause. In a way, we can say that they indeed did labour, but it was not for majorly for Nigeria, in fact, Nigeria was the last thing, these heroes of us had in mind. We cannot rule out that fact that that we had very bright shining examples of heroes. If not for their unfortunate over-emphasis on their tribes, our heroes would have been true heroes, who would have set up a great foundation for us to build upon. Taking for granted the British divide and rule policy, our past leaders could have made this nation great, if they were a little more selfless. No they were not, they continued with the divide and rule policy of the colonialists. I am not in any way trying to say that they did not do their best, no.What I am saying is that their best was motivated and directed towards selfish ideals. Each focusing strongly on the ethical divide that separates us in our Nigerianness. We should recall that everything that concern zoning with respect to the spot of the president started in the second republic. At that time, these big names that Nigeria holds so dear were still alive and they even contested in such a malicious beginning. this has had a ripple effect in our days as the North, that has ruled this country for almost 35 years in her 50 years of existence, are still struggling for this post of presidency. They refuse the thought of a christian becoming the number one man in the nation, indeed this has taken a religious dimension. Our leaders past have a hand in all these. Thus I ask how hard did they labour? If the labours of Nelson Mandela, in spite of his numerous human faults, were not selfless, do you think that South Africa would have attained to such heights?
At this point, we should not limit our heroes to those big names we here. indeed Nigerians have had many unsung heroes, heroes who silently gave their lives for the progress of this nation and it is them that we say their labours would not be in vain, even though that is an uphill task.
SHALL NEVER BE IN VAIN... Who are we trying to deceive? If our long forgotten heroes see today's Nigeria, what do they think they would say? All our efforts have been in vain, OK, not all but majority. Look at every sphere of the Nigerian society and judge for yourselves. When Nigerians are not ready to look beyond their selfish interests, how would the efforts of our heroes not be in vain.

TO SERVE WITH HEARTS AND MIND... that is what every Nigerian is called to do, to serve with hearts and mind. Indeed our past leaders have done their best, according to their own measurements and that of their well-wishers, now we are left with the reality of today's Nigeria. What should be our response? Should we keep licking the wounds of the past and blaming past administrations for their corruption? No. We should all realise that like them, our past leaders, the Nigerian situation still behooves on us. We should make well on their failings and further their achievements. Mother Nigeria, has long cried out to her children to heed to her cry of pain. This is the time. Nigeria is 50, so what, we are not too old to begin anew. All that is expected of us, is a change of mind and heart, a change of these elements together with the zeal to serve. We should stand up and correct all the faults of the past, even if it means destroying the foundations of the past and building anew. We should not be scared to act out right, to act out justly, to act in fairness and uprightness. We should put Nigeria before our selves realising that the good or bad of this country is shared by all- saints and sinners, poor and rich, moral and immoral. Do not wait for another person to start what you can start, do not hope that every person would have the kind of zeal you have towards this country. That is why you should begin something good, true, Godly and right. You would always have people with the same hearts and minds accompany you in such quest. Think of the save Nigeria group, it was an individual that started the initiative and this has attracted many like-minded individuals. This country needs our service, because we have no country, no home, and we can lay claim to no land except ours.

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