Fleeing From Independence...

On the eve of October 1 1960, Nigerians were eager to usher in our Independence and take the mantle of leadership from our masters. The streets were alive with joy and hearts were filled with expectations. We had reasons to celebrate and the country was agog with the fanfare

"Are you ready?"

His voice drowned out the volume of the radio documentary. I turned to see my husband wrestling with the lid of a bloated traveling box.  I frowned down at him and the pile of neatly arranged luggages and used cartons filled with household equipments. We had packed all night. Almost everything we owned was tied up and placed next to our bedroom door. Well, everything but our son who was asleep in his room.

"Honey, must we go?"

My voice could not conceal my exhaustion. He paused, slowly  pulled away from the closed box,  stood up and turned towards me. His eyes mirrored his surprise and displeasure at my question;

"Baby we've discussed this. Like every other family in this neighborhood, we need to get everyone out before the Anniversary celebration..."

"We have lived here all our lives. We speak their dialect, eat their food...I am more Hausa than Igbo. We are one people... tomorrow is our Independence day Anniversary we should celebrate and not run like criminals when we have committed no crimes?" I argued, cutting him off.

He smiled at me and took a step forward; 

"Independence Day? Baby, there is nothing to celebrate and I will not stay in a town that has rejected me. Only a fool goes to sleep when his generation is being threatened. We grew up here but we are still guests. They want us out and that's what we are doing. As long as I live, nobody will  chant war songs for my family."

He came over, placed a hand on my shoulder and continued as if he was lecturing one of his students; 

"The promises they made to us on our Independence day will never be actualized. Our leaders have failed us. Get Toby, it is time to go home."

His words shattered my already broken spirit. As I turned to leave, I could feel anger rising within me. 

Are my compatriots and friends now enemies I need to flee from? Does my Nation truly yearn for the blood of it's citizens?

Our Independence instead of unifying us only succeeded in emphasizing our differences. We widened the gap by flooding our streets with the blood of the innocent and celebrating mass graves. We extricated ourselves from our colonial masters only to shackle ourselves to corrupt leaders who not only derailed from the visions our fathers promised Nigerians on 1st October 1960 but are unrepentant and bent on sapping the wealth of our country. Leaders who thrive on and encourage aggressions; gruesome murders; insecurity; unemployment;environmental degradation; agitations; extrajudicial killings; insurgencies which resulted in poverty, displaced persons and ultimately; recession.

There is no doubt that Nigerians have suffered and are still suffering in a land that is richly blessed. We have been let down by sons who were supposed to make this nation the envy of the world. Indeed, we are still living in bondage and I do not see the need for match pasts, dance troupes or parties to celebrate our 57th Independence day Anniversary.

In truth, today should be declared a day of mourning and remembrance of all our fallen hero's and lost loved ones. It should be a day we fly our flag at half-staff in memory of our founding fathers, brave soldiers and every Nigerian lost on this journey of Independence. It should not be a day for ethnic cleansing, quit notices and secessions. Rather it should be a day for our leaders to renew their vows to place more value on the lives of Nigerians. A day to put an end to the mass Exodus of Nigerians who are afraid of being slaughtered by their compatriots in a place they have grown to call home.

It is time for us to silence the cacophony of war songs and embrace true Independence.

"Toby wake up. It's time to go." I whispered in his ears.

"Mummy I don't want to go. I love it here."

He groaned while clutching onto me. His tears dampened my blouse as I lifted him into my arms and kissed his cheeks;

"The future is yours my angel. We will make things right again in this country but tonight, we need to survive. Daddy is waiting for us."

He smiled at me as we dashed out of the empty house towards the fleet of cars quivering under the weight of luggages and families fleeing on the eve of our Independence day Anniversary celebration.  I felt hope rising like the Sun within me.