Nigeria Was Premature For Independence In 1960, Still Celebrating Mediocrity 62 Years After — Udensi

Interpol Systems Consultant and security expert, Sir Chikwe Udensi has said Nigeria was not ripe at the moment it was agitating for Independence in 1960, saying it ought to have remained under colonial rule a little longer.

He said the Independence in 1962 has brought nothing in terms of development, rather mediocrity, insisting that those celebrating the Oct 1 Independence are ignorant of what they are celebrating, recommending rather they should engage in sober reflection.

“We were not ripe for Independence, it was not time for us to be independent. Independent of what? We found ourselves in a situation where we were agitated for Independence but 62 years after, look at where we are” he told a radio presenter at a programme, Open Parliament streamed live by ABN TV in Umuahia on Wednesday.

He said if the colonial masters had the privilege of managing resources Nigeria has generated from crude oil, the country would have been a better place than it is at the moment.

“Go to South Africa, they were crying that there was apartheid, they were crying that they were being penalised, but today their system is functioning and functioning well. The environment is good but look at Nigeria.

“With all these years of our Independence, we have nothing to show for it. Those who are celebrating the Independence have not known what they are celebrating, we ought to be in a serious sober reflection, we need to be sitting down and counting out losses,” he submitted.

While insisting that he has no regret holding his opinion, the APGA chieftain and governorship aspirant in Abia said countries, where the colonial masters were allowed to stay for a longer period, have a more functional system.

According to him, freedom without benefit has no value, maintaining that where there is freedom and no progress, it is not worth it and not worth mentioning. “For 62 years, Nigeria has retrogressed, we have gone backward, for 62 years, we are in calamity,” he said.

He blamed both the leadership and followership for the country’s woes, accusing the followers of not being decisive in choosing the right leadership at every particular time.