Nigeria at 56: Nothing To Celebrate
By Olusegun Ajibola
It pains so much seeing a country synonymous with the ‘Giant of Africa’ title going on its kneels, striving hard to survive. So much to talk about, the economy, security[of lives and properties], education, social infrastructure amongst others.
In plain words, we have failed. I have to be blunt with this, in the shambles our country is now, we all have contributed to it one way or the other. From those who aided the existence of ghost workers in our labour force, the bank officials who aided corrupt politicians in syphoning and laundering of our monies abroad to our people who support this corruptly glorified politicians. It pains me so much when I read allegations online, on newspapers, tabloids and circulated messages on social media apps platforms about our so called elected men who ought to represent us but are only taking time to represent their ‘stomach’, talk about greed. Stealing ‘our’ monies and putting stone on a mountain. Taking money from the needy[Nigeria] stacking it in banks in developed countries. What an irony.
How long will it take for we Nigerians to fully enjoy the dividends of democracy?
We all are screaming recession, but we all have a hand in it, it is easier to blame the man at the top, because he is the figure head but it`s down to us all to effect the change.
Our founding fathers fought hard to get the independence that the generation of our fathers so much benefitted from, ready scholarships, jobs, boosting agriculture just to name a few. All this occurred while oil was still at the discovery/growing phase. But what did we get from our fathers` generation? Increasing school fees, inconducive learning/teaching environments from primary to tertiary institutions, so many challenges for growing youths who think of becoming an entrepreneur, the list is inconclusive.
I fear for we the youths, what will we gain when all this political fathers who neglect the needs of their children and those unborn? What kind of Nigeria will we inherit from them? A country in shambles, hunger-stricken, insecure and having no stable working refinery. Some try to make us feel good about the things the country has done for Africa which earned us the tag “GIANT OF AFRICA”, but I say no, let us stop living in past glory, situations have changed, fortune is no longer smiling on us. I want our government to wake up to this reality.
Nigeria can be likened to a child suffering from a growth hormone deficiency, so old at 56 but we have not gotten it right. Many issues we should have outgrown but are still fighting them tooth and nail. There are countries that had their independence later than ours yet in terms of development, they are a thousand miles ahead of us. Where did we get it wrong? Governance? Policy making? Negligence? Or our neglection and partial clampdown of corrupt officials and their practices. May the labour of our heroes past not be in vein.
Enough is enough, it is not easy to clear all the past errors from as far back as 1960 to 2016, but am appealing to our present government[Federal, state and local levels] and irrespective of the political platform[party] they are to please do their best with all their might to put our dear country on a PATH OF GLORY. If we are been governed in the lacklustre way some numerous past and previous administrations have, I fear for the unity of this nation. We wouldn`t pray what happened to Sudan to happen to us, no group is too much of a minority or irrelevant to be neglected. We are one, we were born humans before we become a part of a political party, an ethnic group or religion. A child could be born in a region A but growing up in another region B will make him more B than A. An angry people cannot be governed with ease, we need someone[a leader] that will put smiles on the face of the common man.
Let there be a desire change, a fruitful transformation, something that will surprise this country for good.
Every morning, all i pray for is a country that we no longer have to borrow money from foreign banks who will have to dictate policies for us via their neo-colonization schemes, but a Nigeria that will donate funds to other nations. A Nigeria that will no longer be referred to as a third world country, a Nigeria that will recapture the ‘giant of Africa’ status, am envisioning all this with a smile on my face. How beautiful will it be having a Nigeria that will boast not only of its potency in agriculture but also perfect when it comes to agricultural processing, a Nigeria whose cultural diversity will be worth celebrating and emulating instead of creating mistrust, strife and unfair bigotry among us.
Let us make Nigeria great again and restore her to the path even far beyond all of her former glories. We can do it, this country is ours, if we don`t take care of it who will? No foreigner will do that for us. Let our policy makers and whole arm of government come together irrespective of religion, political party or “ethnic strata”. Being at this phase at 56 shows we have thousands of miles to cover but it is never too late.
Nigeria shall be great again starting today.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria, her leaders and peoples.

We'll celebrate the reduction of boko activities. (Less bombings and killings). We'll celebrate at least 18 hours/ 24 hours light on daily basis.......As long as we are alive, we still have hope..... Nigeria will be better!.

..........................my poster on top sha

well, where are the zombies?? lets start celebrating this

alegbeleye:
We'll celebrate the reduction of boko activities. (Less bombings and killings). We'll celebrate at least 18 hours/ 24 hours light on daily basis.......As long as we are alive, we still have hope..... Nigeria will be better!.

Some people had this hope in 1985, they are dead now.
Instead of things to get better, it just keeps getting worse.

Meanwhile,
Nigerian goverment charges 100 Naira for Nigerian Visa
They might as well make it free. After all, why pay your hard earned dollars
to visit a shithole?
No wonder Oyinbo dey make shakara when dem enter Naija.
We don't value our country
We are the giant of Africa indeed!




http://www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/index.php?page=visas

alegbeleye:
We'll celebrate the reduction of boko activities. (Less bombings and killings). We'll celebrate at least 18 hours/ 24 hours light on daily basis.......As long as we are alive, we still have hope..... Nigeria will be better!.

may celebration like naija fall on you