ST. PHILEMON'S CORNER

October 1^st was another independent day! The day we were meant to believe that Nigeria was delivered from her Task Masters-the Europeans. Going by the world calendar, this year marked the 47^th anniversary of our total freedom from the Slave Masters.

The story as told by our Fore-Fathers clearly stated that those eras were periods of brutality, oppression, inhuman treatment and manipulation of fellow humans for selfish interest. They came to exploit us along with our God’s given resources. But today, we are we are remembering them for their actions and how we were delivered from their hands.

The questions still remain; are we actually free from such oppression? Are we not still being subjected to such situation?

We are supposed by now as an independent nation to be free from such oppressions and hardships under those Slave Masters. It is therefore pathetic to see that within us as a nation we are not free yet. Every day we think and look forward to the coming of Messiah. The deliverer who will save us in this nation from our newly emerged Task Masters with one political portfolio or the other.

After 47 years of supposed freedom from the Colonial Masters, we are still looking up to them for answers to our problems. Our leaders jet out of the country to meet them in their abode over and over again for solutions. Our intellectuals seem to find pleasure in contributing to their economy. They see no reason to invest their wealth in their native country.

At what point do we need to come to our senses in building our nation? To save ourselves of international disgrace and embarrassment. To prove that we are a nation that can be reckon with not to be exploited over again.

Perhaps, that will come when we decide to see ourselves in whatever position we are, as a member of a whole body, whose meaningful quota, however little it is, will have greater effect on the larger body.