On October 1st, 1960, Nigeria stood tall before the world. The Union Jack was lowered, and the green-white-green flew high, with it the dreams of a people who had yearned to be free. It was more than a date in time, but an awakening of identity, a shattering of shackles, and a declaration that we were going to write our own story.
But sixty-five years later, the question remains: what did we do with that freedom?
Freedom was never intended to be a moment in history; it was meant to be a living promise. A promise of unity and diversity, of prosperity based on our fertile earth, and leadership that served and not dominated. It was meant to be the breaking dawn of dignity and progress.
And yet, too frequently, we have not succeeded. We have grappled with corruption, divisiveness, insecurity, and squandered potential. We have seen the flame of hope flicker low in the eyes of our people, as aspirations are snuffed out or sent abroad. Independence gave us the boon of choice, but the choices that we have made as a nation have continued to challenge us.
But the Nigerian tale is not a story of despair. Under the trouble is a resilience which will not perish, because we are a people who smile in the midst of trouble, dance in the aftermath of adversity, and laugh in time of periods of tribulation. From our innovative youth to the strength of our mothers, from the prudence of our merchants to the sagacity of our academic men and women, Nigeria’s heart remains unbroken.
And so this October 1st is not so much a celebration; it is a call for self-reflection. What is the kind of independence we are feeling? Is it one of real liberty – to dream, build, and prosper? Or is it independence in name only?
Nigeria’s destiny cannot be outsourced. It is in the choice of her people each day, in the audacity to ask for more, and in the determination to do more. If freedom was our genesis, then responsibility must be our sequel.
May this Independence Day not simply remind us where we have come, but of what we might still become. The green-white-green flag is more than a symbol; it is a mirror placed before us every October 1st.
What narrative are we writing with the liberty purchased on our behalf? Reflect on these.
