OCTOBER 1ST: NOT AN INDEPENDENCE DAY TO NIGER DELTA BUT ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY OF SOVEREIGN CAPTIVITY

By: Sam-Michael Bayowuman

(bachael08@gmail.com)

October 1st, today, 56years ago in 1960 Nigeria was ascertained to have gained a peaceful independence  from the British Colony after an unjustful, egocentric and crookery amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Nigeria in 1914.

It became a global memorable day for Nigerians and virtually celebrated by all but never all.

Inherently, today, 1st October is never an independence day to Niger Delta and Niger Deltans but only an anniversary of a 102years old National Captivity and Slavery. To every well meaning Niger Deltan, this day serves as a day of re-evaluation of the Niger Delta preliminaries and re-strategizing for gaining a true and just independence for self and the Niger Delta. So to say, it is a mourning day to Niger Deltans that yet you have spent another one year to being captivated, enslaved, marginalised, neglected and oppressed; left to decompose.

Celebrations are for successful people like Nigeria who has succeeded from the Niger Delta Nation and its people and not for people of suffering, dehumanized, prejudiced, neglected and oppressed nature. One obviously cannot celebrate sufferings, and a psychologically healthy human cannot love and celebrate his oppressors; not even in the animal kingdom. Nigeria can celebrate but celebration by Niger Delta and Niger Deltans is only a show of ignorance and seldom irresponsibility for a very true course, origin and freedom for the Niger Delta Nation. It is pathetic, but one cannot celebrate independence when you have no independence.

Nigeria and it's leaders do know that Nigeria isn't ONE and there's never a National Unity which is only heard in Nigeria. Where there is a National Unity, it doesn't need to be preached. One cannot teach Izon in an Ijaw village school when that is the language used as a means of communication outside classes. As Obafemi Awolowo did wrote in one of his books; "Since the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria, the British Government and Nigerian Leaders have been trying to make Nigeria One but the citizens do not want to be One because Nigeria was not One".

I use this medium to urge and encourage the Nigerian Government to give a critical attention into wrapping-up the deceptive phrase "National Unity" and necessary action be projected to ensure that as Nigeria celebrates independence, Niger Delta also have a feel of self-regional independence, a Freedom course. Though, ego and regional interest may not allow it so easily. But a peaceful independence like the British colony gave to the over-congested created Nation Nigeria, is better than any form of violent revolution, just as the Niger Delta today is being colonised by Nigeria even in the midst regional civilisation. Hence, the need for the needful.

"Education does not take off the knowledge and ability of violence from a man but rather gives him the knowledge of better choices to violence." --Sam-Michael B.