As elementary School pupils, we entered October 1 1960 with excitement. The teachers took time to explain to us the significance of independence. So we were happy. We were each issued a greyish cylindrical cup to mark the occasion.
In preparation for the Independence parade, we rehearsed every afternoon, after the lunch break, what was to become our National Anthem "Nigeria we hail Thee----" We would no longer sing "God save our gracious Queen---" We committed the verses of the new National Anthem into memory.
The parade would take place at the athletic and Soccer playing ground of the only High School we had in the whole vicinity, now divided into two Local Governments.
The Head Master asked us to launder our School uniform and appear neat for the parade. Getting home Friday Sep.30, I washed the only uniform I had; ferrous Khaki brown; shirt and short.
Shortly after, rain started and there were no longer sunrays to get them dry. Who is that mother that would allow her child to wear wet clothing? Mother, though sympathized with my situation, would not let me go in wet clothing.
Morning breaks. Soon, the beating of the School drums started, indicating that the school was already matching to the parade ground, a journey of about 45minutes from the village. I was sad.
Luckily, mother left for her source of daily income. I quickly put on the damp uniform, grabbed the small green white green flag and pursued the rest of the school. I caught up with them only at the parade ground but I was happy that I made it.
The excitement, hope and aspiration were alive for sometimes.
The various Governments (Central and Regional), which emerged were steadily building the necessary infrastructures in their areas of command. Roads were being constructed, linking cities and villages. Potable water was being supplied in scattered places. The same with electricity. These two utilities (water and electricity) were available though mainly in the big towns. The potable water might not be available in the individual homes, but there were public taps in most cases within 15 - 20 minutes walk, which could be collected in buckets. The development could be said to be progressing gradually. Revenue from agricultural produce was all that were depended upon.
There were various foreign Church Missions, which were establishing themselves in the country. They were developing the country along side with the Government, especially in the area of education and health. Communities were also tasking themselves in building High Schools. These High Schools, whether managed by the Government or by the Church Missions or by the Communities were modest and beauties to behold. The ambition of any child was to look forward to the day when he would be enrolled in any of the schools and wear the school's blazer.
The University campuses had housekeepers in every hall of residence who maintained the rooms and the toilets. Students needed not to go to school with private bed sheets. They were supplied, laundered and changed on regular basis. The quality of meals, which were provided in the dining halls, could hardly be provided in many private homes. Yet, the cost was affordable by most of the students because the Government subsidized it. In fact, there were only a handful of privately sponsored students and where there were at the initial time, by their second year, they would have obtained one scholarship or the other. The laboratories were well equipped-whether the sciences, non-sciences or the studios. The atmosphere, the environment and the living conditions were just superb for studying.
University graduates got employed before they finished writing their final examinations.
University undergraduates got vacation jobs during summer vacations
Graduating High School students who were not proceeding to Higher School got employed promptly.
Our University diplomas and other diplomas obtained from other tertiary institutions were recognized worldwide. Only a Second class lower division was required to enter Post Graduate studies in the colleges abroad.
The Federal and Regional governments awarded overseas and home scholarships for post graduate as well as undergraduate studies.
Students who attended the Government run High Schools in the Northern Region had textbooks supplied, though they were collected at the end of each academic year to be used by the set coming behind. But no one was to be denied textbooks as a result of coming from a struggling family.
The Head boy took One pound 17 Shillings a month as pocket money. The House Captains took One Pound 10 Shillings while other non-Portfolio Sixth Form Students (A' Level Students) had One Pound a year. Other Students in the Lower classes (O' Level) had their own little monthly pocket money.
Stationeries were free throughout, including uniforms. All students lived in the boarding house.
There were tea breaks, free.
The students were given transportation allowance at each school vacation.
