The Rise of True Nigerians

Nigeria is currently in the middle of the presidential elections, with people actually hitting the polls on the 25th of February, with the election brewing, the new naira notes crises, and political tension between tribal and religious borders, My thoughts wander, and I remember something I thought about the Nigerian people a few years ago, and it’s the concept that we are currently witnessing the coming of age of true citizens, if you look closely, you can visibly see this on the streets with the passionate display of anger and hope.

I first began to see the embodiment of this true Nigerian spirit in the End Sars protest of 2020, I remember marching in the sea of heads screaming at the top of my vocals, “end sars”, but as the march continued, I began to listen closely to the chant, and see beyond excessive youthful displays, and then I saw a new bread of people fighting not just against police brutality, but fighting for change, hope and faith, I saw a people trying the hardest to believe in a nation that seems always on the tilt edge of collapse. I remember a comrade in the march shouting at the limit of his voice with pain boldly inscribed in his words, “How person full dream go be to japa go another country”. End Sars was truly just the beginning, and whenever I hear that verse “ the labour of our heroes passed” from the Nigerian national anthem, I remember those that fell on 20 October 2020, in the Lekki toll gate massacre. And now with the man Peter Obi on the scene, I see and feel the same energy and drive I was once charged with on the streets during the end sars protest, I see true citizens once again, stepping up and declaring their love for the fatherland, I see in their eyes, the shiny flame of hope for a future.

After some reflection on the times, I have come to the conclusion that the world is just beginning to see the rise of true Nigerians, people who were born and grew up directly under the construct of the nation, people who no matter their ethnic and religious proclivity cannot help but identify as Nigerians, I believe that mother Nigeria has finally given birth to the sons and daughters that will shape the global landscape of the years to come with their own creativity, passion, art, humour, culture, innovations and new concepts and constructs that have not been known or seen before. We truly are living in an amazing time and are observing the emergence of a nation, despite the chaos, strain, and tension.

Photo by Ayanfe Olarinde on Unsplash