On October 1 of every year, it has become a norm for our country to celebrate her independence from her colonial master, Britain. This year’s edition which is the 54th will be celebrated low-key as it was last year, 2013. Under normal circumstances, the celebration of any nation’s independence should come with fanfare but for two years running if not more, it has become characteristic for our independence anniversary to be celebrated in a graveyard like situation and this development no doubt calls for sober reflection by all Nigerians both at home and abroad.Continue...
In the Nigerian family set up, it is only when a circumstantial unfortunate incident or development suddenly happens that a celebration which should under normal circumstances be celebrated with fanfare is usually celebrated low-key. At this juncture, there is the need for us all, as citizens of Nigeria, to ask ourselves, why the celebration of our independence should be low-key in spite of our being labelled as the sixth largest exporter of crude oil in the world and labelling of ourselves as the giant of Africa with the biggest economy on the African continent? The answer may not be far-fetched. The bitter truth is that, apart from the myriad of social and political problems presently staring our country in the face, such as corruption and greed; there is insecurity of lives and property as recently showcased of violence which resulted in disruption of court sitting on the premises of a High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
There is also the soaring unemployment; the recent disclosure by the World Health Organisation that 75 per cent cases of suicide deaths in the world are recorded in our country, and the lack of power and potable water for the citizenry in spite of Nigeria’s existence as a nation for solid 54 years with abundant human and capital resources at her disposal. There is age-long widening gap between the rich and the poor on one hand, and between the leaders at all levels of governance in our country today and the led on the other hand; jettisoning of service to the people for personal aggrandisement by politicians and public office holders in our country.
Unguarded utterances by political sycophants which, without the services of a star gazer, can threaten the corporate existence, peace and tranquility of Nigeria as a nation; pervasive show of religiosity with ungodly disposition side by side both by leaders; power recycling in the polity; the bleak future of our youths as exemplified by the fast disappearance of reading culture and paying of much of their attention to football viewing centres in all nooks and crannies of the country rather than their study coupled with the craze for entertainment and music hearing all day through that is also fast becoming a dangerous norm among them, the get-rich-quick syndrome which has sadly made the majority of our youths to run away from skilled work, just to mention a few: the sub-standard living of the people in general in the absence of dividends of democracy and hunger in the midst of plenty is no doubt not helping matters.
In a recent programme on Channels Television, Prof. Pat Utomi expressed fear, while appraising the present political and economic state of affairs in our country, opined that our nation is sinking to the bottom of the pit with each passing day and wondered what would happen by the time we continue to sink until we reach the bottom of the pit. This is no doubt a million dollar question which calls for a sober reflection as we celebrate 54 years of nationhood.
In the Nigerian family set up, it is only when a circumstantial unfortunate incident or development suddenly happens that a celebration which should under normal circumstances be celebrated with fanfare is usually celebrated low-key. At this juncture, there is the need for us all, as citizens of Nigeria, to ask ourselves, why the celebration of our independence should be low-key in spite of our being labelled as the sixth largest exporter of crude oil in the world and labelling of ourselves as the giant of Africa with the biggest economy on the African continent? The answer may not be far-fetched. The bitter truth is that, apart from the myriad of social and political problems presently staring our country in the face, such as corruption and greed; there is insecurity of lives and property as recently showcased of violence which resulted in disruption of court sitting on the premises of a High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
There is also the soaring unemployment; the recent disclosure by the World Health Organisation that 75 per cent cases of suicide deaths in the world are recorded in our country, and the lack of power and potable water for the citizenry in spite of Nigeria’s existence as a nation for solid 54 years with abundant human and capital resources at her disposal. There is age-long widening gap between the rich and the poor on one hand, and between the leaders at all levels of governance in our country today and the led on the other hand; jettisoning of service to the people for personal aggrandisement by politicians and public office holders in our country.
Unguarded utterances by political sycophants which, without the services of a star gazer, can threaten the corporate existence, peace and tranquility of Nigeria as a nation; pervasive show of religiosity with ungodly disposition side by side both by leaders; power recycling in the polity; the bleak future of our youths as exemplified by the fast disappearance of reading culture and paying of much of their attention to football viewing centres in all nooks and crannies of the country rather than their study coupled with the craze for entertainment and music hearing all day through that is also fast becoming a dangerous norm among them, the get-rich-quick syndrome which has sadly made the majority of our youths to run away from skilled work, just to mention a few: the sub-standard living of the people in general in the absence of dividends of democracy and hunger in the midst of plenty is no doubt not helping matters.
In a recent programme on Channels Television, Prof. Pat Utomi expressed fear, while appraising the present political and economic state of affairs in our country, opined that our nation is sinking to the bottom of the pit with each passing day and wondered what would happen by the time we continue to sink until we reach the bottom of the pit. This is no doubt a million dollar question which calls for a sober reflection as we celebrate 54 years of nationhood.
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