HURRAY!! Nigeria is 54 today October, 2014. As congratulatory messages pour in from across the world, most Nigerians see nothing to celebrate at 54.
HURRAY!! Nigeria is 54 today October, 2014.
As congratulatory messages pour in from across the world, most Nigerians see nothing to celebrate at 54. Comparing Nigeria with a 54 years old man, so many Nigerians believe the country is not acting the father or the grandfather. Nigeria is not matured, they seem to agree.
However, some Nigerians still believe it is not all tales of woes, adding that we still have reasons to celebrate. We still have reasons to give thanks to God, especially at the wake of the killing of the leader of the Boko Haram sect. This, some Nigerians feel is worth thanking God for, hoping that the death of this menace would mark the gradual end of insurgency in Nigeria.
Our reporter, Tunde Olofinboba speaks with some section of Nigerians within and outside the country. Excerpts from their responses.
We are 54 but still getting set to crawl, not to mention when we’ll be running like our birthday-mate-nations around the world.
What’s our major challenge? I dare say that, it is FOUNDATIONAL based….we were ill conceived into existence by selfish entities that we refused to break free from 54 years running. Genesis 27 verse 40 says, “…..when we are restless, we’ll remove the yokes off our necks.”We have so little to celebrate. I’ve decided not to highlight our woes any longer, but to appropriate solutions.
Firstly, we need to create a national belief system that culturally oriented. We must start all over and create a new mind set with positive developmental framework that’s we’ll work on assiduously. Corruption, government policies should be addressed in such a way, whereby the running cost will be reduced drastically. Political offices should be less attractive. I suggest a part time basis legislature, and most importantly, stealing of our national monies should be punished accordingly, no matter the status of the offender.
Enabling environment is vital to development of any given nation. Do we have good roads, working health sector? No! At 54, we must travel abroad to treat common ailments…. Light situation is bad. How can we develop??
Bode-Ige,
President/Founder at Positive Living House,
Akure.
Indeed, one can not but congratulate a man at age 54 who must have attained maturity in life. Therefore, congratulating Nigeria at age 54 can not be out of place. But the country at 54 is yet to have a leader who takes the needs of his people as priority. The country is greatly enveloped in corruption, ineptitude, insecurity and personal interest of people in authority either at the Federal, States or Local Government level. Sectional interest is highly pronounced now a days unlike in the past. Politicians are using that for personal interest, that is divide and rule. Politicians and Civil Service is fully engulfed in corruption. Any developed country of the world relies on efficient Policing. Nigeria Police or security apparatus are so corrupt that senior officers are richer than most Nigeria company owners. Nigeria need a leader not a ruler.
Babatunde Adetoro,
Journalist, Lagos.
Our challenges are numerous and uncountable but to mention few: political problems, insecurity, electricity, I mean a child that was born 54 yrs ago that is crawling and he refuse to work I think there is generic problem with that particular child, fellow Nigerians we need divine intervention, and to crown it all our government are aching us.
Mrs. Adededayo Sambello,
Nurse, Lagos State Government.
Lets not forget that the greater number of our 54 years was under military rules, but today our growing democracy is brought developments and face lift in some states of the nation which speaks volumes of hope and better days ahead with rooms for improvement.
That we are not yet where we should be, does not mean we should not appreciate where are now. Let us not be pessimistic, let us all play our part and stop complaining. There are little difference you and I can make. So, let’s celebrate Nigeria @ 54.
Sam Wasinda,
Coordinator, SAMGREATHOPE INT’L
Our leaders have failed us. All our problems are man-made. I admit that the spiritual decides physical but something can be done if we elect a good leader who can take the bulls by the horns. We don’t have such people yet hence our nation is where it is today.
Bolanle Anike Bolarinwa,
Chief Clerical Officer,
Lagos state Government.
Nigeria is a country of missed opportunities. Growing up, we had great expectations about our country. I grew up in Ilesa in the State of Osun. We had pipe borne water, functional Telephone, ECN/NEPA gave advance notice for routine servicing. Food was cheap. Where are we now? All infrastructures and utilities are in comatose. Politicians have turned the country into a desolate state. Is the country redeemable? Yes it can be redeemed, we only need to take the 2015 elections seriously. It is our only chance of taking back the country from the Charlatans.
I know that the Lord Jehovah has not forsaken us and “Nigeria go better ” some day. Let the will of God prevail.
Olurotimi Tolulope Fadahunsi,
UK.
Unfortunately, Nigeria is not performing at the maximum speed due to greed, corruption and incompetence on the part of the current leaders. We hope the future will be more promising and prosperous for all. Welfare for all will make the Independence more meaningful.
