It’s been 50 years of many tales – some not pleasant at all, others good, some were wonderful. All the same, glory be to God.
Most people do not see anything good about this country, or they are too concerned by the things we didn’t do well as a nation that they are found betwixt the thought of the good and the bad. We have been too concerned about the bad, it’s high time we started focussing on our achievements and make amends where we have not done better. In all Nigeria has a better future.
We Nigerians should think more of what we can do for our nation than the other way round. On the eve of the Independent Day Celebration, at the 50th Independent Anniversary Dinner and Award Party, the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jornathan, gave out awards to some deserving Nigerians who in one way or the other have been a blessing to the growth of the country from its inception till date. I so much loved that award dinner, not that I was given any, but for the message such award will end up giving to the citizens who more or less believe that it is the duty of the country to do everything for them. In as much as there are still so many Nigerians who also qualified for the award, like the President himself said; when you considered the criterion used for the selection, you will notice that those selected truly merited the awards.
Starting from the pioneer fathers of the country to the least person who received the award, I saw sense in what the President did. I do not intend to praise the President so much here. This can also be done at our different States, Local Government Areas and even in our villages and communities. Let’s be sincere with what we do knowing fully well that our rewards are waiting for us. If you noticed among the awardees were dead people. They didn’t receive those awards when they were still alive, but we still recognise their efforts and contribution to the growth of the country.
Let’s promote the spirit of patriotism in our daily activities. We must understand that no matter what happens, we do not have any other country to be called our own apart from Nigeria. We are, and will still remain, Nigerians. Whether we travel out of the country or not, we will still be Nigerians no matter how we try to change our skin or how we speak.
We have had many religious and ethnic clashes; they didn’t take us anywhere desirable. We have been involved in many politics backed by ethnicity; this has made us move in the anticlockwise direction than in the clockwise direction. Brothers have been found killing brothers; this also did not bring any form of development to us. We have publicised the bad part of our daily activities so much that we overtook people who committed more of the same crime in ranking. All these and many more have not in any way contributed to the growth of the nation. Why can’t we change? At 50, we should have had more than we have at the moment. Let’s put the interest of the nation first.
If we work together, Vision 202020 is more than a reality. We also have another dream of making Nigeria the world’s most desired place to live in come December, 2022. It will take the effort of all of us.
As we celebrate, let’s still remember that we have no other country to call our own, except NIGERIA. With corporation, we can achieve whatever we want to achieve.
Enjoy your Independent celebration. God bless NIGERIA!
