NIGERIA @54: REASONS TO STILL CELEBRATE!
The question is: does Nigeria worth
celebrating? This is a query in the minds of so many Nigerians. At such a time
as this, some deem it as an avenue to express their grievance, discontent and
disappointment. Really, our leaders have not lived up to their
responsibilities, our expectations have been chattered, our hopes and
aspirations for a better Nigeria-our fatherland is apparently uncertain.
It is so dehumanizing seeing our educational
sector is in a dilapidating state, our health sector is not healthy, boko haram
is still bombing, threatening our peace, killing innocent citizens, now our
Chibok school girls in Bornu State are still missing and our hitherto government
is not doing anything about that, our roads are bad, we still cannot brag of a
constant power supply, the economy is in a state of shameful hilarity. What a
pity! What is the point celebrating our 54th Independence Day
celebration? We might have gotten independence from the Colonial masters but are
we truthfully free?
Our elected leaders are just in the
business of siphoning public funds and transferring same into their private
bank accounts and foreign investments. The economy is not stable, our currency
has no value in international trade, interest (lending) rate is on the high
side, cost of living is low, standard of living is higher than even Mount
Everest, unemployment is a norm, our youth are not useful in politics except
for the sake of ‘hooliganism’ during electoral processes, limited jobs are
available in the labour market, the state of the nation is in hysteria and now
the ‘ebola’ outbreak is a great concern to our survival.
The Bad News!
Societal imbalance, balance of
trade (B.O.P.) disequilibrium, political upheaval, economic instability,
ecosystem malady, degradation and deprivation of human rights, lawlessness, scarcity,
misuse, disuse of ‘abundant’ mineral and natural resources, natural and
artificial (man-made) hazards, inflationary trend, godfatherism, corruption,
bribery, and nepotism (or call it bottleneck), bureaucracy, misappropriation of
public funds, embezzlement, and the likes so characterize our dear nation. The
question again is: does Nigeria at 54
worth celebrating nation-wide? What has been the dividend from democracy 16
years down the line? Hmmmm, anyhow we see it, I believe we still have a lot to celebrate as a nation and there is
still hope for our country. Nigeria has a great future. Take it from me
because I’m a proud Nigerian!
Take it or live it, Nigeria is
God’s own state. A state full of plenty even though her people live in abject
poverty, a country where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, a state
where power is a must (it is a do or die affair…), an economy where the
decisions of the minority few sways the lifecycle of the majority…
The Good News!
Nigeria is worth celebrating that
we are a nation with one voice despite our ethnic diversity. Yeah, I celebrate
my country because of our religious believe in hope for posterity. We still
have a few good men around who will not give in to corruption, bribery or
favoritism. Our religious organizations—there constant intervention through
spiritual warfare (prayers and supplications) is a proof that Nigeria will not
break, Nigeria will be one and will remain a one-nation with one solemn voice.
I don’t know about you, as for me,
myself and I, I believe in a NEW NIGERIA
with the emergence of new leaders come 2015 who will not live for their
pockets alone but will see to the plights of the populace and effect changes
where necessary. I see a new government that will solve the epileptic issues of
power and insecurity phobias as it
were. A new government will surface, all things being equal, ceteris paribus, that will fight the
boko haram insurgency (I intentionally do not use title case for the sects) in
the nation. Ultimately, I, for an optimist, foresee a new Nigeria that will
soon become a tourist attraction for foreign investors and expatriates.
A sigh of hope!
Believe. Just believe. There is
hope for our dear nation. The dividend of democracy is in our epoch. God has
not forgotten us. I see inventors and investors, business moguls and
entrepreneurs, visionary leaders and effective managers, international juggernauts
and celebrated jurist/professors of no mean repute, robust ‘thinknologists’
(thinkers) and intellectual giants, brazening workaholics and incomparable
orators, prolific writers (novel laureates) and word sculptors emerging from
our soil. Our locally made finished products will soon be exported beyond the
shores of Africa to the uttermost parts of the world from Europe to Asia, to
America, to Australia and the Atlantic Oceans! Our long departed folks abroad
will be forced to come back home to witness the development and equally
contribute to this transformation. Yes, the future we all have been waiting for
so long is here! It is not a myth, it’s a certainty, and it is never a fallacy
but a fantastic reality.
I see our young adults taking up
political responsibilities and contributing positive quotas to the nation’s
development. I see more and more youth evolving, involving and venturing into
agriculture and farming. Agriculture will soon regain her glory as the main
stay of our economy. We won’t not all need to pursue and kill ourselves because
of OIL MONEY again. No!
I see entrepreneurship and
investment in MSMEs (Micro, Small & Medium Scale Enterprises) as future
growth and development, engendered to foster change and transformation,
productivity and output of our Nation’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and GNP
(Gross National Product).
The Giant of Africa!
Nigeria my country, the Giant of
Africa! It time to arise and shine for your light has come and the glory of the
Lord has risen upon you. It’s time to arise from your slumber oh Nigeria! It is
time to proof to the world the stuffs you are made of. I therefore call on all concerned Nigerians
(like my humble self) to come out of their comfort zones to drive home the
change our individuality deserves. Let us start doing things that our society
and posterity will be grateful for. Let us start living by example-the change
we want begins with us!
Nigeria will be made better not by
foreigners but by Nigerians—you and me!
God
bless Nigeria!
God
bless our Leaders!
God
bless you!
God
bless the writer of the piece!
© Exponent Samuel Adu
Poet.
Blogger. Emcee/Motivator. Entrepreneur.
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