I appeal to the Nigerian leaders to STOP the high levels of corruption. lt is important that welfare services like qualitative and affordable Health care, good schools, security, housing, electricity, water and affordable food to be provided for ALL Nigerians. Without basic amenities for ALL , there cannot be real peace, joy, stability and unity. The labour of heroes past should not be in vain.
Yemisi Sanusi.
President, IDAY, UK.
At 54, we have done well by surviving what we have gone through and still being one nation today. The story is not all bad actually, we have made some progress but then we are still far behind considering our potentials and resources available to us.
We are on track but so slow. Sometimes we almost get off track. As for our politicians, honestly majority of them are not ready for change. They love this old system that is why they always dragging us back through some unwholesome policies because it still serves their interests. But on the whole, we are trying. We are a resilient people and hardworking. We don’t give up. We still love Nigeria, we just don’t like it the way it is now and I’m optimistic our tomorrow is bright. This country’s blessed. God really loves us.
Patience Joseph Mamman,
Kaduna.
Do we have reasons as Nigerians to be grateful and thankful for this nation Nigeria at 54? My answer will be yes, yes and yes.
The good Lord enjoins us to be grateful in everything. As a nation we have qualified so many times for a holocaust but the Lord preserved us as a nation. We must be grateful that even when the enemies of Nigeria sent their ‘Ebola human scud missiles’ to wipe out Nigerians, our God intervened. Even though we lost some heroes of our medical soldiers.
We must be grateful that in spite of the dearth of quality leaders to lead Nigeria ,we are still forging ahead. We may not be a high flying nation yet. We may not even be running or walking in terms of progress, but as long as we are crawling and not stagnant, there is hope.
If you ask me, the fault is foundational. Blame the colonial masters who out of their selfish motive to retain authority indirectly over the new Nigeria, handed over power to the Northern region instead of southern that have proven leadership qualities. More than 30 years down the line, this fact is glaring for all to see. The problem of Nigeria is not the lack of natural resources (every state in Nigeria is endowed with at least 5 different solid minerals still untapped. But every state is interested only in oil! Very absurd!
More than 70% of our political class are very insincere and unprepared for the task of nation building. Some can’t even build their private businesses.
Very importantly, we must stop playing politics with issues. The electorates must not allow politicians to becloud our sense of reasoning. Towards 2015, we must subject all candidates to soul searching issues. Happy Independence!
Apostle Dele Johnson,
Clergyman, Lagos.
Its another 1st October for the country of my birth & this year for Nigerians home & abroad, it’s a double celebration: a centenary of our amalgamation by the British overlords & the today the 54th year of our independence.
There is hope, no doubt, but are we ready to take our destiny into our own hands as the Asian tigers did? Nigeria private sector have led the way, but our leaders the governments & its officials are lagging behind. Some few weeks ago, I was in the office of a client of mine and we were discussing, and I told her that atimes in my time alone, I pondered if I had made the right choice in staying in this country while my mates were packing the bags & leaving the shores of Nigeria in droves.
2015 general elections is less than six months away and I hope and pray that we will have a better story to tell next year, by choosing leaders that will work to make Nigeria great again & 2015 is very important IF we dare to miss it again, Nigeria might cease to be the great country it is destined to be. I will still believe in this project called Nigeria, even though it hard to do so right now. Happy Independence day, Nigeria, I hope and pray the we will have a Nigeria to bequeath to the coming generations of our children.
-Ojo Temitope O.
Abuja
Nigeria gained independence from the British colonial masters on October 1, 1960 with many prospects of a bright future. In the past fifty-four years, Nigeria has recorded many successes and faced many challenges that threatened her co-existence. In spite of these, Nigeria still remains on indivisible nation. Some people, even in the western world are of the opinion that Nigeria will no longer be a nation by 2015, however I believe that it will continue to be. Nigeria is a peculiar nation that has withstood many challenges. It will continue to withstand these and other challenges.Most of our political leaders, even right from colonial era, are selfish and sectional leaders. This is the bane of the development of the country. It is the root cause of corruption that has eaten deep to the fabric of every sector of the nation. Our traditional and religious leaders are not left out in these acts of corruption.
In spite of this, I am optimistic that Nigeria will continue to wax stronger. I believe that Nigeria will overcome all its challenges. I believe that Nigeria will become a country to be reckoned with amongst the nations of the world. I believe that Nigeria be great indeed.
However, each one of us should be ready to contribute his/her quota to move the country to move the country forward. Angels will not come down from heaven to this. Even, people from other country will not. We must put aside our selfish, sectional, tribal, and even religious interests and think on how to move the country forward. The greatness of this country begins with every Nigerian.
Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Bayo Afolaranmi,
Ministerial Officer at Nigerian Baptist Convention,
Ibadan, Nigeria.,
