Nigeria celebrates the 62nd anniversary of its national
independence today. The anniversary this year is five months before the general
election in 2023, which many Nigerians hope would change the course of the
nation's history. The Nigerian government has planned events to commemorate the
day, as is custom.
According to Smartsam59, the Minister of Information and
Culture, Lai Mohammed, said last week that there would be a Presidential
Broadcast and a Military Parade at Eagle Square in the Central Business
District of Abuja to honor the 2022 Independence Day.
The Minister also disclosed that the nation's capital
would host the Award of National Honors on October 11 as part of the
Independence Anniversary.
Mohammed asserted that commemorating Nigeria's centennial
of independence in 2022 serves as a reminder that, despite the difficulties the
nation has faced, Nigerians remain united. He also stated that the President
Muhammadu Buhari administration was dedicated to fostering national cohesion,
security, and stability.
However, several Nigerians have voiced conflicted
emotions regarding the commemoration of the nation's independence anniversary
this year, noting that the nation is currently recognized as one of the worst
places to be born due to a number of insurmountable problems that defy
resolution.
Many people also ponder why those in positions of
authority are more worried about resource waste than they are about the terrible
effects on the helpless poor citizens.
The majority of respondents who communicated with DAILY
POST expressed regret and grief about the state of the nation.
The atmosphere was dejected at the Orange Market in
Mararaba, Karu Area Council, Nasarawa State.
a few market vendors Speaking with people, DAILY POST
expressed displeasure that Nigeria, at the age of 62, was still dragging its
feet and insisted that corruption and insecurity were the norms.
"Our dear country is blessed with plentiful riches,
but those in charge do not know how to use it for the good of the people,"
a woman observed. No nation can develop if its leaders are unable to look past
their own noses. Nigeria is completely in the dark and shows no signs of
development. Most of our political leaders are thieves.
Ahmed, a cab driver in the FCT, spoke to the Daily Post
despite initially being hesitant to do so. Ahmed was furious.
"I can honestly say that there is nothing to
celebrate during Nigeria's alleged independence celebration. Nothing but
sadness, tears, blood, corruption, and anti-democratic ideals are worth
commemorating in this nation, he declared.
Lawyer Peter Ugwuoke, who practices in Port Harcourt,
believes that a culture that doesn't value education, only portends doom and
gloom for the future, making it more difficult to instill patriotism and
develop a nation.
He responded angrily, asking, "What exactly are we
celebrating, the fact that there are many students wandering the streets as a
result of the ASUU strike, or the high unemployment rate; a dire situation with
many societal implications- as prostitution seems to be the 'easy' route for
many of the affected females.
He recommended that, among many other beneficial
practices, the nation has to recreate the culture of order, honesty,
perseverance in hard labor, and being your brother's keeper.
A prominent lecturer at the University of Nigeria also
spoke. Only those who took part in or are currently taking part in the
plundering of the national treasury, according to Dr. Victor Bassey of Nsukka,
are celebrating.
"I am not celebrating Nigeria at 62 since there is
nothing to celebrate in the actual sense—unless you are a part of the "oil
theft" ring or share in the nation's commonwealth, in which case you might
find something to rejoice in.
He warned individuals who tried to seize the wealth of
the majority, "Your celebration is in futile, as you are surrounded by
those you have plundered from will strike back in full measure."
He continued, "One of the major obstacles has been
the lack of strong leadership, but I believe there is hope, and I advise
patriots not to relent and to continue to prod the cause until the good ones
among the people emerge and take control of matters."
Despite the generally pessimistic atmosphere, many people feel that the country is blessed with an abundance of resources and are expecting that those in positions of leadership will be able to use those resources to accomplish the desired development.
