Nigeria@64: Is Nigerian Independence a blessing or curse? Human Rights Advocates Make Analysis
…Says Nigeria is at its menopausal stage
By Onome Naomi
A coalition of human rights advocates in commemoration of October 1st Nigerian Independence Day had converged to analyze the state of the nation at 64. The major point of view in retrospect was centered on the theme: Is Nigerian independence at 64 a blessing or a curse? Organized by Ambassadors of Peace and Enlightenment Foundation (AMPEF) in collaboration with Know Your Rights for Justice (KnoRights).
Human rights advocates present are: Special Guest Speaker: Comrade Afolabi Gbajumo, the Lead Activist Africans for Human Rights International (AfriRights); Other speakers: Comrade Prince Saviour Iche, President Ambassadors of Peace and Enlightenment Foundation (AMPEF); Comrade Olusegun Adeeko, chairman/lead activist, Know Your Right for Justice (KnoRights); Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Adams, National Amir Muslim Initiative on Rights and Justice (MIRAJ) represented; Comrade Lucky Ehigina, President Christian Rights of Justice of Nigeria (CRJN); Comrade Ambassador Ajimotokin Bankole, Centre for Economic and Human Rights Advancement (CHERA);.
The guest speaker, Comrade Afolabi Gbajumo, noted that the essence of the celebration of October 1st Independent Day is a charade for Nigeria is not truly independent. He emphasized that Britain colonized various nationalities and amalgamated them into a rainbow union in 1914; he called it the “Niger area,” uniformed to mean Nigeria as imposed by the British imperialists. From 1914 to 2024 shows that Nigeria is 110 years in existence, not 64; however, whether Nigeria is 110 years or 64 years in existence, the nation is in retrogression, not progression.
He stated that, from those many decades to date, our leaders are still busy traveling junketing in Presidential Jets around the worlds of Britain or the UK, USA, China, and Japan like beggars with caps in their hands begging foreign colonizers to come and solve Nigeria’s self-created problems while the solutions remain with us, not foreign bodies.
He further said:
“In as much as the leaders have continually sorted after Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), no foreigner will permanently invest in our insecure country except with imperial interests to re-enslave the country and engage in huge capital flights in hard currencies at the detriment of us. So we should stop deceiving ourselves, as I say here, that Nigeria is not yet a truly independent country.”
“On the issue of misgovernance, the founding fathers/leaders of yesteryears like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, SAN, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello in the North with groundnut pyramids in Kano, and Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe in the East with large palm trees’ plantations who had shown genuine concern in accomplishing the overall interests of the people were more revered, unlike our present ruling politicians who are solely concerned with looting the country’s commonwealths and resources meant for catering for the masses.”
“More regrettably, are those who abused the military process for their gain even resisted our tasky efforts in ending military regimes and installing democracy. Yet the democracy we fought for, they still infiltrated it with the likes of former military Head of State (1976-1979) the Rtd. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo becoming President for 8 years (1999-2007) and later another former military Head of State (1983-1985) Rtd. Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari also wasted another 8 years of Nigerians as civilian President between 2015-2023 last year.”
“The basic solutions will not be achieved by relying on failed rulers past or present, but should rest on the masses engagement in a peaceful-revolutionary struggle that would transform the country and make governance very-less expensive and unattractive. We must not be cajoled by ethnic sentiment, religious bigotry, or deceived with a token from their loot to enable sustainably massive advancements.”
“From both wings of the misruling class of military and civilian regimes in Nigeria, the bottom line of our experience with them has been their condemnable corruption-upon-corruption, thereby manipulating what ought to be overall blessings into obvious curses from the hard-working people they have turned into “monkeys dey work, baboons dey chop.”
Comrade Olusegun Adeeko, chairman/lead activist, Know Your Right for Justice (KnoRights), who seconded in speech and opinion on the theme, added that the primary purpose of the government is to provide welfare and security, but Nigeria lacks both, making it a failed state. Nigeria, he says, has no significant development that has positively affected her citizens at 64. However, the struggle continues until our leaders get it right, Olusegun quipped.
Comrade Ajimotokin Bankole of the Centre for Economic and Human Rights Advancement (CHERA), still on the guest speaker’s analysis, added that independence means freedom from colonial rule, which implies that we as citizens can now enjoy positive change and development. To examine properly, there is a need to analyze independence with our present reality, which spells ‘hardship’. Our living standards have been imprisoned, we have been betrayed by our leaders, and positive expectations have turned into depression and oppression. I must say that this independence is far from being a blessing, Ajimotokin laments.
Comrade Prince Saviour Iche, also in lieu of Nigerian Independence, @64, noted that the country is experiencing a curse as a result of bad leadership where the primary purpose of a government has failed in her duties to provide welfare and security. There are four nonfunctional refineries, while Dangote, who solely and completely built one is controlled by mode of operation, subsidies were removed without considering its adverse effect on Nigerians. Electricity in many areas of the country has zero availability compared to neighboring African countries like Ghana and others. Meanwhile, the rate of unemployment is at its peak. Nigeria is at its menopausal stage. It is time for all to stand up for what is right, he asserts.
Meanwhile, to show patriotism, Comrade Iche is training over 40 persons between the ages of 8 and 18 years of age on skill acquisition. The participants are meant to complete learning and be certified on 7th December 2024 with empowerment funds, which serve as start-up capital to enhance their various skills for productivity.
Comrade Afolabi Gbajumo, the Lead Activist Africans for Human Rights International (AfriRights) and Comrade Olusegun Adeeko, chairman/lead activist, Know Your Right for Justice (KnoRights) was decorated by Comrade Prince Saviour Iche as AMPEF patrons.
