On October 1, 2024, unarguably less than 24 hours from now, Nigeria would be 64 years old, Nigeria stands like a weathered patriarch, a man with vast riches, many wives, and countless children. His wealth, once envied by his neighbors, is now the subject of bitter conversations at family meetings. From the shimmering oil fields of the Niger Delta to the fertile farmlands that stretch across the northern plains, this man should be living a prosperous and peaceful life. Yet, despite his enormous fortune, his children have become his biggest burden, each one more reckless than the last.

This old man, whom we call Nigeria, was once brimming with youthful optimism. In his prime, he was a proud member of a global community, endowed with resources that seemed endless. But as the years have passed, his wealth, rather than multiplying under prudent management, has been plundered by his own blood. His children, entrusted with the family’s fortune, have become entitled and corrupt, using their father’s riches not for the good of the family but for their personal gain.

The story of Nigeria is a tragedy of mismanagement. Blessed with oil, gas, minerals, and fertile land, this patriarch should be the wealthiest man in his region. But his children, greedy and short-sighted, have squandered his assets. Instead of investing in businesses that could make the family fortune last generations, they spend recklessly, siphoning funds into foreign bank accounts, building extravagant mansions, and buying luxury cars that will eventually rust.

Nigeria’s children, those in charge of his estates, bear the most responsibility for his troubles. They are the politicians, the leaders who have been entrusted with managing his fortune. But instead of upholding the legacy of their father, they engage in power struggles, siphoning off money meant for family upkeep, schools, hospitals, and roads. The basic needs of their siblings, ordinary Nigerians, are neglected.

Instead of following in their father’s footsteps and ensuring his wealth grows, they have become parasites, milking the old man for every last drop, leaving the house crumbling. Roads are potholed, hospitals are understaffed and underfunded, and many of the children go to bed hungry, despite the family’s vast stores of resources.

The children who are not in power, ordinary citizens, are the ones who suffer the most. Despite their father’s wealth, they live in poverty. They watch helplessly as their older siblings, entrusted with the keys to the family vault (The “Emilokons”), lavish themselves with riches while leaving everyone else to fend for themselves. They struggle to pay school fees, fight to access basic healthcare, and work multiple jobs just to make ends meet, all the while knowing that they are part of a family that should be wealthy beyond imagination.

These ordinary children grow disillusioned. They once believed that their father’s wealth would provide for them, that they would inherit a prosperous future. But now, they see that without change, they are doomed to live in the shadow of squandered potential.

Nigeria, the 64-year-old man, can still recover. His fortune, though mismanaged, is not entirely lost. But for him to prosper once again, his children must change their ways. The family needs unity, accountability, and a sense of responsibility. The wealth he has accumulated over decades should not be treated as an endless supply but as a precious resource to be nurtured and grown for future generations.

Perhaps, in his old age, this patriarch will take a stand. Perhaps he will remind his children of their duties and set them on a path toward restoration. But until then, Nigeria remains a wealthy old man with children who continue to squander his fortune, leaving the rest of the family wondering what could have been.

As Nigeria is set to mark another year in less than 24 hours from now, it is time for his children to reflect on the future. Will they continue on this path of greed and mismanagement? Or will they finally rise to the occasion, protect their father’s legacy, and build a future where every child in the family can thrive? The answers lie in their hands.