NIGERIA MASTERWEB DAILY NEWS

*Nigeria at 49, how good so far, failed dream, promises By Kelvin Okunbor Stock taking is a vital exercise for every human endeavour for reasons that border on rational analysis. The reason for stock taking are not only for appraisal, but studies have revealed that it has provided a good platform or index for socio- economic planning as well as the implementation of people oriented programmes. It is for this reason, that year in and out, nations across the globe reappraise itself with a view to realizing if the noble objectives of the founding fathers of such nations have either be attained or is on the verge of reversal; or to ascertain if there is a disconnect between what was intended and what is on ground. This week Thursday, to be precise, Nigeria, the ascribed gaint of Africa will mark 49 years of nationhood, exemplified by freedom for colonial oppression, domination and other negative attributes associated with colonial rule. Whether Nigeria has attained the dreams of its nationalists leaders, who in the struggles predating independence thought of as bigger picture, where life for all its citizens will the better, and happiness for all is no longer debatable as the crop of rulers not leaders that have accidentally found themselves at the helm of affairs have all derailed from the lofty ideals that the founding fathers laboured for. The portrait of Nigeria as a democratic nation today is at variance with what it looked like some decades ago, when the nation had purposeful leaders, regional structures that were embedded in fiscal federalism as opposed to today's amorphous Unitary federalism, where the government at the centre is like God to the federating units. Each region in the independent era struggle to harness the resources in their respective region to the socio- economic transformation of their domain, a development that roused the consciousness of other parts. It was not out of place to hear of the groundnut pyramids in the northern part of Nigeria, the cocoa of the western region, the rubber and palm produce of the Mid western region, while the eastern region economically held sway with its coal, palm oil and other endowments. The return of the military in the sixties and seventies as well as the plunder of the military in the seventies and eighties all combined to derail Nigeria from its avowed destination as a nation that is destined to suceed, but its failure of leadership continues to hunt it as a powerful nation. At 49 years of nationhood, what has changed from the pre- independent era? Today is a Nigeria that has lost direction , far from the vision of its founding nationalists fathers and leaders. A nation were moral values have broken down, a country where both the leaders and followers are in pursuit of crass materialism without recourse to integrity, hard work and dignity. How has Nigeria fared in 49 years of nationhood, where a vast majority of the challenged populace live in bare face abject poverty, uninterrupted power supply has become a way of life, youth parade the streets for absence of jobs, university teachers and students are at home no thanks to the lingering face off between ASUU and Government. What manner of country are we in, 49 years after independence, the nation still relies on crude oil as the main stay of the economy? Have we made any progress as a nation, when we have become a dumping ground for adulterated and inferior goods fro nations that were economic toddlers at the time Nigeria attained independence in 1960. Without an adequate development plan to fast track the growth of the economy, we may have failed as there seemingly midnight in our country, because we are a fallen house, which centre cannot hold. As Nigerians grope in the dark over the inability of the government to deliver error proof electoral process that checkmate rigging of elections by desperate politicians, how will the country not graduate into a one party state, as the spoils of office appears the juicy attraction to public office. As the Nigeria celebrate 49 years of nationhood, can the current president who appears to be in office and not in power lead us to the promise land? The road ahead is tortuous.