pls note
Nigeria did not exist, we were just the northern and southern protectorates(almost 2 different races) joined together in 1914 for the convenience of our colonial masters.
Even with that, its like we ourselves dont want to progress. we keep quiet when there should be an uproar, make noise over the little things. we need to study other countries and see how they do it. really this thing should not be difficult. its just that our self serving leaders go in with their own agenda- and there is resultant stagnation

of course we weren't ready. the so called leaders wanted everything for themselves. they were too tribalistic to an exponential degree!
i suggest the Ghanaians should come & re-colonise naija cos i think there's so much to learn from our Ghanaian brodas now.

I suggest we go back and beg the Brits to come back and administer this country for another 100 years, we are heading downwards, FAST!

@Topic

First of all, Nigeria was never really independent to start with.Secondly, the main issue running this country down is ethnism and GREED (greed is everywhere though).Lastly, the average Nigerian might claim to want a better country and all but it's only a few that are really committed to improving things.For example, if Mohamed Abacha's son were to bash your car to pieces in Oshodi and you come down to pick a quarrel or fight with him, you'd be surprised to see how hundreds of touts and passer bys would descend on you and beat you to death (i mean they will really kill you right there) and feel satisfied that they did something "important" for free.This is the true mentality of the average Nigerian (servitude to the elite).

SapeleGuy:

We were very ready but awo and zik let their egos get in the way by not agreeing a power sharing arrangement.

It was more complex than that.

So if we were that ready and Awo and Zik messed up, how come since then, no one has been able to fix the mess

One more thing

Things can turn around in this country (probably in the next 200-300 years from now).The money these people are seeing with not let them think of tomorrow and even if new leaders get in there, they will do the same thing because everybody wants to get their "share".And you can't blame them.Why?Even if the most honest person gets in there with good intentions, the forces around him won't let him/her do right.Even your own wife and kids will be expecting you do follow the path of your predecessors.If you don't comply, you will be forced out and be a laughing stock for the rest of your life.There is a man that was such a good example (i think during the idiagbon or buhari regime).I can't remember his name but i know he's from the west.Today, this man doesn't even have a car and he jumps from bus to bus.The papers have written articles about him (sun news).Today, nobody in his community respects him.Even his own kids look down on him.This is the true mentality of Nigerians.They say they want progress but once their person gets in there, well you know the rest.

From my own perspective, there is no way this country won't dissolve.The North has to go (they have always wanted to go if not for our oil).The west can stand on their own.So can the east (biafra,bini and so on).They can all stand on their own.

The likes of Zik and Awo had a good vision for a "unified" Nigeria and it could have worked except for the greed of a few.The way i see things, Nigeria has a better chance of surviving ethnic problems than any other country because we have so many tribes and if they all stand resolute on were this country is headed, this country has a chance.It's not like Rwanda were it's just Hutus and Tutsi pitting against each other.Nigeria has so many tribes and hundreds of language variants.

It's greed and wickedness that has kept us in this state.The Hausa man would rather have his person there ruining the country than allow an Efik man to rule them.The Yoruba would rather have their person sucking the country dry than have an Ibo man come in there to fix things.This is why we are the way we are.

mccloud224:

The likes of Zik and Awo had a good vision for a "unified" Nigeria and it could have worked except for the greed of a few.The way i see things, Nigeria has a better chance of surviving ethnic problems than any other country because we have so many tribes and if they all stand resolute on were this country is headed, this country has a chance.It's not like Rwanda were it's just Hutus and Tutsi pitting against each other.Nigeria has so many tribes and hundreds of language variants.

It's greed and wickedness that has kept us in this state.The Hausa man would rather have his person there ruining the country than allow an Efik man to rule them.The Yoruba would rather have their person sucking the country dry than have an Ibo man come in there to fix things.This is why we are the way we are.

Most nigerians see nigeria as an enterprise to make money from and not a country to build and serve because there is no feeling of nationhood amongst its people.

Until the above mindset is changed forget nigeria.

Most nigerians see nigeria as an enterprise to make money from and not a country to build and serve because there is no feeling of nationhood amongst its people.

Until the above mindset is changed forget nigeria.

I totally agree.

asha 80:

Most nigerians see nigeria as an enterprise to make money from and not a country to build and serve because there is no feeling of nationhood amongst its people.

Until the above mindset is changed forget nigeria.

that was why i said, Nigeria wasn't ready for independence

like someone pointed out- was South Africa also not ready for independence?

and when will we ever be ready for independence?

