1) So, what Africans wanted in 1960, is what they still want in 2020. Africans were really never as interested in "Independence" as they were in the freedom their individuality deserves; and independence was only suppose to be a critical pathway to that.

A Thread.

2) In 1960 (and till this very day), more than territorial integrity, the people want equal opportunities, adequate infrastructure that supports the creative expression their individuality deserves. Independence was supposed to be a simple path to a more new peace and prosperity.

3) From one country to the other, from Lagos to Harare, from Kampala to Kinshansa, Dodoma to Lusaka, across the continent, the African people were harshly betrayed by the freedom fighters and leaders they trusted so ignorantly, naively and passionately; till this very day.

4) With hindsight, it looks like the goal of independence was to earn the right to self-destruct; and to change the colour of oppression from white to black by empowering fellow Africans to oppress their own people. For the people, Independence has meant nothing but pain &misery.

5) Colonialism was naked oppression & one would have expected the end of it would be a unique opportunity for African leaders to re-write the script, to re-define their identity enough to enable them build a new legacy of peace & prosperity. Instead, a new evil got independence.

6) With independence as the tool, the baton of oppression changed hands from white colonial masters to black educated leaders, whose true motives are now exposed in their inability to deliver on the promise of freedom they had adopted as mantras (now called manifestos today)..

7) So, colonialism changed to "oppressionism"; and the skin of the oppressor also changed to black. The African leaders of the 50s, 60s all the way to today, remain in the shadows of the colonialists. The evil we thought we defeated took on a new color and bore our type of name..

8) It seemed to me that those who won freedom from the colonialists (and who ironically were trained by colonialist institutions) only sought the power of the colonialists, which they believed their education entitled them to, fundamentally. Independence for them by them! Period.

9) Nationalism was simply a masqueraded scramble for power; & since its agenda wasn't really about the people, it couldn’t meet the expectation of the masses. It's up to the adults of the 2020s to think&accept the challenge to change the testimonials of the adults of 2050&beyond.

10) A new woke beacons people! It's indeed up to us. Yet..It is necessary i share the view that just like in every African nation, October 1, 1960 for example was a “tragedy”. And when the queen of England wishes Nigeria happy independence, I wonder what's on her mind. #AfroWays