If as the old proverbial axiom goes, “a fool at 40 is a fool forever”, what about one at 50?

Since the 1960s, when Nigerians seized the reins of power to control the affairs of their own lives and probably to give the “masses” full “independence”, the youth have been the most neglected segment of the country, benefiting nothing more than being cheated and cheated by the ruling class.

The story goes that at one point in the corporate life of the Nigerian entity, the youth had had access to a good life, evidenced in free education, cheap healthcare facilities and waiting job opportunities, to name a few. We are even told that government parastatals and private organizations hired young people who were still in school to offer them work.

Ironically, these are the same people who rule us today. Some of them, in fact, were sponsored by the government to higher institutions abroad, with all the provisions, including reading materials, food and clothing. Given that background, one would have expected that the beneficiaries of such benevolence, who had benefited from so many privileges from the colonialists, would want to do better than their predecessor in developing their ONE homeland and its people.

But alas! Fifty (50) good years have only seen the recycling of people who did not know how to retain in their heads and hearts the beauty of loving and being remembered for the good they do to their country. They are remembered the same, for the bad.

We are also told by those old enough to have understood the scheme of things, that the time between 1969 and 1973 saw a certain man named Yakubu Gowon rise to rule the country with genuine love and the intent to uplift the common man, regardless. . of geopolitical, ethnic or religious affiliation, to a significant state. Other than this, in fifty years, everyone else has only taken us four steps back for every one we’ve taken forward.

Controversial statement you say? Especially since the slideshow of our “hero past” reeling in your imagination features such wonderful images and names as Obafemi Awolowo, Namdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello, Shehu Shagari, Ibrahim Babangida, Mohammadu Buhari and Olusegun Obasanjo, to name a few. . Well, you’re entitled to your opinion just like everyone else.

Those personalities undoubtedly contributed greatly to the corporate existence of the country Nigeria and also contributed immensely to our current state, good and bad.

For example, the sectionalism that plagues us today, the history books say, emanated from petty disputes between our pioneer leaders from eastern, northern, and southwestern extractions, as evidenced by their partisan politics. So we can say they took power out of the hands of white foreigners who were fighting over our resources (but had better intentions of developing us), only to gore each other to the detriment of younger generations of fellow Nigerians.

Do not misconstrue this to mean that we advocate the return of the colonialists; never! We only deplore the unfortunate fact that in fifty years we have had among us no messiah as capable as these “exploiting slaveholders,” none so honest as the “dubious” white man who left his own home to come “steal” what It belongs to us. However, we have had a thousand who stole more than the colonialists.

In 50 years honestly, can we boast of one, no, two (well, we can already mention one that was different) men who have had the good sense to remember the days of their own youth, how they enjoyed the fruit of the earth? Have there been two who have therefore made a genuine effort to present the younger generations with something resembling what they enjoyed in their own time?

This does not imply that in 50 years our leaders have not been good at anything; rather, there are fields where they, along with us, have broken records.

To cite examples: it is well known even by children that the name Nigeria is synonymous with “being smart”. Yeah! When you get to where order is required, be smart. If what is needed is justice, be smart; When the world around you is starving for honesty and moral consistency, even if you have what it takes to make a difference, be smart: this is how to be a true Nigerian. without it, without scratching anyone’s back, without faking your age, take off because your type is not here; he won’t even get a job when he’s young.

And if the United Nations or Transparency International dares to raise an eyebrow, call on Jerry Gana’s to sugar coat or Akunyili’s to help us rebrand ourselves so our black letters are sent in white envelopes.

Is this finding fault or pessimism? I would call it being realistic. It’s not just complaints, let’s now also mention some of our best achievements:

If you were a fifty-year-old man with children and grandchildren, wouldn’t you smirk if at least 65% of your household, especially the happiest, would smirk if at least 65% of your household, especially the youngest and most energetic Are they unemployed?