I once saw a cartoon discribing how early the leap was, A Ditch mistaken for a gallop, We would have thought the british were wicked if they stayed longer, but after reading the biography of the Oba of benin i only realized that we were not educated enough. look at liberia, the first to get independence. well it is not the first to run but the first to finish the race , Naija is a failed experiment

@Tpia

First of all, what is independence?Is it freedom from our oppressors and having total powers to improve the lives of the nation?Or is it freedom of the current powers that be to loot the national treasury at will with no checks from anyone?What's independence to the average Nigerian?

The thing is,we never really fought for our independence.I mean, there were some strong voices but did the country at large actually fight for this?Nope.They didn't.That's why anyone can do as they like.To a lot of people, the novelty of our "independence" revolves around the likes of Zik,Awo and co.If there had been serious clashes and bloodbath before we got independence, things would have been different.The new emerging leaders would have treaded softly.The "leaders" in this country can do as they like because they know NOTHING WILL HAPPEN.Imagine what would have happened in Ghana if they learnt of the $16 billion scam (OBJ).Half the country would have been burnt to the ground.

Nezan

I have always believed that we don't value our independence because we didn't shed blood for it. Period!!

I agree nigeria should've been made to fight for her independance like Algeria fought the french in the 1950's coz then the tribes would've had to unite and then we would have valued our independance.

I agree nigeria should've been made to fight for her independance like Algeria fought the french in the 1950's coz then the tribes would've had to unite and then we would have valued our independance.

GBAM!!!!

Spot on.Well said.

mccloud224:

@Tpia

First of all, what is independence?Is it freedom from our oppressors and having total powers to improve the lives of the nation?Or is it freedom of the current powers that be to loot the national treasury at will with no checks from anyone?What's independence to the average Nigerian?

The thing is,we never really fought for our independence.I mean, there were some strong voices but did the country at large actually fight for this?Nope.They didn't.That's why anyone can do as they like.To a lot of people, the novelty of our "independence" revolves around the likes of Zik,Awo and co.If there had been serious clashes and bloodbath before we got independence, things would have been different.The new emerging leaders would have treaded softly.The "leaders" in this country can do as they like because they know NOTHING WILL HAPPEN.Imagine what would have happened in Ghana if they learnt of the $16 billion scam (OBJ).Half the country would have been burnt to the ground.

what kind of bloodbath are you referring to?

- the Jan 1966 bloodbath which wiped out a significant number of the ruling cabal and led directly to the Biafran war?

-the periodic bloodbaths we see every so often in Nigeria?

or do you mean a bloodbath against the whites prior to independence? Similar to what happened in Congo (we all see where that's gotten them)

Care to break it down for me?

Is Zimbabwe still fighting for independence?

manmustwac:

NezanI agree nigeria should've been made to fight for her independance like Algeria fought the french in the 1950's coz then the tribes would've had to unite and then we would have valued our independance.

Algeria fought for her independence, true. At a cost of over a million Algerian lives.

However they're still beheading each other decades later.

So what exactly did they fight for?

what kind of bloodbath are you referring to?

- the Jan 1966 bloodbath which wiped out a significant number of the ruling cabal and led directly to the Biafran war?

-the periodic bloodbaths we see every os often in Nigeria?

or do you mean a bloodbath against the whites prior to independence? Similar to what happened in Congo (we all see where that's gottten them)

Care to break it down for me? Huh

As brutish as it may sound, Nigeria would have fared better if their "independence" came after a great deal of crisis (just like any other developing or developed country in the world).Look at it this way, for starters various tribes would have clashed,resolved,clashed again, it would have resulted in a lot of mayhem.At some point, everyone gets tired of the violence and seeks a better way forward.At this point, everyone would know where they stand and each ethnic group would have had a better say on whether they want to remain as together or go seperate ways (I'm pretty sure the north would have bailed out and the Ouduas would have followed suit, i can't say much about the east).This would have been the time for the Ziks and Awos to come out.Now after all the mayhem, all the leaders would be focused on was picking up the pieces and moving on to a better tomorrow NOT looting and embezzlement.They wouldn't even dare due to the fragile nature of peoples minds at the time.This is how the U.S came to be (they were worse the Nigeria back in the day and slaughtered each other like cattle).That's why it's called the "UNITED" states.They weren't always united but had to come to a compromise.

Bottom line is the bloodbath and mayhem should have preceded calls for independence (The 1966 saga was after independence).Our so called "independence" was albeit handed to us on a gold platter.We didn't really earn it.

Wow.  Here I've stumbled upon one of my favourite and most controversial discussions.  I have for long believed that we were not ready for independence.  However, I'm constrained by the argument of some here - when would we ever have been?  I have usually argued that the South Africans were more developed because they stayed "in bondage" for longer.  Recent events have made me despair.

