Mixes reactions have ushered in the country’s 53rd independence anniversary as various and divergent remarks describes the current socio-political standing of the country.
Some, especially within the government circle portrayed the country in the light of a progressing nation with potentials as well as hopes for growth and unaltered improvements while other entities including an Afenifere chieftain, Ayo Adebanjo, and human rights activist, Moshood Erubami, Kaduna Salvation Movement (KASMO) are skeptical about the levels of advancement and hopes of better future.
Besides, the United States of America (USA) also extended wishes to the country and assured of continued smooth bilateral relations with Nigeria.
In his independence anniversary statement issued in Abuja on Monday, the Senate President, David Mark said despite lingering challenges, the federal government has attained “some landmark achievements since the colonial masters left our shores”.
Mark said: “Besides the infrastructural developments across the country, we now have skilled and qualified manpower in virtually all fields of human endeavour.”
He urged Nigerians to renew hope and faith in “the capacity and capabilities of our people to rise to a level when citizens could enjoy an internationally acceptable standard of living thus earning the status of a developed nation.”
“All of us may not be good doctors, good lawyers, good writers or good engineers but we can all contribute our quota where we have comparative advantages to make our country a better place”, he advised.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha also express hopes despite missed opportunities and the tough times prevalent in the country.
Tambuwal said in his message signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Imam Imam, that Nigeria is passing through tough times but the challenges confronting the nation are not insurmountable.
And Ekweremadu said: “I call on all Nigerians to join the present crusade to reinvent and transform Nigeria; and in this wise, I urge hope, courage, perseverance, prayers, reconciliation, peaceful-coexistence, and patriotic fervour to build the Nigeria of our dreams as no one else would do that for us.”
He also urged all Nigerians to contribute their quotas to solving the challenges since he believes that “all hands must be on deck to foster unity, peace and reconciliation.”
Tambuwal reassured the public of the commitment of the House of Representatives to continue to uphold the ideals of a united Nigeria which he said shall take its rightful place in the comity of nations.
The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) also felicitated with Nigerians, calling for patience while the country’s transformation efforts manisfest.
Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, stated in a statement from Minna that Nigeria will overcome the myriads of challenges currently confronting it.
Aliyu further opined that the country may not have fared well in all the critical sectors of the economy but has nevertheless made remarkable strides in relevant sectors.
“Daunting as our security and developmental challenges may appear, we are confident that the nation will emerge from this trying period stronger, more united and more prosperous.” NSGF assured.
On the contrary, other concerned citizens including a group, Kaduna Salvation Movement (KASMO), maintains the stance that the country has got no cause to celebrate because of the current high level of insecurity among other vices in the North.
According to the KASMO, the current high level of insecurity in the North is evidence that the government has no focus.
KASMO called on leaders at all levels to wake up to their responsibilities.
Adebanjo, an Afenifere cheiftain also told the press that the period should be used by all and sundry as a moment for sober reflections on how to get Nigeria out of the woods “rather than squandering the country’s wealth on nothing”.
“We should join hands together so that the labour of these founding fathers will not be in vain.
“In reality, what is there to celebrate? We want to celebrate the insurgency of Boko Haram? Or do we want to celebrate the lack of adequate power supply or political instability in the country?”he queried.
“Maybe the federal government wants to celebrate the closure of our universities due to protracted strike by ASUU or they wanted to celebrate the widespread corruption and looting that has become the norm in governance,” Adebanjo added.
While furthering Adebayos argument, human rights activist, Erubami said despite priding itself as the giant of Africa, Nigeria remains a tottering giant owing to corruption and insincerity of successive leaders.
He listed the myriads of problem to include political instability, kidnapping, epileptic power supply, insecurity, wobbling economy and corruption, which, according to him, have eaten deep into the fabric of the nation.
“All these are signs of a failed state” he said.
“At 53, Nigeria is not yet demonstrating capacity to come out of its self-inflicted problems due to her seemingly insurmountable socio-political and economic challenges, obviously any child still crawling at 53 is disabled and physically challenged,” Erubami said.
Meanwhile, among messages from abroad, United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, in a statement on Monday said President Obama and the American people wish Nigerians well and the U.S. looks forward to going further with Nigeria In the coming years, to expand education, jobs and opportunity for our people a safe and prosperous future.
“On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Nigeria as you celebrate your Independence Day on October 1.
“On the 53rd anniversary of your independence, I wish all Nigerians a safe and prosperous future.
“A warm friendship connects the Nigerian and American people, reflecting our shared values of democracy, economic growth, security, and respect for human rights and the rule of law” the U.S stated.