COURT ROOM: IS NIGERIA'S INDEPENDENCE TRULY WORTH CELEBRATING?

Hell NO

My Lord, there was a family, and they were barren for many years. They waited and waited for a child, but it just did not happen. Then one day, a miracle happened. The wife gave birth to a son, and the baby cried as he lay there on the cradle. At first, there was lots of jubilation in the air. A year later, the baby still lay on that cradle, and it could not walk. He continued to be fed milk. Four years later, the baby is still being fed milk. Soon, the baby was 10 years old, and he still could not walk. He lay still on the cradle, and neither could he eat any solid food. His muscles did not develop. While in that cradle, he still had his diapers straddled to his buttocks. The family sought to celebrate the birthday of such a child, and I was taken aback. I cried as I watched how they celebrated that child who refused to attain the age of maturity and responsibility.

Independence Day is here again, and I could only shake my head in sorrow. My head was bowed down and my shoulders stooped low as I looked upon the many problems that have afflicted us since the day of our independence. It seemed as though while others sought growth for themselves, we were stymied by the numerous challenges that confronted us.

My Lord, though my opponent argues that it is worthy of note to celebrate this day, I hold a dissimilar opinion as I figure that there is absolutely nothing to celebrate.

Why? My reasons go thus, namely:

1. Insecurity: Since the day of our humble beginnings, we have nothing to look forward to in this regard. Each day, hundreds of people are killed in the north. There are multiple kidnappings, etc., taking place. Many times, as we travel from place to place, we are faced with constant fear that we might be robbed or even held for ransom. Sometimes, in our neighbourhoods, unscrupulous miscreants perpetrate lawlessness with impunity, and they walk scot-free.

2. Epileptic Power Supply: Even Ghana, which is not as strong, intellectual (no offence, please), and mighty, has overcome this same challenge. Their supply is more stable than ours. This is such a shame for us.

3. Defunded Tertiary Institutions and the ASUU Strike: Everyday, we students are faced with the uncertainty that a 4-year course could metamorphose into 6-year course just because the needs of the union are not met. Even our laboratories are lacking in basic resources that can make work easier. How can you imagine a laboratory with no steady water supply? This is rather appalling.

4. Fuel Scarcity: Why do we have to languish in scarcity while in the midst of plenty? We are known to have oil. We even export this oil to different countries. Yet, from time to time, we wail about scarcity.

I could go on and on, milord. On closer examination, it seems as though nothing is working in this country. As a result, our gifted youths are leaving the country en masse in search of a better life. We keep losing our skilled hands because the nation has almost nothing to offer.

My Lord, with these few points of mine, I see no reason why there ought to be any celebration for our Independence Day. On the contrary, we should sit in soberness and contemplation, seeking solutions to the many problems that confront us.

YES, it's worth celebrating

An old Yoruba adage wisely reminds us, "A single word is worth a thousand tales; understand the past to appreciate the present."

My lord, Today, I emphatically support that Nigeria's independence, celebrated since October 1st, 1960, is undeniably a cause for jubilation and pride in our history.

Before Independence, Nigeria endured the harsh rule of British colonialism, just like many other African nations. Every facet of our society was governed by foreigners who did not share our skin colour, culture, or values. We were, in essence, enslaved in our homeland, enduring pain and agony as second-class citizens.

Independence was the dawn of freedom, a chance to breathe among people of a similar culture and heritage without foreign oppression. Thankfully, this promise has been substantially realized. Gone are the chains and padlocks that once bound us.

My Lord, I stand to put this to my opponent if he thinks we are not independent and this day shouldn't be celebrated, would he rather have been slave to a white man or remain amongst his family as King? Without waiting for him to reply, obviously, I know it's a No!

May be my opponent has forgotten how these slave masters have eroded our culture while they forced theirs on us. Up till now, we have their language on our lips, communicating with it as though we were never talking before they came. What dependence has cost us is coupled with the decadence we are into today. 

My opponent may argue that improvements since independence have been slow, but progress is subjective, often dependent on one's perspective.

In our social and cultural interactions, we have fostered unity and togetherness, thanks to democracy,  It has allowed us to freely elect our leaders and shape our destiny.

Since independence, Nigeria has produced elites and Nobel Prize winners, bringing international acclaim to our nation and people. Imagine if we were still under colonial rule, and a Nigerian won an international award. It might have been attributed more to the colonial masters than to the deserving Nigerian winner. Let's celebrate independence; it is indeed worth it.

In conclusion, Nigeria's independence is undeniably worth celebrating. It represents our freedom from colonial oppression and the promise of a brighter future. As we commemorate this historic event, let's remember that true independence lies in our ability to shape our destiny. Let us continue striving for a Nigeria where our heritage and culture flourish, and the true potential of our independence is fully realized.

I rest my case.