Hammer is Sledgehammer suffixed. Incidentally, yours sincerely, Iyke lbeh. Please, be guided as you get on board. Nigeria was no mistake!!! One hundred and ten years ago ( 110 years) way back 1st January 1914, the British Colonial authorities amalgamated the Southern and Northern Protectorates, giving birth to the single geo – political entity called Nigeria which has become our home, our hope and our heritage.
I put it to you that our amalgamation was never an accident of history, not a mistake and couldn’t have been. Chances are that our union may have been inspired by consideration external to our people:there is no doubt that from all indications we are profiled by Almighty God, the Grand commander of the universe to live together as one big nation, solaced in adversity and united in diversity, standing on brotherhood with differed tribe and tongue. Ten years ago, that was in 2014, looking back forward in 1914 amalgamation Nigeria, entered her second century of existence.
Today, we feel the full weight of our hundred and ten ( 110 years) history. What many in our age and time feel are frustration and disillusionment Could be counted with my fingers are the selected few, who feel great pride and hope for a country that is bound to overcome the transient pains of the moment and eventually take its rightful place among the greatest on this earth of great divide. Like every country of the world, we have our troubles. And we still do. A self evident truth.
We have fought a civil war. We have seen civil authorities overthrown by the Military. We have suffered sectarian violence and still suffering from the brutal assault of terrorists, insurgents, kidnappers and assassins. There is so much trouble, so much suffering in the Land.
The worse being insecurity and physical disability as a result of agony of hunger. But security, being everything, leads. From the celebration of our centenary plus, we must take a breathe, pause and reflect on our journey so far, take stock of our past, consider the best way forward and in effect concede to the past, the privilege of addressing the future.
At 64, in the context of history , Nigeria Is still in its infancy. Nigeria is a nation of the future, not of the past and while we may have travelled for a century plus, we are not yet at our destination of greatness. The amalgamation of 1914, was only the first step in our national stride, unification was followed by independence and democracy which have unleashed the enormous potentials of our people and laid the foundation for our nation’s greatness.
In challenging times, it is easy to become pessimistic and cynical. But hope when grounded in realism, enables and inspires progress. Now that we have gained the second centenary of our being, we must interrogate our development, progress and drawbacks, weighing in progress, problem and prospect of great Nigeriana. At this point, l wish to salute the great heroes of our nation, Nigerian. Suffice it to ferret some of them : we had: Herbert Maculay, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alvan Ikoku, Mallam Aminu Kano, Ernest Ikoli, Chief Christopher Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Dr.Michael Okpara, Mbaonu Ejike, Prof.Chinua Achebe, Chief Harold Dappa Biriye, Mokwugo Okoye, Chief Michael lmoudu and the numerosity of others.
We must be inspired by our past to overcome the obstacles we face in the present and honour our Forbears by realizing the promise of a Nigeria that is not only independent but also truly united, prosperous and admired the world over. The history of Nigeria since independence has been the story of a struggle to fulfill our great promise. The discovery of Oil in our country in 1956 at Olobiri, Rivers State, offered new hope of prosperity but we have not always been able to to reap the benefits in a fair and equitable way. We live at the bank of a river and yet wash our hands with spittle. Too bad and nauseating.
The situation was not helped by political instability and the frequent suspension of democracy by Military coups. During the civil strife, the very existence of our country was cast into doubt but through it all, the promise of a Nigeria that is united, free and strong remained in our people’s heart in spite of serial quests for self determination based on palpably skewed selective negligence of the lgbo race. Imagine, in spite of lgbo ambivalence, her exit from the tribes of Nigeria. It shall be suicidal to say the least. It shall be like spelling Jerusalem without putting USA. Sounding immodest? Truth is bitter. Truth, l have told
The lgbo cannot plead for forgiveness, for having ventured cessation. We cannot plead for forgiveness of “trespasses”so long as Nigeria leads her into temptations, by way of marginalization. Action and reaction shall always accentuate to being equal and opposite. Apologies to Sir Isaac Newton, the father of modern day classic mechanics, the egghead that also authored the three laws of motion, “action and reaction being equal and opposite” as the third law. That the union of Nigeria has endured and flourished, is traceable to the untiring efforts of our Statesmen and women, and the high percentage populace of 220 million ordinary Nigerians.
