Our Independence Day Message To All Citizens Of The Federal Republic of Nigeria.


On this the 53rd anniversary of our independence I wish to pay tribute to those persons who have helped our nation to navigate the course of our post-colonial history. The severing of the umbilical cord from the Britain placed a tremendous responsibility upon the citizens of this country to chart their own destiny, and for the fact that we have survived politically, economically, socially and otherwise, we must be thankful to those who kept hope and inspiration alive by their example and those who toiled for the nation’s benefit. We would be nowhere or in a far worse place were it not for these patriots.

But acknowledging the contributions and achievements of individuals and country is a different discourse from the discussion of whether we are better off today having Independent status than if we had not been granted independence from Britain at all.

This discourse is based on the questions: What difference has Independence made to the lives of citizens? How better off are the citizens of Nigeria compared to citizens of other nations of the world? How much more developed or advanced is our society compared to those which are not independent?

The truth is that the standard of life in Nigeria is no better – and in some cases worse – than the standard of life in other Countries that are independent as well as also those that are not independent. There are Territories – dependent and independent – that do not have such high levels of crime, poverty, cost of living, dependence on the state's social and welfare systems, infrastructural neglect and economic under-performance as we do.

And to compound this situation, many of those Territories have little or no natural resources while Nigeria has been blessed with oil, natural gas, arable farming land and human capital as well as a prime geographic location.

With more resources and greater freedom to make decisions, ought we not to have done better than others who have less? Why have we been under-performing in terms of development – human and otherwise? How much of this is as a direct result of past electoral voting patterns where loyalty to tribal parties has taken precedence over demanding performance from our elected and appointed representatives and condemning poor representation rather than rewarding it?

The right decisions can lead to a brighter tomorrow and to a country that can rise to its full potential where every citizen can be happy and prosperous.

As we enter the 53rd year of Independent Nation Status, let us recommit ourselves to nation building and let us truly strive towards it for indeed, we can make it if we try.

Happy Independence to the People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Respectfully Submitted,

Ojo Olayinka Solomon
Project Manager
I Pledge to Nigeria Project


Tuesday, October 1, 2013