by Abdulbaqi Aliyu Jari Katsina
Libyan or Libu as it was once called is a country with a very rich history
dating back to over 8000BC. Ruled by the Neothlics, Berbers, Romans,
Greeks, Byzantines, and lately by the Othman empire. Captured by Muslims
under the leadership of Amr ibn Ass and Abdullahi ibn Saad in 647 AD from
the byzantine empire.
With a space of about 1.8 million square kilometers, Libya has a
population of just about 7 million people.
Libya got it independence from Italia in 1951 as it made its self declaration of independence by its then
leader, King Idriss.
As of the time of its independence, United Libyan
kingdom was of the poorest countries in the world. Not only that, it was one
of the most low literate nations on the globe.
King Idriss, a fairly just leader ruled Libya for 18 years until his
overthrow by a young military officers leader by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
The brother leader and guider of the Alfateh revolution as he was
officially referred Gaddafi was able to reform Libya, Educate the
population and charted a new cause for what became Great Socialist
peoples Libya Arab Jamahiriyaa in 1986. Gaddafi against all odds was able
to nationalize Libya’s resources by expelling the western colonial fro Libya
just a year or so after coming to power. Libya then quickly became the new
pride of Africa as Gaddafi was among the strongest proponents that changed
OAU to AU, and also set a dream to actualise United State of Africa one day.
Unfortunately for Gaddafi, just like any seat tight leader, he over
stayed his welcome. His sons then started to interfere with official
activities of Libya while they are not officials. The state treasury was
vvirtually inside Gaddafi’s account. His family fortune was said to be about
80 billion dollars. As time drags on, Gaddafi lost his focus and his
vision. he became the soul legislature of Libya by declaring his green book
as the constitution of Libya. Activist were imprisoned and some even killed
for demanding a share in the running of affairs of Libya.
Nothing survives time, in 2011 after the toppling of Hosni Mubarack in
Egypt, and Ben Ali in Tunisia, the bandwagon then jumped to Libya after
just nine months, Gaddafi was overthrown by the Libyans supported by the
west.
It might have been a very happy day for many Libyans seeing the ouster
of Gaddafi, little did know that Libya is going to descend into civil war
and ‘republic of Militias”. The transition council of Libya has no control
over the new Libya. Many arms are now in the hands of Criminal and
militia groups that are power hunger. A lot of resources have been lost as a
result of the conflict. Oil out put is now virtuallyone of tenth of as it
was during Gaddafi, standard of living has been lowered as a lot of
ministers have either resigned or deserted in fear of their lives.
It is not all the time that revolution result into goodness. Sometimes it
takes many years before development start as a lot of oopportunist and
criminals will like to use the mood to create mischief. It is imperative
for the new constituted Libyan Nation assembly to put their hands together
to salvage Libya if not Libya may become another Somalia or even worst
Comrade Abdulbaqi Aliyu Jari Katsina
Katsina Local Government council
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