Why is it that when we, black Africans, take over a country, things start spiralling downwards?  This is a very general and doubtless very provocative statement, but you must agree that the facts largely speak for themselves.  Why have we been so self-destructive?  Is it because the colonial powers destroyed the foundations of our society, tried to build a new society and left us to manage the new structure with inadequate training and experience?

In the midst of my despair, I am not without hope.  I do not believe that Nigeria is still progressively getting worse.  Every time I visit home, I can point to something that seems to be an advancement over what was there before.  I must admit, I spend most of my time in Lagos, so perhaps what I see is not a reflection on the general state of the country.

Things will change.  When? None of us can say.  The current world powers took centuries to get where they are, having suffered invasions, bloodbaths and all such upheavals.  It will not be different for us.  If Christ does not return before then,

mccloud224:

As brutish as it may sound, Nigeria would have fared better if their "independence" came after a great deal of crisis (just like any other developing or developed country in the world).Look at it this way, for starters various tribes would have clashed,resolved,clashed again, it would have resulted in a lot of mayhem.At some point, everyone gets tired of the violence and seeks a better way forward.At this point, everyone would know where they stand and each ethnic group would have had a better say on whether they want to remain as together or go seperate ways (I'm pretty sure the north would have bailed out and the Ouduas would have followed suit, i can't say much about the east).This would have been the time for the Ziks and Awos to come out.Now after all the mayhem, all the leaders would be focused on was picking up the pieces and moving on to a better tomorrow NOT looting and embezzlement.They wouldn't even dare due to the fragile nature of peoples minds at the time.This is how the U.S came to be (they were worse the Nigeria back in the day and slaughtered each other like cattle).That's why it's called the "UNITED" states.They weren't always united but had to come to a compromise.

Bottom line is the bloodbath and mayhem should have preceded calls for independence (The 1966 saga was after independence).Our so called "independence" was albeit handed to us on a gold platter.We didn't really earn it.

our so called independence was "handed" to us after Europe had decimated herself during the bloody period of WWII.

Neither have Nigerians satisfied their bloodlust as we well know.

By Oodua, do you mean OPC?

The independence we have in Nigeria is comparable to a prodigal son who tells his parents he's independent and can make his own decisions yet he relies on the investments they have on ground to survive and cannot wait for them to die so that he can inherit all that they worked for.

our so called independence was "handed" to us after Europe had decimated herself during the bloody period of WWII.

No one's arguing that (although it wasn't that straightforward.We aided the british in the war.We had our own aces in play)

Neither have Nigerians satisfied their bloodlust as we well know.

That's because we don't know where we are headed.Still the same thing i've been hammering on.

By Oodua, do you mean OPC? Huh

OPC = Oodua peoples congress (It was originally meant to be a body representing the Oodua people or rather the Yorubas).It's comparable to the Arewa Consultative Forum representing the North and Massob representing the Biafrans .

mccloud224:

OPC = Oodua peoples congress (It was originally meant to be a body representing the Oodua people or rather the Yorubas).It's comparable to the Arewa Consultative Forum representing the North and Massob representing the Biafrans .

so when you people are fighting or conniving with OPC, why address others as if its them (OPC) you're talking to?

AFRICA'S DIVERSITY CULMINATES IN HER ADVERSITY.

check Iraq (Kurds vs Arabs) or Sudan( muslim north vs christian & animist south)

These are poniters to the imminence of further danger. Only a govt as menacing as China's Communist Party can put everyone in their rightful - place in our quest for economic prosperity.

Ask the Uighurs - and I 'm not celebrating communism!

DEMOCRACY DOESN'T EXIST IN NIGERIA ANYWAY!

Why is it that when we, black Africans, take over a country, things start spiralling downwards?  This is a very general and doubtless very provocative statement, but you must agree that the facts largely speak for themselves.  Why have we been so self-destructive?  Is it because the colonial powers destroyed the foundations of our society, tried to build a new society and left us to manage the new structure with inadequate training and experience?

@Zibby

I have asked myself this question hundreds of times.The whites seem to be the "smartest".The Asians have proved how strong they are in adapting but we blacks?I just don't get it.Don't get me wrong, we do have some dignified sons of the soil to boast of (Obama tops the list) but if you look at blacks both at home and abroad, the traits are similar (I'm not generalizing though).In the states, most of the crimes are being committed by blacks and they keep complaining of racism,unfair treatment and all that but if you compare their standard of living with what's obtainable down here in Nigeria, you tend to wonder what the hell are they talking about.I don't intend to ruffle any feathers.Just stating my views.

so when you people are fighting or conniving with OPC, why address others as if its them (OPC) you're talking to?

@Tpia

Can you be more explicit?I can't make any sense of what you typed.

