Wednesday, October 1, 2008

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

It is October 1st. It is our National Day. On a date like this in 1960, the Union Jack was lowered and the Green White Green Flag of Nigeria was hoisted thus signifying the birth of a new nation - Nigeria.



At the time of its birth, Nigeria was full of promises. For a start, the people felt relieved from the burden of servitude and slavery, and for a second they breathed the fresh air of freedom. they hoped that the new nation shall fulfill their dreams of freedom from lack, penury and poverty; they had hoped that the new nation shall help in lifting the great burden of disease which they were carrying.



Those who fought for the Independence had hoped to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign, they had hoped to build a nation where all shall be equal stakeholders with none the superior and the other the inferior, they had hoped to have all of us united under one God despite and inspite of our diversities in religion and culture; they wanted a Country that would be so great that her impact would be felt all over the world.



Has Nigeria lived up to the dreams of our forebears?



That's a question that an in depth analysis of the current situation in the Country would tend to say no to



However, one would say that Nigeria is still on the march towards greatness. Most Governments that have come and gone have failed to help the people realize their ambitions. Majority of the citizens still wallow in ignorance, poverty and penury. A lot of Nigerians are living below the poverty line. Illiteracy rate is still quite high, school drop out rate is increasing, unemployment rate is quite high, a lot of University Graduates are dependent on Government for employment and thus waste valuable years in search of such elusive jobs. Politicians learn no lessons from the things of the past, they keep making the same mistakes over and over. Politically motivated killings and assassinations are rampant; In the Niger Delta, abduction has become the order of the day and the economy is going ga ga.



And yet Nigeria trudges on. I am fully persuaded that the day will come when we shall sing "To God be the Glory, great things He had done...."



But for now, let us pray for Nigeria. Oh God our Father in Heaven, deliver Nigeria from the hands of greedy men who covet her resources only for themselves and their 10th generation of children yet unborn. Amen.