Nigeria at Independence and Now: Elders give verdict

Posted by admin Latest Politics Friday, September 26th, 2014

By: JULIET EBIRIM
Ahead of the Independence Day celebration: Elders compare the state of the country now and what it was prior to independence

Our politicians are not

sincere — Akpan F.I

Those days, you could buy something with equivalent of 20kobo and still have change. The monthly earnings were less than equivalent of N100 and it was enough to cater for one’s financial needs.

These days, salaries that are even in 6-digit figures are hardly sufficient. The nation has changed a lot from the way it used to be before the independence. That’s why I personally will not queue up to vote for any politician because they are not straightforward and sincere.
We no longer have a working system —Stephen Ulelu

We don’t have a working system now compared to those days. We lived with the assurance of being secured, but now you can’t determine what will happen to you the next minute.

The rate of insecurity in the country today is very high. We don’t have a government or even a country.

This is not a country, it’s a ghost world. The masses are not regarded, human rights are being violated. Nothing works. We just live for each day.
There is a lot of development now —Emmanuel Anyaehe

There is a lot of development now than before we gained independence. Nigerians have become more exposed and enlightened. However, violence and insecurity have been the order of the day in recent times.

It wasn’t like this in the pre-independence era. I think the country has come a long way in terms of development and infrastructure.
I would love to go back to the old days — Peter Onyegbula

A lot has changed. Things have taken a bad turn. Our currency has lost its value. The times are very tough and people are suffering.

If it would be possible to rewind the time, I would love to go back to the pre-independence era. Today, people struggle everyday, yet their income is barely enough to cater for their needs.

Things have gone wrong — Stanley Kalu

In those days, the country functioned well. The attitude of citizens determines how healthy a nation will be. Immediately after independence, particularly after the war, things began to go wrong. Today, the country is nowhere.

People have lost hope in the country. Everyone is suffering in one way or the other. Nigeria is like a child without hands and legs. When the military first took over power, things began to go wrong, because they lacked the knowledge of governance.

Our country has taken a bad turn —Emeka Humphrey

Things were going smoothly in those days compared to now. We didn’t even know who was at the helm of affairs because things were running smoothly.

Even children blame the bad shape the nation is in now on the government or ruling party. There is a high level of hunger and insecurity now than then. Those days, you could move around at any time without fear of kidnappers, ritual killers or robbers.

This isn’t the country our past leaders fought for — Ayodele Ojo
The country was very peaceful in those days than now. We were united and stable. These days, there is ethnic war and religious violence. This is not the Nigeria our past leaders fought for.

Everyday, it’s one news of death and bloodshed or the other. People dying in hundreds everyday. It wasn’t this way in the past.

Brotherly love is lost – Kazeem Adeyemi

Years after independence, Nigerians are still suffering.

When we were under the British rule, our fathers fought against slavery and marginalization which we suffered from our colonial masters.

Today, it seems we are our own worst enemies. There’s no brotherly love, our hands are soiled with the blood of our brothers and there is so much violence in the land.
There is increase in crime and violence — Comfort Okoh

Though Nigeria has experienced a high level of development in recent times, there has been an upsurge in crime, terrorism, kidnapping and so on.

People are suffering and dying. We don’t have a government who can fight for the people.

Cost of living is now very high —Esther Olufemi

Things were much better in the past, Cost of living was low and with little amount of money, people lived well. Now greed and selfishness have taken over the hearts of people.

Our leaders are just there for selfish reasons. Those days, we used to be our brothers’ keeper irrespective of tribe and religious affiliations.

– See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/nigeria-independence-now-elders-give-verdict/#sthash.77OLOweS.dpufwp_posts