Fellow Nigerians, At a time like this when tears have become a wine of condolence and wailings from orphans, widows, abductees and the ever downtrodden masses have become songs to sooth the mind. At a time like this in the history of our land when blasts from explosives have become lullabies, we should expect no sweet openings to letters –we should expect no praise, no greetings. We are people blessed with a fertile soil who chose to plunder, we are a people blessed with abundant resources who chose to squander. We are giant people with great things; we only chose to be dwarfs with little things. A country with such great significance in Africa –such might, such number! Ours is a country so great whose name and prestige have toured around the globe, a country which ought to be far removed from all sort of negative attributes, which ought to have sailed far on areas of national development. Here we are today lagging behind the definitions of progress. Here we are like mysterious masters and miserable maids. Here we are still struggling, still fighting, still hoping to comb madness out of our nation’s thick hair. As a matter of fact, leadership and governmental issues should have ceased to be a problem of ours. By now, I feel we should have become a country producing “dynamic leaders who can surpass the present day challenges through intellectualism, patriotism and justice”. By now, we should be royals in robes and not royals in rags. Fellow Nigerians, we need to ask ourselves some questions. We need to begin questioning our conscience. For how long do we continue dragging behind as a country? Until when do we get things right as a people? How really are we prepared to compete with our counterparts in this contemporary world? And, how sure are we of progress if this trend continues? This people in positions are not helping matters just as the commoners are not helping either. The government is not concerned; our people are not really bothered. We are all aware that the best the government could offer is to steal from the treasury, likewise, the best from our people is to discriminate among themselves –he is an Igbo, she is Hausa, he is from the east, she is from the south. How sad! Our social and political instability is as a result of the malfeasance in government and the frailty of citizens and so, it is high time to come together without sentiments and discrimination to proffer tangible resolution for the collective progression of our nation. It is high time we stood together holding hands –finding our path out of this pit of sorrows and stream of sadness because experiment days are over and our political science cannot afford to continue making findings from broken beakers. We cannot continue on this road where corrupt practices are pot holes and promises are mirage. Ours is a land we have collectively succeeded in tearing apart. Ours is a land reduced to factions, a land whose wood have been feasted upon by termites in the form of men. Our unity of old has been lost to the wind of sentiments. All I see is a land divided along region and tribe, a land divided along religion and influence. I see a land divided along age and interest, a land divided along culture and orientation. I see a land NIGERIA, a land divided along the borders of tongues. If only we would accept our errors as errors and admit our mistakes as mistakes, we may have to live in discord and hates forever. We must all accept that we are guilty of tearing our land apart and be ready to come around to stitch her garment. We need to come together with one voice –one voice that would speak nothing but the truth. We need to come together with one mind –one mind that seeks nothing but justice. Fellow Nigerians, this is the time to come together with one vision –one vision of a better nation. The time is here for all to come together with one song –one song in allegiance to the pledges of our land. And, with one voice, and one mind, and one vision and one song; we can re-establish our nation, we can re-mould our national brotherhood, we can overcome those challenges that threatens our unity –those challenges that threatens our peace and development. On this note, I submit hopeful of a change, of a transition and of an unbelievable round-about. I submit here with the spirit of allegiance, wishings of progress and feelings of fulfillment. I believe a great Nigeria is achievable. I believe in the return of our pride. I strongly believe in the re-birth of our honour. Im confidence of a country whose wealth and common resources would serve the best interest of not a few but the whole of her subjects. Comrades, one great Nigeria is the dream, one great nation is our hope! PS: This is only a clipped version of my Independence Day speech titled “WE ARE GUILTY” –a piece on hope, dreams and national progress. The video is still very much available on Youtube. In summary, like legends would always say, do not ask for what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. Thank you.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 09:59:43 +0000
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