Tribute to our heroes, heroines: How well have we done as a nation

POINTBLANK with Smart Emmanuel
09066642354

Every great nation is built on the sweat, courage, and sacrifices of heroes and heroines who dared to dream of freedom, unity, and progress. For Nigeria, our founding fathers and mothers stood tall against colonial domination, gave their voices to the voiceless, and charted a path toward independence in 1960.

Today, more than six decades later, it is only fitting to ask: how well have we lived up to their sacrifices? If their spirits walk among us today, will they rejoice at our progress or weep at how far we have fallen behind?

When we remember Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, fondly called Zik of Africa, we recall a visionary nationalist who mobilized millions through his writings and political activism. As Nigeria’s first President, Zik dreamed of a Pan-African renaissance where Nigeria would be the pride of the continent.

He believed in a united nation where ethnicity and religion would never override patriotism. But would Zik be proud of today’s Nigeria, where ethnic suspicion, nepotism, and tribal politics still hold sway?

From the North came Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, who devoted his life to modernizing education and bridging regional divides. His Northern People’s Congress (NPC) gave voice to millions and played a vital role in shaping independence. Yet, if he were to look at the North today, plagued by insecurity, poverty, and underdevelopment, would he not wonder why the dreams he planted were abandoned for selfish interests and greed?

The West produced Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Premier of the Western Region, who left a timeless legacy of free primary education and economic planning. Awolowo saw education as the ladder to equality and progress, and he envisioned a nation built on merit and opportunity.

But today, millions of Nigerian children roam the streets without access to basic education. Would Awolowo not grieve to see a system where knowledge is sold to the highest bidder, and where corruption robs the future of our children?

We also honour Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, known across the world as the Golden Voice of Africa. His eloquence positioned Nigeria as a respected global leader at independence. He spoke with clarity and commanded respect across the world stage.

But would Tafawa Balewa recognize today’s Nigeria, where our international image has been tainted by corruption, mismanagement, and the “giant of Africa” reduced to begging for aid despite abundant resources?

From Edo State, we remember Chief Anthony Enahoro, the man whose boldness in 1953 forced Britain to take Nigeria’s independence seriously. His courage showed that true patriotism means confronting power with truth. Yet, if Enahoro’s spirit still lingers, would he not be dismayed at a Nigeria where politicians enrich themselves while the masses suffer, and where the dream of independence has been replaced by dependency on foreign loans and imported goods?

Our tribute would be incomplete without Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, a fearless woman who mobilized her fellow women against unjust taxation and campaigned for female participation in politics. She broke barriers in a male-dominated struggle for freedom, ensuring that Nigerian women had a voice in shaping their nation.

Today, Nigerian women continue to fight for space in leadership and governance. Would she celebrate the progress made, or lament how tokenism still keeps women at the fringes of decision-making?

We must not forget Herbert Macaulay, the “Father of Nigerian Nationalism,” whose activism birthed the first political party, the NNDP. Macaulay envisioned a Nigeria where justice, equity, and unity would prevail. If he could look at our reality today, would he not be saddened that politics has become a game of thrones where power is sought not for service, but for personal enrichment?

These heroes and heroines came from diverse regions and backgrounds, but they shared a common dream: a united and prosperous Nigeria. They put aside ethnic and religious differences to pursue one goal: freedom and dignity for their people. Their legacy is a mirror that forces us to reflect on the kind of nation we have become.

Sadly, Nigeria has drifted far from its vision. Insecurity ravages the land, from terrorism in the North to banditry, kidnapping, and communal clashes across regions. Corruption remains a cancer that drains our resources, leaving hospitals without drugs, schools without teachers, and industries without power. Our youths, the pride of our tomorrow, migrate in droves seeking opportunities abroad because their homeland has denied them hope.

If the spirits of Zik, Sardauna, Awolowo, Balewa, Enahoro, Ransome Kuti, and Macaulay still linger, will they applaud the Nigeria of today? Or will they shake their heads in disappointment that the nation they fought to build has stumbled into the very darkness they tried to prevent? Their sacrifices were not for a Nigeria that struggles with fuel scarcity despite being an oil giant, nor for a nation where citizens cry out daily for justice and fairness.

But their undying legacies also remind us of one thing: it is never too late to rise again. The same patriotic spirit that drove them to resist colonialism must awaken in us to resist mediocrity, tribalism, and corruption. We, the living, must not betray their sacrifices. We must stand up, rebuild, and take ownership of our future.

Nigeria, the time is now. We have no other country to call our own. Let us rise beyond the politics of division and the leadership of self-interest. Let us embrace the true spirit of service, unity, and progress.