All paid by the Government of Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sadauna of Sokoto
The Postal Services in the past were very reliable. One could fairly accurately predict when posts would be received at the other end. They were carried by the Trains and often by the then Daily Times vans, which delivered News Papers. The Post and Telecommunication Service (P&T) (as it was called then) itself, had several of its own vans for delivery purposes. Losses of mails were infrequent.
The train services in those days, though slow in speed, were dependable. The schedules were kept fairly satisfactorily.
Our National Carrier had nothing less than 40 aircrafts shuttling all the routes worldwide.
In spite of the low number and level of Medical expertise, in-availability of sophisticated equipments and low level of technology generally, no one visited the Government hospital and was given a bill. All services and prescribed drugs were free.
Yet, there was no oil revenue.
Regrets of Subsequent governments
- How I wish the military coup of Jan. 15 1966 did not take place. I want to believe that those coup plotters had good intention except for their useful exuberance. And if the coup took place, how I wish it had been bloodless. The blood that were split and those blood mainly from a particular region led to a misunderstanding and was labeled as sectional and led to a counter-coup of July 1966 and which ended in a civil war.
- The government (10/1979-12/1983) is unfortunate and a regret. That government caused the country a tremendous set back. It was a self-serving government, which cared less for the development of the nation. The Ministers and the legislators of the ruling party were competing with one another with their class of aircrafts. Aircrafts, which we cannot make.
- The head of the 08/1985 -08/1993 government is a kind hearted man, no doubt, but ruled by selective generosity. I understood that the day he had someone in audience was the end to that person's poverty. I wish it was his personal money he was using for the father Christmas. He was robbing Peter to pay Paul or could he have audience with every citizen? So those who could not have audience with him, which are the majority of the populace lived in abject poverty. That government re-wrote the Nigerian Constitution by legalizing corruption. He will forever be remembered as truncating the fairest and freest election Nigeria ever had. His time were years of set-back.
- 11/1993 - 06/1998 government was a terrorist, which characterized itself by murdering all decent voices.
- 05/29/1999 till date. The Nation on 05/29/1999 got a government headed by a nationalist, who had ruled in the past by 'command' (as a dictator). The beaurocacy of the government in what is called 'Democracy setting' would not allow him to perform a repeat of his performance as a military. So he was unable to deliver the nation from poverty as he would have loved to. With time, his honorable attribute of "General no nonsense" gave way to supporting a Political thug or Political terrorist naming him "Garrison Commander" and asked an Executive Governor to take order from his Garrison Commander.
So, what we have today is that the common wealth is used to develop a small section, perhaps 2% of the populace at the expense of the general populace.
Worse, the region that produces the goose, which is laying the golden eggs is left with a degraded environment and are wallowing in poverty.
But are the politicians alone to blame?
The fact is that a group of people get the kind of government they deserve. You can't plant corn and expect to harvest rice. You harvest what you plant. You can't plant wickedness and expect to harvest mercy.
The fact, which we cannot close our eyes from is that, we the populace dictate how we want to be governed. The moment the Politicians realize that we want to be governed with honesty and dedication, they will adjust immediately.
I have an elderly friend, a Priest who even when it is hot, he wears suit. I once asked him if he was comfortable wearing suits in the hot weather. He replied that wearing of suits is what people accept as the power of prayers and He wears suits in order to be acceptable to them.
This is exactly how the Politicians relate to us. I tell you, many of them are not comfortable with their style governance but they do it because they realize, we never believe in honesty.
Summary in my own view
Our Nation is like a baby, who crawled at the required time but soon as she started to walk, developed stroke (paralysis) and went back to crawling. She thus failed to run when due. At the due time when she was expected to start to understand, she became deaf and as a result became dumb (unable to speak) because a person must be able to hear before he can speak. A child starts to speak what he hears others say out. So, in all, the baby failed to thrive (grow) even at 52 years.
I am hopeful however that the dry bones will live again if only we all will return to the godly path taken by leaders, who made things work and we had steady progress.
Credit:Sam Aweda
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