If at 50 years old Nigeria boasts of congressmen who break their jaws with clenched fists for money in the same way that European colonialists pounced on our land and resources (though they did not kill each other); if indeed at 50, with grandchildren old enough to be grandparents, Nigeria can boast of having what some have called “spare parts dealers, money loses the way” in decision-making positions, while professors and honest men and women are only fit to be your “special advisers” and “personal assistants.” If money is really in one’s pocket (regardless of what one does to get it), it matters more than one’s intellect, skills, and strength of character. So shouldn’t we agree that the motherland has come a long way in both age and achievement? Therefore, we should be saying “bravo!” and celebrate, not complain.

However, I, as well as anyone who cares, would love to be shown one person (other than those sharing the pie) who is happy with the state of affairs in Nigeria. While the masses suffer, the rest of the world jokes and marvels at how far behind we are with most of the natural resources the creator has chosen to bless us with.

Youth! So where are you? Is there any country you call your own outside of Nigeria? Are you reduced to an escort for others on this journey? Have you so soon forgotten the money you had to pay to get into a higher institution? And now that you have managed to graduate successfully or not, aren’t you unemployed just because you don’t have N250,000 to pay?

Don’t you know why? Because the unproductive old man who was sponsored with his resources a long time ago, to train abroad has long since retired, but he was left behind on “contract basis”, so there is practically NO VACANCY.

And don’t go expecting him to die anytime soon because if he does, there are some people somewhere who have been collecting the salary of the other man who died 10 years ago, as if he were alive and working. I pity you because these are not relatives of the deceased. No! They are the ones above.

Quite frankly, they have suspended the family of the deceased from receiving their rights for their years of meritorious service to the nation. While she waited, the wife also went to join her husband at her grave and the eldest of her sons is too young to claim anything. As you can see? The “big shots” have at least 10 more years to dance on the deceased’s grave before declaring him dead enough for his family to begin prosecution to collect royalties from him.

So what are you going to do but wait as usual anyway? After all, with all his intellect, talent, youthful strength, and the academic qualifications he now wields, isn’t he playing the “boy boy” to some opportunist to earn his food?

There once was an old man upstairs who was a little retarded. He would pass the feces around his house, leaving only a narrow hallway to the door. This irritated the neighbors so much that they stopped bringing him food, so he had to go from house to house in search of food. After a meal, he would thank the owner of the house first for the food and then for the house, saying that his house didn’t smell as horrible as his.

One day when he said this, a boy disowned him, saying he was a fool for dirtying his house with feces and advised him to clean the house so it would stop smelling horrible.

Similarly, Nigeria seems to show the entire world, including the youngest and poorest states, that experience can come with age, never with wisdom.

Like lunatics, Nigerian leaders have enjoyed life in the United States and Europe for 50 years when they flirt there to hide stolen money or to dance and celebrate other people’s achievements. They often tell stories of how beautiful, organized and comfortable these places are, including how civilized are the people who leave them in perpetual darkness.

Once again, we repeat that the leaders of other countries have not necessarily achieved more feats than those of Nigeria. For example, Nelson Mandela of South Africa is known throughout the world for his love for his country. He was never a military leader, but he spent almost half his life in prison fighting for his people. Upon his return, EL PUEBLO made him president, a well-deserved response.

Here in Nigeria, we have a general whose only war we know of was the “legitimization” of corruption. While the former resisted genuine requests to remain in power as president, the latter, as well as everyone else who had had the opportunity to be at the forefront of affairs before (except, of course, the one we already recognized as different), they’ve suddenly realized they didn’t do enough damage during their early mission trips, so now they’re working desperately to get back to Aso Rock (recycled, old wine as they may be); either to “correct the wrongs” they have done or, most likely, to correct the little good they have done.

In conclusion, we can say that our golden jubilee is well deserved, a celebration of achievement on both counts. But we must admit nonetheless that when measured against ideals, our leaders have championed leftism for 50 years, while those of other countries have done well to develop their countries, especially their youth.

So young people, if you are thinking of depending on the government for something, you better change your mind because if those guys over there have been 50 years and we are where we are, it means that why not go, we are going to be here longer. God forbid!

But if you think this is being unfairly pessimistic, I would say; You are entitled to your opinion as much as I am.