Nigeria @ 57: A call for patriotism and deep reflection on our peaceful coexistence. By Babs Ope.
Nigeria is a country that is so much blessed with both natural and human resources. Our uniqueness is in our diversity as a people known all over the world for ingenuine doggedness, resilience and perseverance in the midst of misrule and bad leadership at every instance of either military or democratic transition.
We have lived together in peace and harmony regardless of ethnic, religious and social background until the political vampires found a fertile ground of perpetual socioeconomic and intellectual poverty caused by them to cause division by instigating one tribe against the other, as well as one religion against the other. We now live in undue tension and fear of the unknown. Suspicion has taken over trust in all aspects of our peaceful coexistence. Hate has thus become the behavioural product of our intolerance to one another. Love for one another has now absorbed into the thin air of malice and surpassed by pretence and indirect support for the things that seek to further divide rather than uniting us. Those who caused the problem always run their big bellies whenever they see how we spit venom of hate and racially abuse ourselves to their advantage.
I have always stressed that there is strength in our diversity regardless of the threat to our peaceful coexistence. No doubt, we have all as citizens of Nigeria been marginalised. Marginalisation knows no tribe as no peculiar circumstances can be said to have eluded each region of the country. There is cry of marginalisation all over the world but seeking redress intellectually had always brought solution. No fire can be quenched with inflammable substance but with an extinguisher. We need to extinguish all traces of hate and unite against all odds. It is when there is unity of purpose that we can actualise the Nigeria of our dream. That is when we can hold our leaders to account. A house that is divided against itself can never stand. Let us ignore all ethnic drums of violence within and without, all vulgar expressions that tend to incite provocation and disunity; they are all the signs of the manipulation of our situations by those who have profited from our national patrimony to distract us and cause instability as a scheme to further their approval rating and advance their course in the political space.
We must all be resolute and put Nigeria first in all our dealings. Let us focus our energies towards challenging the establishment (government) to doing things rightly. Before any political party comes Nigeria. Nigeria is bigger than any individual, groups or associations. To those abroad desiring the downfall of Nigeria, even in the midst of crisis likely to be caused by our inciting statements and support for everything anti-Nigeria we should all realise that such might have direct devastating impact on our siblings, friends and other relatives back home. The comfort enjoyed abroad amounts to nothing if Nigeria is in disarray and innocent lives are lost because of our unpatriotic engagements towards her fall. Truth exalts a nation and mutual love and peaceful coexistence in unity brings prosperity to a nation. Let us love ourselves and believe strongly in the project Nigeria whether we like the government or not. A government will come and go. We can not be bitter forever. Let's all work for the progress of Nigeria with such thought that no matter how long we sojourn abroad, we will be back home someday to meet a well developed Nigeria and not the one in rubbles. We must work hard to protect, preserve and seek the goodness of our own soil.
To our leaders, I enjoin you all to make remarkable impact in the lives of citizens and quit all egoistic and acquisitive instincts. When you provide the citizens with basic things of life, you can be sure of a peaceful society. I enjoin you all regardless of political affiliations to make a worthy sacrifice to ensure Nigeria works for all. Ensure social justice and welfarism of the citizens. A country that cannot meet the yearnings of her citizens is poised to be eroded with uncontrollable crises no matter how long it tarries. A drastic step towards national unity should also be ensured. We have all it takes to be the true giant of not only Africa but of he world if only we can explore the technological prospects for economic advancement. We are truthfully way behind our deserved position. All reactions we assume might be politically motivated may not all be afterall. Let there be some compromise in our genuine dialogue to ensure that we allow justice, equity and peace reigns.
To Nigeria , I say wake up from your slumber and take your enviable place among the comity of nations, for you are now 57.
Happy independence.
We have lived together in peace and harmony regardless of ethnic, religious and social background until the political vampires found a fertile ground of perpetual socioeconomic and intellectual poverty caused by them to cause division by instigating one tribe against the other, as well as one religion against the other. We now live in undue tension and fear of the unknown. Suspicion has taken over trust in all aspects of our peaceful coexistence. Hate has thus become the behavioural product of our intolerance to one another. Love for one another has now absorbed into the thin air of malice and surpassed by pretence and indirect support for the things that seek to further divide rather than uniting us. Those who caused the problem always run their big bellies whenever they see how we spit venom of hate and racially abuse ourselves to their advantage.
I have always stressed that there is strength in our diversity regardless of the threat to our peaceful coexistence. No doubt, we have all as citizens of Nigeria been marginalised. Marginalisation knows no tribe as no peculiar circumstances can be said to have eluded each region of the country. There is cry of marginalisation all over the world but seeking redress intellectually had always brought solution. No fire can be quenched with inflammable substance but with an extinguisher. We need to extinguish all traces of hate and unite against all odds. It is when there is unity of purpose that we can actualise the Nigeria of our dream. That is when we can hold our leaders to account. A house that is divided against itself can never stand. Let us ignore all ethnic drums of violence within and without, all vulgar expressions that tend to incite provocation and disunity; they are all the signs of the manipulation of our situations by those who have profited from our national patrimony to distract us and cause instability as a scheme to further their approval rating and advance their course in the political space.
We must all be resolute and put Nigeria first in all our dealings. Let us focus our energies towards challenging the establishment (government) to doing things rightly. Before any political party comes Nigeria. Nigeria is bigger than any individual, groups or associations. To those abroad desiring the downfall of Nigeria, even in the midst of crisis likely to be caused by our inciting statements and support for everything anti-Nigeria we should all realise that such might have direct devastating impact on our siblings, friends and other relatives back home. The comfort enjoyed abroad amounts to nothing if Nigeria is in disarray and innocent lives are lost because of our unpatriotic engagements towards her fall. Truth exalts a nation and mutual love and peaceful coexistence in unity brings prosperity to a nation. Let us love ourselves and believe strongly in the project Nigeria whether we like the government or not. A government will come and go. We can not be bitter forever. Let's all work for the progress of Nigeria with such thought that no matter how long we sojourn abroad, we will be back home someday to meet a well developed Nigeria and not the one in rubbles. We must work hard to protect, preserve and seek the goodness of our own soil.
To our leaders, I enjoin you all to make remarkable impact in the lives of citizens and quit all egoistic and acquisitive instincts. When you provide the citizens with basic things of life, you can be sure of a peaceful society. I enjoin you all regardless of political affiliations to make a worthy sacrifice to ensure Nigeria works for all. Ensure social justice and welfarism of the citizens. A country that cannot meet the yearnings of her citizens is poised to be eroded with uncontrollable crises no matter how long it tarries. A drastic step towards national unity should also be ensured. We have all it takes to be the true giant of not only Africa but of he world if only we can explore the technological prospects for economic advancement. We are truthfully way behind our deserved position. All reactions we assume might be politically motivated may not all be afterall. Let there be some compromise in our genuine dialogue to ensure that we allow justice, equity and peace reigns.
To Nigeria , I say wake up from your slumber and take your enviable place among the comity of nations, for you are now 57.
Happy independence.
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