The celebrations in Abuja, the national capitol, were marred today by coordinated explosions that killed at least eight people as Nigeria celebrated fifty years of independence from Great Britain.I remember “The Day” in 1960 when the Union Jack was lowered from flagpoles all over Nigeria, and the green-white-green Nigerian flag was first hoisted. I remember that there were speeches and partying, and everything was joyfully peaceful. All over the land, on metal masts and bamboo poles, the new flag waved so proudly.
I remember also the pride and expectancy I sensed from the missionaries all around – the kind of pride and expectancy one might find at a high school graduation – as we watched the people of our adopted country step forward to grasp the reins of power for themselves. There was an exciting anticipation of greatness and hope as we watched the Nigeria we loved so much take its place for the first time in the role call of independent nations.
We were so happy! We had such lofty expectations for Nigeria – for that country carved out of the African continent more by the topography of European power politics and self-interest than by any natural geography or cultural affinities within West Africa itself. Still, the tremendous natural wealth, backed by an apparently high education level and seemingly adequate infrastructure, gave us all the cause we needed to hold out high hopes for Nigeria’s future. Nigeria, with its western-patterned constitution and growing middle class must surely become the brightest of lights on the African Continent!
On that joyful day in 1960 we saw no hint of the profound underlying problems that would lead to a series of military power-grabs, as well as a civil war and cycles of ever-increasing criminal violence typified by the kidnapping this week of fifteen school children. We could not see then the patterns of unrestrained corruption that would affect every area of Nigerian life, would squander that nation’s resources and would siphon off its wealth into profligate lifestyles and European bank accounts – while the common condition of ordinary Nigerians has, in so many ways, become worse and worse.
Now, led by a president named Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria celebrates her first fifty years of independence. In spite of her many troubles, Nigeria has much to celebrate. For one thing, she celebrates survival, even in the face of all her difficulties, and she celebrates the many achievements of her people as they have grown past their colonial inheritance and have created, for good or ill, their own institutions and history.
As we listen to the often-sad news from Nigeria, we who love her perhaps now pray more wisely than we used to, but we still pray for her, that she may yet fulfill her potential for greatness. May Nigeria yet become that bright light we have so long desired to see!
In the words of the original Nigerian National Anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee!"
