THE BRIGHT SIDE

      Growing up as Nigerians, we hear different stories of both the pre-independence and post-independence eras. Till date we still hear different stories of Nigeria. I say “different” stories because what matters is who you hear them from or where you read them. You wouldn’t particularly hear the same story of the civil war because the story of a Yoruba would differ from that of the Igbo.

      From the first independence speech given by Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Nigeria’s first prime minister), there was a depiction of the joy of self-government and not joy of solitary unity. In 1953, Anthony Enahoro moved the motion for self-government while Ahmadu Bello moved a counter motion. This was sequel to our independence but it was already clear that diverse ethnicity was creating a big wound in Nigeria. Today, we follow the footsteps of our fathers. A child grows up to see Nigeria as a bad country; we are justified by our negativities, even by our own tribes. Well, yes there are so many negative stories about our country, the depressing ones are the fact that 5000 people apply for a job vacancy, every year over a million candidates sit for jamb and yet just a few get admission into the university, although the youths make up 45% of the entire population, 54% of youths are still unemployed and also the news of Boko haram. But have we ever turned to look at the bright side of it all? Electricity supply has been stable of recent though it needs improvement, road constructions have been going on (although these are the Government’s responsibilities). Also, Nigeria is one of the Blessed countries that experience little or probably no natural disaster.

      We only see the bad side because of the conflicting stories we have heard, the Yoruba man is only a brother with his fellow Yoruba man and likewise for others. Do you know if our generation decides to turn things around then we will make this country even better? Let’s all realize that even as Nigeria has added one more year today and is now 54 years old that we are all one wherever we go, regardless of what tribe we come from, an Hausa man getting married to an Igbo woman should become a norm in the society, we should see the next person to us as a brother. This way, we prepare a better future for posterity and as we all know; THE FUTURE IS NOW! So let’s start by influencing ourselves now.

       To clear things up, I am not Yoruba, neither am I Igbo or Hausa. I am NIGERIAN! I love my blessed country and I will stand for it wherever I go, will you?

Happy independence to us all.

God bless Nigeria.