We salute specifically members of the Armed Forces for their contributions and sacrifices to keep Nigeria as an indivisible and indissoluble unit as the ages run. General Yakubu Gowon (retd) had the wisdom and grace to declare that the civil war had seen “no victor, no vanquished’ and welcome “the dawn of national reconciliation,” hence the acronym Gowon – Go on with one Nigeria. From General Matthew Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo (retd), who received the instrument of surrender at the end of the civil war, democracy moved in and has continued till this date.
The future of greatness of our country is assured by the favourable tail winds of a resilient population, ecological diversity, ridden natural resources and a national consciousness that rises above our differences.
It is therefore a necessity that we must focus our thoughts on the vast potentials of a united and progressive Nigeria and build on the relative stability as to achieve accelerated national socio- political economy development.
Nigeria, is a unique country, brought together by providence. From three regions, we have filed out and seize the floor to thirty- Six States and a Federal Capital Territory. We have transited from the Parliamentary to a Presidential System of government. We have moved our capital from the coastal city of Lagos to Abuja, the central deity of our country.
My take away. From the threads of our regional, ethnic and religious diversities, we must continuously weave a vibrant collage of values that strengthen the Nigerian Spirit.
Hello, a flash to National Assembly ( NASS), a call to Nigerians. Take a message! A Labour union is a thinking fortress of the society, creating a cooperative pool of ideas. Labour is a moral vortex, Soldiers on the parapet. A question of morality – is changing the national Anthem, the most important feat from the National Assembly to Nigerians for one full year of existence? What a show of emptiness of mind and brain. What a cueless lawmakers, all materials for a mental.home.
National Assembly, should as well, travel in thoughts and conduct a forensic investigation on the innovations turned establishment with a view to turning them in, from the tenure of General Yakubu Gowon, General Murtala Mohammed, General Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Aliyu Usman Shehu Shagari, General Muhammadu Buhari, General IBB, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, President Olusegun Obasanjo, President Umaru Yar’adua, President Goodluck Jonathan and President Muhammadu Buhari with a view to revising them and restoring the old ones.
Fellow Nigerians, could the 10th session of the NASS, tell us how fortunate we have been having them on board? All they are after is revising old songs. Chances are that this 10th session of MASS, might soon move a motion and pass a Bill, for the old police uniform to take over from the current one, in the name of observing plenary sessions. Even when the old uniform of yester years was most outdated. I understand it was a wide floating khaki shirt with short knickers, a black belt, accompanied with a long traditional cap and a baton. It had no pocket. In NASS’s nothingness, they could assert that since the then police uniform had no pocket, one lousy lawmaker, could sponsor a motion, calling for its adoption to check mate the police from collecting bribes on the highway, hence no pocket for collection. And he goes home elected, as having gone on record. Silly
Another, might move for the return to old currency changed by General Yakubu Gowon in 1973. It was pounds, shillings and pence then. He could aver that using coins, could bring down the prices of goods and as expected, his co- lazy travellers of meanness will electrify the air with the “Yes” has it. He rushes to the Press to tell it to the world, that he has summersaulted modern for ancient and ask his Federal constituency to note his input in NASS, for re -election, if tomorrow comes. Show of shame.
Another, might call for the swapping of LGAs to that of Native Authorities and for States that of Provinces, let it be, that the session is on course. And yet another, could ask that the name of Super Eagles should be returned to the Green Eagles, as to get qualified for the 2026 World cup, so dicey for Nigeria to qualify, consequent upon their wobbled and fumbled outings with South Africa and Benin Republic. As usual, it will be upheld and president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, shall quickly endorse them as to win their hearts, a buffer against his impeachment.
Fellow Nigerians, l am of the opinion that none of the current members of NASS, deserves a second term. They do not know that Nigeria problems could not be fixed by reverting to the ancients. Nigerians need to be mobilized for modernity.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the old one, “Nigeria we hail thee”, evokes strong spirit of patriotism” and that the dropped one, “Arise, oh Compatriots, Nigeria call obey,” was “Far less inspirational.” Mr president, what we need are strong institutions, not serenades!!!