By Comrade Wilbet Ijeoma
It is commonplace that October 1st of every year is Nigeria’s Independence Day – a day Nigeria and Nigerians celebrate their independence from British Colonial Rule. This day is far-reaching as it has been enshrined as the foremost Nigeria’s national day just like Nigeria’s Ordinance Day heralding the reenactment of our respects and preservation of national symbols such as the national flag, the national anthem and pledge, naira currency and Nigeria’s constitution amongst others.
Subverting the spirit and intendment of the Independence Day, the Labour Party and its Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi slated an electioneering campaign rally to hold on Nigeria’s Independent Day – a day by principle with exclusive reserve for national memories and activities. The extent of this national day desecration is to exude their non-belief and non-patriotism for Nigeria and in a desperate bid to offend the sensibility and collective existence of Nigerians. The culprit is the assemblage of people who call themselves “Obidients” bearing posters and banners in a motorized campaign for Labour Party and it’s presidential candidate Mr. Peter Gregory Obi on a supposedly national day when our national colours, ordinances and memories should be displayed; a day, just one day, marked and observed by Nigeria and Nigerians to take stock and inventory of our progress as an independent nation so far.
Worse still, some of our nationalists as culprits in the diaspora who grew and progressed in the Nigerian system (secular and academic) and were beneficiary of a Nigerian passport that saw them through to the diaspora where their interest and rights are being protected by Nigeria High Commission in the diaspora thoughtlessly joined the “Obidients” rally this day instead of observing and showcasing Nigeria’s national day and colour abroad. For our people in the diaspora, this is obviously the case of killing the hen that laid the golden egg which you think you are now.
The implication of this disturbing development is that some Nigerians who want a change in government do not belief in a Nigeria they want her government to change. This is evident by the fact that Mr. Peter Gregory Obi and his “Obidient” followers deliberately and out of disregard fixed their electioneering rally to coincide with Nigeria’s Independence Day not minding the ordinance and exclusiveness of that day.
This has obviously translated to infractions and distractions to national activities for the day, unease in vehicular movement and increased security burden for law enforcement agencies. A rally that ought to be profitable has been made to fail the test of expedience as a result of ill-timing!
The two BIG QUESTION arising are:
1. How can a subset of Nigerians who do not believe in Nigeria and in the exclusiveness and ordinance of the Independence Day determine who to rule Nigeria?
2. How can a presidential candidate who do not believe in Nigeria and in the exclusiveness and ordinance of the Independence Day rule Nigeria?
Let it be assumed without conceding that “Obidient” is “Obedient”. No government in the world has been changed by lawlessness, grandstanding or contrived sentiments and emotions. It is either at the polls or by coup or by revolution or by war. Dear “Obidients”, being so informed/advised; govern the situation accordingly.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
Cmr. Wilbet Ijeoma
Reporting from Asaba