Nigeria: Still A Toddler At 66
By Mobolaji Sanusi “True independence and freedom can only exist in doing what’s right.” — Brigham Young (1801-1877) On Thursday, October 1, Nigeria, a land of great human and natural
On October 1, Nigeria, a country brimming with abundant resources, commemorated its 66th anniversary of independence. Despite its immense potential, it remains unable to attain the stature it deserves among the nations. This can be attributed to the poor governance and leadership issues that have plagued the nation for several decades. President Bola Tinubu has acknowledged this reality, stating that Nigeria is not poor in resources or human capital, but rather in management and leadership.
The nation's weak institutions and rampant corruption have made it impossible to attain the freedom that comes with true independence. This kleptomania is rationalised by some as a divine blessing, a warped perspective that mocks the true meaning of sovereign independence. This inability to move forward begs the question: if these early nationalist leaders were alive today, would they be satisfied with the state of the country?
Their hopes and expectations seem to have not been met, and the legacy of the struggles they fought is now overshadowed by the current state of affairs.
Written by urgent.news from This Day's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
