Independence, Bankole and 2011

Bola Badmus, Abuja

Dimeji Bankole The country last Thursday marked its 48th year of independence. In 1960, precisely, October 1, Nigeria gained its freedom from British colonial masters. Three years after, it became a republic. The independence anniversary was marked, but it was low-keyed as directed by President Umaru Yar’Adua. Marking the independence anniversary in Nigeria, like in most other countries, has become an annual ritual. But one cannot exactly remember when the anniversary was last celebrated in Nigeria; maybe on one or two occasions. Nowadays, the slogan has become having a low-keyed event.

Indeed, mixed reactions have always greeted the anniversary itself. On the side of the members of the public, one tends to agree with the opinion that there is absolutely nothing to mark or celebrate as far as the country’s independence anniversary is concerned. The development of the country has been quite slow. Maybe, the country is recovering from the shock it received long ago under the military jackboot, maybe not. But all the yardsticks to measure the success of the various interventions that the government has come up with, whether currently or in the past, have not given us anything to cheer about.

This has always remained the concern of most Nigerians. Despite the huge resources at the disposal of government, the country still crawls like an infant, at the age of 48. Certainly, a child of 48 should not have any business with crawling or finding it difficult to stand on two feet. Thus, the issue of Nigeria’s independence anniversary has remained contentious. The verdicts of analysts and critics who spoke to the media were quite similar to those delivered last year and the previous. To them, the government of President Yar’Adua has not delivered anything for the country to rejoice over, despite its seven-point agenda.

The roads are still in worse condition, there is still energy crisis, hospitals are not functioning properly and this has accounted for the reason most Nigerian dignitaries, including government functionaries, go abroad for medical care. One easily recalls here the serious concern this ugly development appeared to have given Honourable Dino Melaye, a member of House of Representatives representing Kogi State, who had to sponsor a motion compelling government functionaries not to undertake frequent medical treatments abroad.

Despite his efforts at ensuring that the motion sailed through on the floor of the House, it was defeated. But the failure of the motion signaled the realisation that the 360-member parliament knew that it was dangerous leaving the health of Nigerians in the hands of Nigerian doctors and the current environment in which they work. In the next two tears, Nigeria will be 50 years old. That year will be 2011 and that year should present its own challenges. To an average Nigerian, 2020 has become a familiar refrain. It signifies the year when government is expected to transform Nigeria into a country among the 20 giants in the world.

If the race towards becoming one of the 20 industrialised nations has not commenced, one wonders when it will. 2020 is still far off and by the time it will turn a full circle, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua will not be around as president to be held accountable. It will be under another person presiding over the country. Perhaps, it is reasonable to suggest that the House of Representatives should take a bold step by coming up with a plan of action of its own towards attaining a substantial level of success with a target year in mind. 2011 is more appropriate for the House to target. Moreso, it is the year when the tenure of the present House will terminate and Speaker ‘Dimeji Bankole will do well to insist that his name is written in gold by driving all the capacities of the House to achieve much for the country, enough for anybody to ignore.

He can do this by ensuring that immediately the House resumes full session, the committees of the House are reconstituted for them to commence work. He should come up with action plan that will fit into the seven- point agenda of President Yar’Adua within the timeframe he will lead the House. Afterall, the speaker has started well.