Nigeria at 56

Happy Independence my countrymen and women. Our leadership challenges notwithstanding, we have everything to celebrate as a nation.

I am optimistic that we shall overcome. I believe God Himself has positioned President Buhari so as to use him as a tool to reposition and redirect our country on the path to greatness. All we need do now is to close ranks and support him, regardless of our political differences. 

We have lived for too long on borrowed wealth. We squandered even the borrowed wealth; we thought we had a birthright to the good things of life. We didn't think of the flip side of life; we refused to plan, we refused to prepare for the rainy day, we didn't think of tomorrow. Now the rainy day is here and the rain is beating us. The folly of the false wealth we were enjoying is now staring us on the face. Now is morning after the party. Reality! 

But we must not despair. Now is time to work, to do all those things we should have done all these years but which we didn't do. Now is time for new thinking. More importantly, now is the time to begin to think beyond oil. 

We have no other country other than  Nigeria. No one will save Nigeria for Nigerians of today and tomorrow. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that Nigeria takes her rightful place in the comity of nations. 

We may disagree internally; we may disagree politically; we may disagree on ways and means, but we ought not to disagree on the destiny of our country. God Himself destined us to lead the Black race.  We must recognize that and not allow our disagreement to destroy our nation. We must channel our energy, creativity and intellect towards rebuilding our country. We must recognize diversity as a strength, not as a weakness.

"Tough now, yes, but great nations are built on tough times"

The unending revelations of sleaze and larceny everywhere, notwithstanding, there is hope in the horizon. In fact, these revelations tell me that we are at the threshold of a new beginning. 

The good thing is that it is never too late to start again – even at 56. It may be tough now but history tells me that great nations are built on tough times. I can  already see a better and greater Nigeria in the horizon – a Nigeria where religion, tribe and status will matter less. I can see a Nigeria where values, honour and integrity will matter more than vanity. I see a Nigeria where the Green-White-Green will be revered, and Nigerians respected anywhere they go around the world. 

Happy 56th Independence Anniversary, once again