By Boma Nwuke
Saturday, October 1st is another anniversary to commemorate the independence of Nigeria from British rule.
Recall that on the first October 1960, the Union Jack, a symbol of the British Empire was lowered giving room to the lifting of the Green White Green Nigerian flag.
Since then, Nigeria has been celebrating independence day.
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The day is celebrated in grand style when the mood of the nation is joyful and low-key when all is not well.
This year, celebration has begun with interdenominational thanksgiving services kicking- off events nationwide.
At the Federal level, a programme of activities has been announced for the I Anniversary.
According to a statement by Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, activities started with a church service on Sunday, September 25 at the National Christian Center, Central Business District, Abuja . This was closely followed by a Public Lecture on National Unity on Thursday, September 29 at the State House Conference Hall .
As part of activities marking the anniversary a special,Juma’at prayer iwas slated Friday, September 30 at the National Mosque, Central District, Abuja while Saturday, the anniversary day proper will feature a Presidential broadcast at 7.o’clock in the morning and a military parade to hold l from 10 a.m on the same day at the Eagle Square , Abuja.
While reeling out the programme of activities , Mohammed said celebrating Nigeria ‘s independence anniversary in 2022 ,serves as a reminder that inspite of the challenges the country has faced, Nigerians remained united.
This is totally correct as the country despite its complexities and challenges have remained a systematic whole.
Despite a costly civil war fought between 1967 and 1970, Nigeria has remained a sovereign nation with an inflationary trend of over twenty percent( 20%) an unemployment statistics of over fifty percent (50%) and the worst GDP in recent times , coupled with a weakening naira, the country continues to strive.
Add these to the Never- Say -Die spirit of the ordinary Nigerians,one can understand why the nation is still standing.
Yet, there are gains in the provision of basic infrastructure,attempts to resuscitate agriculture and the overall resolve to ensure food sufficiency.
Despite series of labour unrest, Nigeria continues to break new grounds in manufacturing, exploitation of mineral resources particularly in Northern Nigeria , the advancement of Education and the progressive application of Science and Technology.
Having said this,it is important to state that Nigeria is faced with several challenges.
First among this challenges is a growing debt burden. While many argue that Nigeria ‘s debt are tied to foreign and internal borrowing, others insist that the future of generations to come are being mortgaged.
At this time, no where is safe. This is as a result of growing insecurity in the North East, North West, North Central and South East.
As we celebrate 62 years, Nigerians are unable to get to their villages because of the ascendancy in the rate of kidnapping.
All of a sudden security agencies which are overstretched are unable to keep the rest of us safe.
All attempts to crush corruption have all but failed. Instead corruption has turned around to fight all those who are fighting it.
As we ruminate over the long walk to independence and celebrate this day,it is pertinent to bring to the fore our Educational system which is currently on life support due to recurring reason of lack of funding and lingering strike which began on February 14,2023.
Baring any moment, Nigeria ‘s finest universities will fizzle out if nothing concrete is done to bring them back to life.
As frustrating and worrisome as the strike is to Nigerian families and more than 80 percent of student who are forced to go home as classrooms remain securely locked, ,It is important to state that there is a growing trend of illiteracy in the country which has stirred up alarming concerns . According to the latest UNESCO data on Out- of- School children, Nigeria has about twenty million children that are not in school. This should be a source of worry for us .
As we celebrate and recall the agony that we have had to face as a people, we rejoice that God in his infinite mercy has kept this country together.
It is our thinking that God has kept this country together so that it can fulfill its historic role as a great power in Africa and sustain its duties and obligations to its citizens.
Incidentally, this would be the last independence celebration before Nigerians file out of their homes to cast their votes in 2023.
We urge all Nigerians particularly Rivers people to use their votes wisely. We are happy that there are increasing signs that INEC can be trusted to conduct free and fair elections.
Accordingly,we urge members of the political class not to do anything that is likely to endanger the future of this great country and the life of its citizenry.
On a day that Nigerians celebrate the birth of their nation,we join millions of well meaning people to wish our great country a happy indindependence
