NIGERIA AT 62: DEPENDENCE OR INDEPENDENCE

Kunle Adebayo Micheal 100 Level On October 1st, 1960, a group of diversified people of different religions, cultures, and traditions amalgamated to become Nigeria and gained independence from Britain, its colonial master. On October 1, 2023, Nigeria will mark 62 years since our heroes died fighting for freedom and independence, but have we truly achieved independence? The imposition of colonial rule on Nigeria brought the sour goodies of western tradition and religion, which have turned out to be a poison that is hindering us from gaining mental independence. We have imbibed and praised their imposed religion, "Christianity," while reprimanding and maligning the traditional religion that defines us. We have imbibed theiculture and tradition to the extent that our culture and tradition in areas such as our mentality of life, mode of dressing, speaking, history, etc. are dying. We have so much depended on what our great-grandparents and heroes passed fought against. We need to realize that we are not yet independent, despite our physical celebration of it, and that psychological and mental independence need to occur in every individual's mind, heart, and soul. Until that happens, we are dependent. 923,769 square kilometers of vast land rich with various natural resources But despite having this and much more, we are more dependent on foreign countries economically. As of the year 2000, a dollar was equivalent to 85.98 Nigerian naira, but currently, in the year 2022, it is equivalent to 445.50. In the year 2002, which records Nigeria’s highest GDP growth since independence, it was 15.33%, but as of the last GDP record of 2021, it was at 3.65%. One of the main reasons for the colonial invasion of Nigeria was the extortion of natural resources because their countries lacked those resources. The extorted natural resources were what brought about their economic, technological, and scientific development. The independence granted us the freedom to manage and make use of these resources for the benefit and development of the country, but we have instead abandoned them and let them lie to waste while we depend on importing finished products, for which we have the natural resources to produce them. Young future leaders, who are meant to build Nigeria, have lost hope. They leave the country by the thousands each year in search of greener pastures, which other countries provide. The country has failed to make them believe and depend on them for a better life; the continuity of this is putting Nigeria’s future in jeopardy because our future leaders and talents, who are meant to build this country, are building another. Rounding up with this quote, Francois Tombalbaye says, “Although our countries have gained their political independence, mental decolonization remains to be won, and we are concerned that the mental decolonization of our people will enable us to resolve some of the difficulties which oppose us to each other”. The 1960 Declaration of Independence is nothing but a party to celebrate physical independence; until mental decolonization is won, Nigeria will forever be dependent.