BY NIYI ABORISADE

The desire of every parent is to have children that we succeed him and maintain his name and build it to glorious end.

Sometimes, the sparrow can turn out to be an Eagle, that is, some children that have been overlooked may turn out to be the one that will perpetuate the name of the family.

Nigeria was amalgamated in 1914 and the aim of the British imperial government was to reign and rule forever in Nigeria and that was Why they said this sun will never set. However, their sun was set in Nigeria when Nigeria became Independence in 1960.

The heroes of Independence were, Herbert Heelas Badmus Macaulay who did not live to see Nigeria gaining independence. He was a great Nigerian nationalist, architect and a journalist born on 14th November 1864 and died on 7th May 1946 at the age of 81 years. He led the Nigeria National Democratic Party National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC). He greatly opposed the British rules in Colonial Nigeria.  As a father of Nationalism in Nigeria, he had many followers which include dr Nnamdi Azikwe and left a good legacy.

Dr Nnamdi Azikwe, born on 16 November 1904, was a star from the East.  He was an erudite Scholar who combined brilliance with eloquence and also a dogged freedom fighter. He was a phenomenal in his hey days in the pursuit of his determination to ensure that Nigeria gain Independence and to that end he used the magazine West African Pilot. He inspired followership across Africa. He became Governor General at Independence and the first President of Nigeria from 1963 to 1966. He was multilingual and the founder of Nigerian Peoples Party. Those who believed in his ideology and followed him were known as Zikists, it was a great movement and a dynamic one for that matter. He died on 11 May 1996 at the age of 91 years. He left many followers and a good legacy.

Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello was born on June 12 1910 and assassinated in a coup led by Chukuma Kaduna Nzeogwu on 15 January 1966. He was the first Premier of Northern Region and put the Northerners at the vanguard of politics in Nigeria. He alongside Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa negotiated the place of Northern region in pre- independence Nigeria. He had many followers and left a good legacy for his people for which reference is still made today.

He was the leader the political party known as Northern People Congress (NPC).

Chief Obafemi Awolowo was born in 1909 and died on 9 May 1987. He was the founder and leader of Action group, a moderate left and the first Premier of Western Region. He introduced free education to Nigeria and established the first television in Africa, jailed for a phantom treasonable felony, served as a minister of Finance under General Yakubu Gowon. His followers are known as Awoists. He disciple many of his followers very well to the extent that even after his death, his followers carried his ideology forward and his names guarantee victory in South West elections.  Unfortunately his disciples did not disciple others and only few of his disciples remain alive and they are old and no longer participating in politics.

“The current politicians have no core political ideology other than Mammon the god of money”

The trio nationalists who I put to remembrance their exploits in Nigeria’s political development did their best before departing this world and were much better than the crops of current politicians. Their times was the time of ideological based parties but the current politicians have no core political ideology other than Mammon the god of money.  Yes, our leaders worship Mammon and they are ready to go to any length to achieve their aims including human sacrifice. The country is getting worse on daily basis, unemployment of youths; government borrowing from the pension funds. No accountability to anyone. Money for constituency projects are diverted to private pockets of the legislators and judges are not left out from bribery scandal.

It is part of our national anthem that “the Labour of our heroes past shall not be in vain,” the desire of our heroes is to see a prosperous and educated Nigeria. Alas the current situation will make them to shiver in their resting place and that the country they have given their best is still crawling at almost 60 years .

Is their labour for independence in vain? How can we ensure that it is not in vain?

In order for their labours not to be in vain, we need a change of mindset, completely different orientation, the mental attitude of our politicians needs to change. They see governance as opportunity to enrich themselves, their families and their friends. Nepotism and tribalism, the attitude of trusting of one’s tribe at the expense of the other should be discarded and abandoned completely.  The president is like a father of the country and there should be no preference of one tribe or ethnic, religious group above the other.

The attitude of collecting money to choose our leaders by the citizens is a total betrayal of trust on individuals to his nation. It is only the combine efforts of everyone that can bring the change and destroy the power and stronghold of the enemy of this country.

The constitution is supreme and people must resist any form of violations of the constitution that bind this country together so that the labour of our heroes past will not be in vain.