INDEPENDENCE DAY: AS WE MARK 47 YEARS OF NIGERIA
On October 1st this year Nigeria will be 47. Nigerians worldwide will be celebrating their 47th Independence Day anniversary. This is the time for Nigerians to remember the efforts of past heroes in the fight for Independence. This is a period for Nigerians to assess how far we have gone in achieving the goals of our founding fathers.
What did our founding fathers have in mind when they were struggling for independence? Did they anticipate that by now Nigeria a country blessed with abundant human and natural resources will be one of the poorest in the world? Did they anticipate that many years after power stations like the Kainji dam were built, Nigeria will still be deficient in power supply? Who will believe that Nigeria still has only 4 refineries decades after the first was built.
Our leaders at all levels should use this unique opportunity that this Independence season provides to reflect on the past 47 years with a view of facing the challenges of the future. They must not forget that they will still be in power in 2010 when Nigeria will mark her 50th anniversary. Then result will be expected from President Yar’adua’s 7 points agenda.
However, is there anything to celebrate after 47 years? With the long list of problems (challenges) presently facing Nigeria, it is tempting to answer no to the question.
Corruption remains one of the biggest problems in Nigeria. This corruption is fueled by poverty, greed, illiteracy and impatience. Corruption is at the root of most of the challenges we face in Nigeria today. Be it epileptic power supply, low human capital development and more.
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President Yar’adua seems to have won the trust of a lot of Nigerians with his unique servant leadership style. Most of us who criticized his selection seem to have fallen for the humility we have seen in the man. It is hard to find ordinary Nigerians saying negative things about Mr. Yar’adua.
In addition the reversal of certain decisions made by the Obasanjo administration has gone a long way to make us have an afterthought about Yar’adua. For me, any decision that will hurts Obasanjo and his interest is good enough; at least he needs to pay for overseeing the worst elections in my history and for the many years of heart ache that he had caused Nigerians. It is obvious that Yar’adua is popular with Nigerians presently.
However, what is important is what Yar’adua does with his popularity. A look at history shows that most dictators starts well and ends in disaster. They win the trust of their people and then use their popularity to oppress the people.
President Yar’adua must use his popularity to promote good governance in Nigeria. He must use his popularity to push that his servant leadership philosophy be adopted in all the states in Nigeria.
At this 47th Independence anniversary in Nigeria, I will be celebrating Yar’adua the servant leader from Katsina state who emerged from the most widely criticized elections in my life time. You should do the same.
What did our founding fathers have in mind when they were struggling for independence? Did they anticipate that by now Nigeria a country blessed with abundant human and natural resources will be one of the poorest in the world? Did they anticipate that many years after power stations like the Kainji dam were built, Nigeria will still be deficient in power supply? Who will believe that Nigeria still has only 4 refineries decades after the first was built.
Our leaders at all levels should use this unique opportunity that this Independence season provides to reflect on the past 47 years with a view of facing the challenges of the future. They must not forget that they will still be in power in 2010 when Nigeria will mark her 50th anniversary. Then result will be expected from President Yar’adua’s 7 points agenda.
However, is there anything to celebrate after 47 years? With the long list of problems (challenges) presently facing Nigeria, it is tempting to answer no to the question.
Corruption remains one of the biggest problems in Nigeria. This corruption is fueled by poverty, greed, illiteracy and impatience. Corruption is at the root of most of the challenges we face in Nigeria today. Be it epileptic power supply, low human capital development and more.
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President Yar’adua seems to have won the trust of a lot of Nigerians with his unique servant leadership style. Most of us who criticized his selection seem to have fallen for the humility we have seen in the man. It is hard to find ordinary Nigerians saying negative things about Mr. Yar’adua.
In addition the reversal of certain decisions made by the Obasanjo administration has gone a long way to make us have an afterthought about Yar’adua. For me, any decision that will hurts Obasanjo and his interest is good enough; at least he needs to pay for overseeing the worst elections in my history and for the many years of heart ache that he had caused Nigerians. It is obvious that Yar’adua is popular with Nigerians presently.
However, what is important is what Yar’adua does with his popularity. A look at history shows that most dictators starts well and ends in disaster. They win the trust of their people and then use their popularity to oppress the people.
President Yar’adua must use his popularity to promote good governance in Nigeria. He must use his popularity to push that his servant leadership philosophy be adopted in all the states in Nigeria.
At this 47th Independence anniversary in Nigeria, I will be celebrating Yar’adua the servant leader from Katsina state who emerged from the most widely criticized elections in my life time. You should do the same.
Labels: 47 years, Independence, Nigeria, Yar'adua
posted by passyjango @ 5:32 PM
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