Kidnapping, corruption made Independence hopeless — Johnson Baba

A journalist and lecturer, Onoja Johnson Baba, has described Nigeria’s Independence anniversary as a period of hopelessness for many citizens, citing insecurity, corruption and mass emigration as reasons for the growing frustration.

Baba, an editor with Secrets Reporters, stated this in an interview with Peoples Daily while reflecting on Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.

Speaking from his experience as an Igala man from Kogi State, he said travelling to his home had become a source of fear because of the threat of kidnapping.

“Independence to most Nigerians means hopelessness because, as an Igala man from Kogi State, I can’t travel to my home without the fear of being kidnapped,” he said.

He lamented that farmers in his community were increasingly unable to access their farms without the fear of being attacked, killed or abducted.

“Our people can’t go to farm because they could be attacked, killed or kidnapped. So, in the midst of all of these, what is there to celebrate about being an independent country?” Baba asked.

He argued that Nigeria’s leaders at independence failed to lay the foundation for a country built on discipline, integrity and good governance.

“Personally, I feel maybe Nigeria shouldn’t have pushed for independence when they did. It appears that our leaders then were not mature in mind, discipline and integrity to build a nation,” he said.

According to him, the country’s problems worsened as corruption became entrenched in the system.

“They took over the country in the name of independence and began to plant the seed of corruption. Now, the corruption has grown and eaten deep into every fabric of our society,” he stated.

Baba said successive administrations had failed to eradicate corruption, arguing that its persistence had made it a problem that transcended individual governments.

“I think we should be regretting being independent because we have failed ourselves. I have observed that no administration was free of corruption,” he said.

He added, “If corruption is surfacing successively, it means it has entered into every one of us.”

Baba also expressed concern over the growing desire among Nigerians, particularly young people, to leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad.

“Today, every Nigerian wants to leave the country. Travelling abroad has become a major achievement and a dream for many Nigerians,” he said.

He questioned whether a country experiencing such widespread insecurity, corruption and emigration had sufficient reasons for celebration.

“Is this what you should describe as an independent country to be celebrated?” he asked.

Baba, however, called for fundamental reforms rather than merely celebrating Independence Day.

He said Nigeria needed to return to the drawing board and restructure the country to create a system where truth, peace and justice could thrive.

“So, instead of celebrating the Independence, let’s go back to the drawing board and restructure the country where true truth, peace and justice shall reign,” he said.