It’s the start of Nigeria’s 53rd year of independence from British colonial rule. As usual, I have seen many broadcasts, tweets and Facebook status updates wishing Nigeria and Nigerians a happy birthday / independence. As I strongly feel that there is nothing happy about the state of Nigeria, I have been tempted not to acknowledge it in anyway.
I have many times compared the Nigeria my grandparents tell me about to the one I grew up in and the one I visit occasionally these days and have been unable to think of a single reason for anyone to prefer this one. I frequently think back to the stories my parents sometimes share about the newly independent Nigeria and can’t help but wonder why we bothered getting rid of the British only to run the country into the ground.
Then I think to myself, that in my self-imposed exile from Nigeria, I am not actually trying to help the situation in anyway. In distancing myself from the essence of my country, I have not put myself in any position to understand what ails the nation or how my generation can right the wrongs of the generation before. By avoiding Nigerian news except when occasionally stumbling really bad (e.g. the Dana air crash) or really good news (e.g. D’Banj breaking into mainstream music with his UK top 10 hit, Oliver Twist) that transcends the “Africa” section of the BBC and Guardian websites, I cannot be informed or knowledgeable about the ways in which I could influence a better tomorrow.
I think about the good ambassadors we have these days such as acclaimed author Chimamanda Adichie and writer/artist Teju Cole. I think about the talented artists and artistes that make the news for more positive reasons than negative. I think about Fela Kuti's campaign to enlighten Nigerians and ginger our interest in political activism over apathy. I think about the paralympians who finished 22nd in the London 2012 medals table and give me hope that if we can field disabled athletes when traditionally the disabled have only had begging and family as their only source of welfare, then we could be making a change in other areas too.
Finally, I realise that if I had been unfortunate enough to have had a stupid father I would not begrudge him a congratulatory message on his birthday. So, fellow Nigerians, happy Independence day! Maybe next year, we might actually have something to celebrate.
