Hark back to Nigeria at 50, what has changed two years after

By Adeola Adejokun

Certainly, scores of Nigerians will remember the lavish celebrations that marked the Golden Jubilee anniversary of their motherland for a long time. It was a landmark celebration. Perhaps it will remain sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest Golden Jubilee independence anniversary commemoration ever. Government at all tiers, public and private institutions, as well as religious bodies loosened their purse strings to fund the innumerable programmes put together to commemorate the seemingly historic occasion.  

All unveiled special programmes heralded by peerless hype and media blitz in various parts of the country and the world, where citizens and embassies of Africa’s most populous nation celebrated her 50^th Independence Anniversary before and after Friday, October 1, 2010. It was a many-sided celebration spanning military and paramilitary parades, march past, games, product and services bonanzas, drama, festivals, church services, philanthropic donations et al.  

Friends of Nigeria joined in the merry making. They sent goodwill messages, as well as high profile delegations to be part of the activities commemorating the country’s golden jubilee anniversary. Prominent among them were African Presidents, the United Kingdom and Thai delegations led by the Duke of Gloucester, Prince Richard George, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Trirong Suwan, respectively. 

ECOWAS Heads of State also converged on Abuja-Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, where they paid glowing tribute to Nigeria and its incumbent President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, for the country’s positive contribution to the consolidation of the regional integration process. They wished the people of Nigeria good health, joy and prosperity on her 50th independence anniversary celebrations.

The multi-billion Naira Jubilee Celebrations

Arguably, media reports estimated the cost of the month-long event to be a princely sum of N10billion, with a hefty chunk, precisely N1.52bn, allotted to the Federal Ministry of Information and Communications for placement of radio jingles, electronic media advertisements, outdoor advertisements, and for special reports on Nigeria in both local and international media. 

In the same vein, accommodation and transportation of special guests from within and outside the country, gulped N700 million; while N450 million naira was set aside for production of branded souvenirs for special guests, as well as the engraving of a large coat of arms on the Aso Rock. The Foreign Affairs Ministry got a grant of N105 million for anniversary parties hosted by Nigerian missions abroad.

A truly historic affair, the commemorative Presidential banquet, variety gala night and fireworks cost N250 million, while N40 million was expended on what the government called ‘food week.’ The First Lady, Mrs. Patience Goodluck Jonathan had N50 million allotted for visits to special homes, orphanages, prisons and selected hospitals; another N40 million to fund a special session of the National Children’s Parliament and a party for 1000 children. 

Debates, essays, conferences, lectures and colloquium cost N150 million, even as musical concerts and carnival in the six geo-political zones had a N60 million budget. Durbar, masquerades and cultural dances cost N100 million, while the design and construction of 10 symbolic monuments of founding fathers of Nigeria gulped eighty million Naira.  

Security and protocol cost N500 million, while N25 million was budgeted for medicals during the anniversary. The Nigeria @ 50 Secretariat had N320 million, allotted to it for equipments, accommodation, logistics and utilities, while N30 million was allocated to the design and unveiling of the 50^th anniversary logo. Benchmark for the design and publication of compendium on Nigeria, the legislature and judiciary were N400 million, N150 million and N50 million respectively, while commissioning of the golden jubilee plaza cost N10 million. 

Beyond the usual military, paramilitary and schoolchildren callisthenics displays synonymous with annual independence celebrations at the Eagle Square in Abuja, the stakes were raised during the last historic independence celebrations. Capital intensive Air force fleet aerial displays, helicopter gunship displays, balloon flypasts, Armoured Personnel Carriers display, military museum display buoyed this year’s historic celebrations at a cost of N950 million.

Amidst parades, combat march equipment and aerial displays by troops and formations of the military, paramilitary and school children, the activities marking Nigeria's 50th independence anniversary reached its climax on Friday, October 1, 2010, at the Eagle Square in Abuja. In attendance were President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, members of the National Assembly, former Heads of State and Presidents of Nigeria and 14 Presidents of African nations.

An interdenominational church service at the Ecumenical Centre in Abuja, and a Jumat Service at the National Mosque in Abuja, rounded off Nigeria’s golden jubilee celebrations. However, the Golden Jubilee Anniversary was marred by bombs purportedly set-off by Movement for the Emancipation of Niger-Delta, near the Eagle Square in Abuja, to protest the neglect of the Niger Delta region. The security situation in some parts of the country has remained dismal till date.

In the eye of a critic

Celebrations that marked Nigeria’s 50^th independence were as loud as the strident spat about its correctness from several quarters. Both the celebrations and its criticisms were unprecedented, and can only be Nigerian, considering its humongous size. On one side is the federal government and those who shared its optimism that the country’s 50^th Independence anniversary is worth celebrating in all ramifications, while a formidable opposition which believes otherwise cuts across the over 250 ethnic groups that make up the country.

President Goodluck Jonathan and ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo were the foremost and most prominent advocates of the lavish celebrations that marked Nigeria’s Golden Jubilee last October. According to both, our unique evolutionary journey to nationhood, continuing quest for greatness and the character of our collective staying power, as well as the resilience of the ordinary Nigerian, is worth celebrating. 

On his part, Pelu Awofeso, travel editor of Lagos based National Daily Newspaper and the 2010 winner of the CNN/ Multichoice African Award in the Tourism Category, contended with the planning and implementation of activities put together by government to mark the country’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. In his view, it was below expectations. He however gave kudos to the private sector and churches for the significant roles played in bringing the celebrations closer to Nigerians from all walks of life through various privately funded initiatives. 

“In 2007, I was in Accra -Ghana to cover that country's 50th anniversary of independence. It seemed that the whole world was in Accra to celebrate with the people and the government. Ghana did not disappoint. Everything was just as it should be. There and then, I began to wish that Nigeria would put up an equally dazzling show three years later. Honestly, I do not think the Nigerian jubilee was given the best of planning and I was pained in my spirit.

“We could all see that the committee set up to give the country a befitting golden jubilee was largely incapable of the task. The Nigerian people already concluded that the occasion would be an opportunity for some politicians to make some money at the country's expense. If anything gladdened my heart, it was the impressive lengths which private organisations and churches went to celebrate the country,” Awofeso submitted.

Almost two years ago, renowned commentator, former editorial board chairman of The Guardian Newspaper and number one government critic, now presidential spokesman, Mr. Reuben Abati condemned the lavish independence celebrations in strong words. He expressed reservations about the lavish 50^th Independence anniversary celebration that gulped over $63 million. Social commentator and critic, Mr. Okey Ndibe was on the same page with Mr. Abati. Mr. Ndibe believes Nigeria has nothing to show for the first fifty years of her independent life; while Abati described Nigeria as a crippled giant at 50, where the dire security situation, unemployment and dilapidated state of infrastructures, necessitates sober reflection in place of a national jamboree.  

Reasons for these perspectives were not farfetched. Blessed with more than her fair share of natural and human resources, Nigeria ought to be the envy of other nations. Few nations boast of her potentials, yet her tale is a bitter –sweet one. In absolute terms, it is loaded with in absurdities and uniqueness rarely found in other climes. Meet Nigeria, the home of Nigerians, whipping boy of Western press for all that is absurd and African, envied by African nations and presently being wooed by developed nations that hate to love her for huge potentials.