October 1st is supposed to be the most patriotic day on the Nigerian calendar. As the day we got our independence in 1960, this is one day we expect Nigerians to put out fireworks and get livid for the country.
So we decided to go on to Twitter to see what the Independence Day celebration looked like. How did it feel like? And what did Nigerians say about our independence? And here’s what we found out.
Nigerians Are Pessimistic About the Country
Nigerians endure a lot already in the polity of the country. Since independence, we’ve endured the killings in various quarters, corruption, poverty, unemployment, among many others. The net sum? Nigerians are now highly sceptical about the country.
And in most of the tweets surveyed, this fact was always present.
One day this country will take its rightful place in the League of Nations.its citizens will have basics like electricity, water, education, healthcare,jobs! That day is here but we need to vote right in 2019! Please vote competence not religion, sex or tribe #Nigeria58
— AuduMaikori (@Audu) October 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/oznwachukwu/status/1046781769255714816
@aedcelectricity we said Nigeria is 58 yet even the presidential speech we can't hear due to power failure in Kabba kogi state, since morning no light on #Nigeria58 is a shame
— emmanuel T babatunde (@emmanubabat) October 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/Naijadailyfeed/status/1046768861192876032
https://twitter.com/Naija__arena/status/1046764800192270338
What’s your present situation with today being Independence Day #Nigeria58
Mine: No Light 😤
— Harley Quinn 👸🏻 🧝🏻♀️ 👩🏻🦳 (@HarleyQuinnng) October 1, 2018
@MBuhari @ProfOsinbajo Your inability to secure the lives and properties of Nigerians make you complicit to murder and destruction. There is blood on your hands! You have the power to fix it, fix it, stop playing politics and fix it!! #Nigeria58 #NigeriaAt58
— Ken Iloka (@ken_iloka) October 1, 2018
We live in a country dat wants to replace a working governor n leave a lifeless President to continue ruling us😩😩😩….if anyone just wish me happy independence today am coming to ur house to beat u up😏 #nigeria58 #IndependenceDay2018
— Dear Layo🧚🏽🧚🏽🧚🏽 (@omolayo_iyanu) October 1, 2018
Nigerians Love to Celebrate Independence Day
Irrespective of how things are though, Nigerians still love celebrating Independence Day. Despite the issues, Nigerians are really just patriotic people looking for every available space show it. And October 1st is an opportunity.
Happy Independence Day Nigeria!
Let the "What's there to celebrate?" debate begin …#NigeriaAt58 #NigerianIndependenceDay #October1st pic.twitter.com/CLUWUaqhJB
— Femi Oke (@FemiOke) October 1, 2018
We 🎊 Celebrate hope and great Progress. [email protected] pic.twitter.com/qF82Ye1mNS
— Babatunde Arowojolu (@TundeArowojolu) October 1, 2018
Happy Independence Day!!!! 🇳🇬 🇳🇬 🇳🇬
So how old is Nigeria really? Don’t be like someone of these people who were saying “56, 63” 😂😂😂🙆🏾♂️🙆🏾♂️🙆🏾♂️🙆🏾♂️#NigeriaAt58#NigerianIndependenceDay #HappyIndependenceNG pic.twitter.com/R6S1eszvOR
— Netng (@theNETng) October 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/EscoBlades/status/1046606643503484929
Happy anniversary, Nigeria @58. Let’s keep hope alive for a glorious future! pic.twitter.com/1KPlLqgZIJ
— Akinwumi A. Adesina (@akin_adesina) October 1, 2018
We will never forget the efforts made by our founding fathers in making Nigeria an independent Nation.
May God continue to make Nigeria stronger,unite Nigerians and provide us with good Leaders.#NigerianIndependenceDay #NigeriaAt58 #HappyIndependenceNG 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/XHd9kdviOS— SHAGALI (@KADAssembly) September 30, 2018
Bringing back this legendary video today. It’s only right. Happy independence. #NigerianIndependenceDay pic.twitter.com/rzyCQYQXAY
— Odogwu Malay (@blvck_cookiee) October 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/AliefTaylor_ASA/status/1046929285074886656
Nigerians Can’t Stop Showing themselves
One thing most Nigerians did on Twitter on October 1st was to celebrate with pictures—pictures of themselves. We just like to feel ourselves even when the occasion is clearly not about us sha!
Happy Independence Day Nigeria ❤️🇳🇬 #NigerianIndependenceDay pic.twitter.com/ieikTqdU0b
— MIMZ (@MimiFenty_) October 1, 2018
Funmilola. Pronounced “Foomi-Lola”. It means “GOD HAS GIVEN US WEALTH.” I go by Angel bc I hated going by this name 4 so long. 1 day I realized, I am who I am, because of where I come from. I’d stopped running from who I was, & embraced who I am. Happy #NigerianIndependenceDay ✨ pic.twitter.com/htvCFZVpNS
— Art with Angel (@angelidowu3) October 1, 2018
Nigeria @58…. Be the change you wanna see😊….. #HappyIndependenceDay pic.twitter.com/r9CGisgZwt
— Peter Okoye MrP (@PeterPsquare) October 1, 2018
Happy Independence Nigeria…. may Nigeria continue to grow stronger in Unity while leveraging on her diversity!#FarmerInSuit #Nigeria@58 pic.twitter.com/Idi1Th9gxP
— Usman Ali Lawan (@UsmanAliNG) October 1, 2018
Happy Independence Day #Nigeria58 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/8GDPdzPb0p
— Dr. Aminu Kankia (@Dr_ameeeen) October 1, 2018
We hope you enjoyed the day. Please share your hopes for #NigeriaAt58 in the comment section.
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