NIGERIANS, LET’S CELEBRATE NIGERIA @57
By Fred Doc Nwaozor
Today being Sunday, 1st October 2017, Nigeria in her entirety
is commemorating her 57th Independence Day anniversary. It suffices to
say that she is celebrating the 57th year so far since she got her
independence or freedom from the British colony. It’s noteworthy that the said
celebration didn’t stop yesterday, thus continues.
Every man in his real senses thrives relentlessly towards actualizing a
total freedom. In other words; freedom, which is the right to do or say
whatever you want without anyone/anything stopping you, remains one of the
greatest possessions any man could boast of.
In such a period like this, the first question that invariably occurs on
the mind of any concerned right thinking individual is: what is the country in
question really celebrating? In most cases, such question often seems
rhetorical because there is no nation in existence that has nothing to
celebrate at any given time.
Nigeria, which is officially addressed
as the ‘Federal Republic of Nigeria’, is a federal constitutional republic
comprising thirty-six (36) states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The
country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of
Benin in the West, Chad and Cameroon in the East, and Niger in the North. Its
coast in the South lies on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean.
Nigeria is often referred to as the ‘Giant of Africa’ due to its large
population and economy. With approximately 174 million inhabitants, it is the
most populous and popular country in Africa and the seventh most populous
nation in the world. It is comprised of over two hundred and fifty (250) ethnic
groups, of which the three largest are the Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba.
In respect of religion, Nigeria is majorly divided into two with
Christians who live mostly in the Southern and Central parts of the country,
and Muslims concentrated mainly in the Northern and Southwestern regions. A
minority of the populace practice some indigenous or peculiar religions such as
paganism.
Since independence in 1960, the country’s oil reserves have played a
very major role in her growing wealth and influence. Presently, Nigeria is considered
by the World Bank as an emerging market, and has been identified as a regional
power in Africa. She is also a member of the MINT group of countries, which are
widely seen as one of the world’s upcoming ‘BRICK-like’ economies. More so, she
is listed among the next eleven economies set to be among the largest in the
world.
Nigeria is a member of various global societies including the
Commonwealth of Nations, the African Union (AU), the Organization of the
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and the United Nations (UN), among other
international organizations. It is also interesting to note that she is a
member of the United Nations’ Security Council.
Just like other developing nations, Nigeria is currently faced with
numerous social, economic, religious and political challenges thereby
constituting series of societal crises here and there. Some of these challenges
include tribalism, corruption, nepotism, high level of immorality, thuggery,
election rigging, rampant establishment of fake churches, kidnapping, and
massacre, just to mention a few.
The ongoing terrorist activity of the Boko Haram sect coupled with other
criminal activities cum various agitations taking place in different facets of
the country, which has lingered for several years now, is being tagged by both
individuals and the international community as one of the most challenges
presently faced by the nation, that, if severe and drastic measure is not taken
to address the anomaly, it stands the chances of crippling the socio-economic
status of the country.
Since Nigeria’s independence on October 1, 1960, the country has indeed
suffered so many maltreatments from her subjects, especially those referred to
as ‘leaders’. This is the reason it would take only a holistic measure to
address the ongoing ugly state of the nation.
Notwithstanding, a life well spent is worth celebrating or a jubilation,
and that of Nigeria wouldn’t be an exception owing to the fact that she has
indeed gone a long way or covered a long distance as well as taking into
cognizance that a country comprising over two hundred and fifty ethnic groups
has succeeded to remain one single nation amidst the tremendous challenges
surrounding her ab initio. Frankly, I can’t stop giving kudos to Nigeria
because sometimes when I try to compare her with a man who married many wives,
I invariably end up concluding that she had fought relentlessly towards
ensuring that she remained great or that ‘Giant of Africa’ she is widely known
as.
At this juncture, since she hasn’t
broken into pieces in spite of the alarming forces she’s being faced with, I
would want our leaders to concentrate on how to strengthen some of our
essential institutions and sectors that currently seem moribund, such as
education, power and energy, agriculture, culture and tourism, and what have
you. I also urge them to endeavour to make the country’s leadership or
democracy more people-oriented, and an all-inclusive one.
On their part, I enjoin the people or the citizenry to be supportive and
endeavour to exercise a little faith in the country with a view that ‘the best’
is by the corner, or that we are on our way to the promise-land. Most
importantly, I urge them to desist from sitting on the fence as regards issues
pertaining to governance. They are meant to acknowledge the fact that
leadership and followership are interwoven at all times regardless of the
circumstance.
So, as Nigeria marks her 57th Independence anniversary, or
better still birthday celebration, there is an urgent need for everyone
irrespective of social, political or religious affiliations, to come together
towards actualizing a better and more unified Nigeria. On this note, it would
be consequential for us to comprehend that all hands must be on deck to ensure
that an unalloyed solidarity is found among the entire citizenry of the
country.
Actualizing a thorough and complete unity is our prerogative, thus ought
to remain our watchword if truly we want Nigeria to grin again. And, we should
note that embracing the anticipated undiluted solidarity is long overdue
because fifty-seven (57) years of existence is neither fifty-five days nor
fifty-five weeks/months.
Hence, it’s a priority and shouldn’t be compromised; needless to state
that, in the spirit of the commemoration, we are all bound to sheath our swords
as well as jettison our individual differences for the good of all. Think about
it!
Comr.
Nwaozor, public affairs analyst & rights activist,
is the Executive Director, Dofred Resource Hub - Owerri
(frednwaozor@gmail.com)
N.B: You can send your opinion article to: rostrummedia@gmail.com, or call: +234-8028608056
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