By Denrele Animashaun

“While we do our good works let us not forget that the real solution lies in a world in which charity will have become unnecessary.” — Chinua Achebe

Modern Nigeria came into being one hundred years ago, so it was with the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates of the former British colony. Stay with me now. One hundred years ago there was a merger, that  long ago but fast forward today  the south/north divide remain divided and has not changed for the  better. It is in fact a gulf and in the midst of paranoia and distrust on all sides.

Nigerians are not celebrating because they cannot see any positive changes. Nothing  has  changed. It is still  the old guards that  remain lurking in the corridor  of  power and tightening the  grip on the national purse.

Where are the changes to prove that we have moved on and that the lives of the majority Nigerians have changed for the better? Where  is the  proof that Nigerians feel  safer and that the younger generations have  a stake in the  future, that every  child  born in Nigeria have the  right to  be safe, healthy and educated.

For 100 years, we have not moved that far nor improve our lot. So let’s call a spade a spade; the changes aren’t for the better. What does it mean to the average Nigerians when most of the people honoured are part of the power mad and rottenly corrupt?

I  believe  that  you  should not  reward bad behaviour but,  I guess that  GEJ  did  not  get  the  brief.

There is not much to mark the years as the giant of Africa. We remains static and whimpering in a corner reliving its version of  the glory days. So what glory days? You  may  ask:  what  is the big  deal?

If  we have  indeed  turn  the  corner, the  whole  country would  have erupted in celebration and  fondly  look  back  on  how  far we have  come. Have  we  really come  that  far  and what  have we done to beat the  drums  and bang our chests? There is very little public support or appetite for this ostentatious and crass event.

If you believe the spin doctors they tell us that “The centenary celebrations have ushered in a new era. They have rekindled the Nigerian spirit in all of us. They have revived our sense of patriotism; our inner love for one another as one people under God”

Can someone tell these gullible people that we are not stupid.  Let  the  truth  be told; we are  not united and the politicians  are  fanning  the  great  divide and we all can  see that. The  spin  doctors are deluded and perhaps they   believe that we are  so  gullible that  we will  take  what they say  as gospel. That boat has sailed, a long time ago!

Do not believe what the Vice President Namadi Sambo has said either that “every Nigerian who had contributed or is still contributing to nation-building is a winner in the centenary celebrations”. And that “the Centenary Concert not only reminded us of our common root but also pointed us to our rich heritage which comes alive only when we combine our energies as a people. It showed we are indeed one people determined to succeed and that our divisions are as ephemeral as they are artificial”.

The fanfare, pomp and pageantry appears to be for the benefit of the administration to aggrandise their position. It is surprising  that the National  Assembly was not  keen to support a  year long  celebration and definitely not  willing to  approve funding  for  the festivities. Now that is a turn up for the books, the assembly can feel the pulse of the nation. Someone, somewhere in the greed and gluttony realms that our politicians operate, they still want  to siphon our money for  the festivities and they  wonder  why people are cross.

The celebrations is another  pink  elephant and it  will  cost so  much more in terms of  billions.

Money that   could be well  spent on rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, establishments, health and  employment. They  have  said that the costs  will be borne by the private sectors, but  we  know that  means another opportunities  for  the cronies to stuff their pocket   of  money  and deliver substandard events.

It does not  seem inappropriate when  many  are living  in abject  poverty; there is high  rate of  youth unemployment, kidnapping, killings, ill-health, lack  of opportunities  for the young, crime and disorder.  What is there to celebrate and why 100 honourees?  Are they really all we have to show for a 100 years of existence? Who chose them? What is the criteria and  what have  they done  for  Nigeria and Nigerians  to  warrant their  place  in Nigerian  history?

The recipients well, some of them had rejected the awards for the simple reason that, now is not the time to celebrate and that the country is not in a good shape, contrary to what they make us believe.

For those who rejected the award, Bravo! There is hope for Nigeria yet. It is nice to know that some people will not be bought and that they value their integrity and commitment to the Nigerian people. It is very  important and that is what those that rejected  the honour  have done. The  Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka  has rejected the  award, so has the families of the  late   human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Afrobeat King, Fela Anikulapo Kuti  have rejected the posthumous awards for both late Fawehinmi and Fela.

The good Professor Soyinka stated  that it  would  be “inexpedient” for them to receive the award in the face of the latest killing spree by the militant group Boko Haram as well as the “putrid odour of corruption” in the alleged missing US20 billion in the NNPC. I agree with him.

Mohammed Fawehinmi, the late lawyer’s eldest son, also said that it would be morally incongruous and psychologically debilitating for the family to stand on the same podium with General Ibrahim Babangida to receive awards.

I  will  leave you to  make up  your  mind  if  some of  the recipients  are  worthy  of  recognition  Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Professor Soyinka is on the list alongside prominent Nigerians like Professor Chinua Achebe, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, Nwankwo Kanu, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Mike Adenuga and Pastor Enoch Adeboye, among others.

The Eupean Union President, José Manuel Barroso said that “Nigeria has grasped this historic moment to think about its future role as a key player in West Africa’s development, in Africa as a whole, and that there is “plenty of potential (which) still remains untapped” in Nigeria.

This is where we have been for a long time, we have plenty of potential but, unrealised. I wish the spin doctors can read between the lines that Nigeria is not living up to its potential.