THE CHILD HAD A DREAM! If we can cast our mind back to history, you will undoubtedly agreed with me that the scramble for and partitioning of Africa came as a result abolition and eventual collapse of slave trade. There was a need by the colonial master to harness their protectorate. Incidentally, our colony fell on the hand of British imperial master. Ever since then, the northern and southern protectorates were administered by the Governor General to foster their interest in exploration of the material resources in exchange of slaves’ trade for their empire. The people felt that the idea of the conception of the child was zigged before zagged, but the child was not a child of circumstances as it was being said by different people. He came as a result of friendly environment they (Briton) found themselves in the Niger coast Area. The idea of given birth to the child was a preplanned and this was not done by error. A close look at the originator of the amalgamation recognizes the diverse interest, with multi ethnicity of the entity prior the conception of the child. The plan of a unified nation devoid of sentiment was conceived a century ago. It was well celebrated as the child came to the world and christened NIGERIA. There were prayers from all the faithful of the world that the new born child will live perpetually and shall be blessed with every good things of life. The nurturing of the new baby started and the father of the nation at that time work assiduously to ensure the child was integrated fully into diverse culture. He continued to grow and wax stronger in wisdom, knowledge and understanding within the environment. The child enjoyed the caring of all and sundry which enable him to be fully integrated to the diverse culture. The child speaks all the languages which enable him to scan the ideology of the entire environment and was able to know the aspiration of his people. Unfortunately, as he grew up over some years, he became an orphan. He was later adopted by seven parents (Clifford, Thomson, Donald, Benard, Richard, Macyherson and Robertson) with various style of parenting under serious supervision with indignant force labor. No wonder, the child possesses many characters because he went through baptism of fire. Despite the pressure, intimidation and harassment, he was full of courage for his dream freedom. He did not disclose his true identity to all these parents as a golden child. He manages the little given to him and does not care eating any ruminants by his adopted parent. He grew to maturity stage and married from the entire three regions given to him by his parent Luggard). He was so wise to educate his children so as to resist the suffering in the nearest future. All his children were full of wisdom, courage and selfless service to humanity. They all speak in one voice whenever there is an issue of mutual interest for the fulfillment of their goals without any sentiment from any ethnic group. As the children grew up, they worked harmoniously with their father to realize His dream of independence for political, economic and social emancipation of his people. This man was almost sixty years before his siblings spoke in one voice for self administration. The last foster-parent ceded power to the man at fifty six. What a glorious day is October 1st 1960, the nation was given the independence. The entire ethnic group came out to rejoice with different cultural dances and presentation as the nation became a sovereignty. All the children agreed to form one indivisible entity, living in unity, peace and progress. They set forth the journey of life as the bell was left in their court. They formed and used their own constitution, national flag, national anthem, and host of other symbol of authority. The children ruled themselves on parliamentary system of government for the three regions. What a fantastic and unprecedented development! One of the major cash cow resources that have been kept was later bestowed to these children. The children were hard -work and strive for unity, peace and justice. The children discovered the crude oil, they were amazed with the magnanimity of God for the enormous deposit of the oil. Though at the initial stage, the nation grew with monumental development as they were eager to make the nation a pride for the citizen. They could not jointly nurse the second republic as a result of agitation of interest and leadership tussle. The children later rose to kill their father at His prime age as they all jockey for position for the oil rich nation. All His pleas were to no avail to these children as they were determined to exterminate his life, eventually the balloon went up. There broke a war that lasted for 30 months! The civil war was so devastating to the extent that many lives and properties were lost. It had being a terrible experience for this man as no one of the children is ready to surrender their arms and ammunitions. He was almost lost in the battle as he tried hard to separate the fight. He was assaulted, brutalized and cripple for two and a half year of agony. At last one of his children who headed the administration during the civil war and a living legend can speak volumes of the effect of the war. He was able to restored back the peace and harmony while trying to bring his father back to his feet. He witnessed oil boom, to the extent that he did not know how to spend the money. This led the nation to produce jet set of celebrity leaders who squandered the nation resources mercilessly without any recourse. Ever since then, every one of the children both military and civilian hustles and jostles to be the head. This man kept the resource most especially crude oil, to better the lot of impoverished ethic group and develop them to an enviable status in life. His dream is to have a nation whose resources would be used for the people on education, stable electricity, water, good roads, hospital and every other social amenity that make life suitable for all his people. It has been a reverse case for this man. His vision has been truncated or aborted several time because of deceit, egocentric, hatred, endemic corruption, lying, maladministration, and shortsightedness of some of his children. The nation eventually went into a state of malady with economic conundrum, fairly unstable political structure, and volatile environment with culture of impunity. The country is so rich while his entire citizen languished in vicious circle of poverty. The country grew up unemployed youth from all the regions. What a shame of a nation said the father! My compatriots, after 100 years of age, we can’t afford to kill this man again. He had produced twelve leaders after the independence out of which three died violently on the throne while two died non- violently). He has suffered a lot for the nation, he has witnessed a civil war for his first 100 year of sojourn on earth, and he has cried enough for some of his prodigal sons who are still living. On no account should there be any civil war again…..So said the man! We need to look at our problem holistically and proffer solution. We need to work collectively and selflessly to make the dream of this man (Nigeria) a reality. I challenged everyone saddled with responsibility of making Nigeria a great nation to work relentlessly toward the attainment of a nation where justice, peace and fairness shall reign. This is a herculean task for all the leaders. We have wherewithal to make Nigeria become our pride. We need to shun propaganda of political deceit, we need to move from disillusion and bewilderment to a state of vision, and we need to move from anarchy and despondency to a state of mutual trust and respect for humanity. The nation can no more afford to produce petty- minded leaders but leaders with broad sense of vision who understand the feelings of his people and who is ready to their hungers of better living standard. As we move toward the next century with the new generation Y of Nigeria youth, there is a great task ahead of us to move the nation forward from economic woes, politics of hatred, social discrimination, religion intolerance and ethnicity problems which has being the bane in the society. let us join hands and collaborate all our efforts to make a new NIGERIA. The child had a dream! (David Oni)
Posted on: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 08:43:27 +0000
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