By Ayomikun Inawole Oluwatimileyin

Nigeria got its independence on the 1st of October 1960 from her colonial masters, we were free to govern ourselves however we choose, with the opportunity to decide the status quo, distribution of resources and betterment of its citizens.

64 years since independence has been a long time, to some it has been their whole life. Now looking at the life of Nigeria since it’s rebirth in 1960/1963 since our independence, how has life been so far? How far has she gotten? What are her accomplishments? Have there been any improvements since independence? Why does it seem like there has been no improvement? And what can be done? How her life been so far?

Since Nigeria became a republic in 1963, 14 individuals have served as head of state of Nigeria under different titles. There have been various military coups, some bloody and some not. This coups and their radical leadership have had various influences on the governance of Nigeria till now. Whenever the civilians government gets corrupt, the military swops in with their self righteous act of rescue to the citizens and they in fact become corrupt if not more than the civilian regime. This continual shift between the military and civilian regimes stopped after the death of Gen. Sanni Abacha. The incumbent president Bola Tinubu is a civilian government and the nation’s 16th head of state. So far the Nigeria has been through a lot, a civil war, bandit attack, terrorist attacks against school and also and economic recession but am optimistic that she will scale through.

How far has she gotten? What are her accomplishments? Have there been any improvements since our independence? And what can be done?

In an interview with Elder Ezekiel Olarunoye, of the Tiwadayo Community, Olunlade, Ilorin, kwara state. He recounted the times before Nigeria’s independence calling it the dark age but, we were brought to light through our independence technologically and materially. He started school in 1955 and recalled the visit of the queen of England to Nigeria, even though they were not able to see her they were aware of what was going on, he called it the good old day after independence when they just had to go to school with their cloths as everything was prepared and easy with all the material for schooling being provided free of charge, feeding, books, slates and etcetera.

He also commented by saying there have been changes both positive and negative “for example during Yakubu Gowon’s era there was crude oil but Nigeria was not focused on like making agriculture our main export, different regions in Nigeria had their own major export, with the west being cocoa and rubber but now that has all got to waste has there is no major export in Nigeria and crude oil is all that matters now with no one going backs to the farms”.

He stressed that since former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s era that they have left the farm, which we need to go back to it as it is where we started and our roots in this country are.

He finally talked about the problems like insecurity, economy recession leading to the increase in cost as in Nigeria, and societal improvement like construction, portable fuel like cooking gas, portable phone, transport systems put in place. He believe there will be a solution to them and urges the government to turn to the cries and plight of the citizens.

Why does it seem like there is no improvement?

Pharmacist Isaiah Oni, spoke by lauding the improvement in Nigeria spearheaded by the current governmental administration saying that their actions in improving the economy of Nigeria is being fruitful but, he said if any random person from the street is been queried he would say he is suffering but, the citizens have to be patient with the administration as their work is much and might take time for it to materialize.

Nigeria at 64, for some people that is their entire lifetime for them to make their mark in life, to get their names in the records. There is still hope for the future; there can still be improvement and changes that will uplift our great name.

God bless Nigeria.

Ayomikun Inawole Oluwatimileyin is a 400 Level Mass Communication Student, Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete. Edited by Joseph EMERIBE.