It's a nice piece , Take a look @ Ghana and see a stark difference, Uninterrupted power supply, uninterruted access to higher education and of recent the relocation of industries from Naija, the so called giant of Africa. Giants in lobbying, in corruption, assasinations but to mention a few, The only hope in this country is definitely God,

Nigeria was not ready for independence. Infact I kinda like the fact that people like Pa Enahoro are living witnesses of what they got us into. We should infact still be colonized right now. It is obvious everywhere you go that Nigerians are not good leaders. There is nothing shameful about being weak in some areas as long as you have a plan to manage the weakness. Whatever we thought we wanted to avoid by getting independence have not been avoided.
1. Today, a British man is superior to a Nigerian in this country.
2. There is no resource or advantage that our previous colonial masters want that they can't get even today and for cheap.
3. The foreigners are still the ones who can afford to stay where the colonial masters stayed in Ikoyi.
4. The majority of Nigerians are still enslaved by their own people whether as houseboys, drivers or in jobs where they work for nothing.

My personal opinion is that we still need colonial masters but because it is not fashionable these days, it will make sense to hand over the management of our affiars and the headship of key ministries and Parastatals to competent foreigners while we learn from them.


The statement below by Lord Lugard is probably one of the most racial statements that most of us will have read but I'm ashamed to say that it is true today as it was several years ago when the observation was made. As a black man I am proud of today as Mr. Obama becomes the first black president of the U.S.A. and wish the same can happen in Nigeria or Africa but it is sad to note that we are not even our way. The Obama victory to me is one driven more by whites than black even though Nigerians and Africans are desperate to see it as black victory. It is important to note that it was even whites that believed in him before the blacks supported him and eventually gave him victory.


""In character and temperament" wrote Lord Lugard, "the
typical African of this race-type is a happy,
thriftless, excitable person. Lacking in self control,
discipline, and foresight. Naturally courageous, and
naturally courteous and polite, full of personal vanity, with
little sense of veracity, fond of music and loving
weapons as an oriental loves jewelry. His thoughts are
concentrated on the events and feelings of the moment,
and he suffers little from the apprehension for the
future or grief for the past. His mind is far nearer to
the animal world than that of the European or
Asiatic, and exhibits something of the animals placidity
and want of desire to rise beyond the State he has
reached. Through the ages the African appears to have
evolved no organised religious creed, and though some
tribes appear to believe in a deity, the religious sense
seldom rises above pantheistic animalism and seems more
often to take the form of a vague dread of the
supernatural"

He lacks the power of organisation, and is
conspicuously deficient in the management and control alike of
men or business. He loves the display of power, but
fails to realise its responsibility , he will work
hard with a less incentive than most races. He has the
encourage of the fighting animal -an instinct rather than
a moral virtue, In brief, the virtues and defects
of this race-type are those of attractive children,
whose confidence when it is won is given ungrudgingly as
to an older and wiser superior and without
envy, Perhaps the two traits which have impressed me as
those most characteristic of the African native are his
lack of apprehension and his ability to visualize the
future" Pg 70 of The Dual Mandate by F.D.Lugard 1926

""In character and temperament" wrote Lord Lugard, "the
typical African of this race-type is a happy,
thriftless, excitable person. Lacking in self control,
discipline, and foresight. Naturally courageous, and
naturally courteous and polite, full of personal vanity, with
little sense of veracity, fond of music and loving
weapons as an oriental loves jewelry. His thoughts are
concentrated on the events and feelings of the moment,
and he suffers little from the apprehension for the
future or grief for the past. His mind is far nearer to
the animal world than that of the European or
Asiatic, and exhibits something of the animals placidity
and want of desire to rise beyond the State he has
reached. Through the ages the African appears to have
evolved no organised religious creed, and though some
tribes appear to believe in a deity, the religious sense
seldom rises above pantheistic animalism and seems more
often to take the form of a vague dread of the
supernatural"

He lacks the power of organisation, and is
conspicuously deficient in the management and control alike of
men or business. He loves the display of power, but
fails to realise its responsibility , he will work
hard with a less incentive than most races. He has the
encourage of the fighting animal -an instinct rather than
a moral virtue, In brief, the virtues and defects
of this race-type are those of attractive children,
whose confidence when it is won is given ungrudgingly as
to an older and wiser superior and without
envy, Perhaps the two traits which have impressed me as
those most characteristic of the African native are his
lack of apprehension and his ability to visualize the
future" Pg 70 of The Dual Mandate by F.D.Lugard 1926

Spot on.

It's not whether we were ready for independence in 1960 (which I think we were not),but rather should there have been a country called Nigeria as presently constituted?