By Florence Amagiya and Anozie Egole

Nigeria celebrated its 53rd anniversary as a sovereign nation last Tuesday. But drums were not rolled out to mark the independence day. Across the country, the popular opinion of the citizenry is that there is nothing to celebrate in a country where the people are bogged-down by several inadequacies ranging from insecurity, failing infrastruture, poverty to  unemployment, corruption,  and the uncontrollable menace of  Boko Haram  among other  national tragedies. Our team sought the verdict of the entertainers as teh nation turned 53…

Okey Bakassi

Okey Bakassi, Comedian

Nigeria is a dysfunctional country as seen by all of us. As it stands today,  those in the private sector are doing better than those in the public sector. We are proud of the private sector. As a country, we have not gotten to where we ought to be. But  God willing we shall some day. Let’s pray the problems confronting the country will soon be a thing of the past.

Dayo Amusa, Actress

Even though the Nigerian entertainment industry is not 53, it has not exonerated us from our challenges.  We also have our problems, but we are working hard on tackling the problems.  We are trying to interpret our roles better than we did in the past years. At 53, we have covered a lot of grounds as a nation.

Uche Benjamin, Actress

The truth is that  we should pray for our leaders no matter the situation. Nigeria is a blessed country, we don’t experience a lot of natural disasters like as it is the case in most countries.  We are only facing challenges of the moment which I think and believe would soon be a thing of the past.  I have faith in Nigeria.

Yetunde-Omo-Badan

Yetunde Omo Ibadan, Artiste

We all have reasons to be sad as well as the right to be happy about our country. Yes, Nigeria has come a long way at 53. But it will be  good to choose happiness. Listening and talking about all the bad things that are  happening in this country today will hinder us from moving forward.

Buchi, Comedian

A man or woman who has survived at 53, would eventually survive every other huddle he or she is faced with. Nigeria is 53 years, and some of us would feel that all hope is lost for this country. But  there is still hope.  We shall get there by God’s grace.

Mimi Orjiekwe, Actress

As Nigeria turned 53, last Tuesday,  I enjoin Nigerians to rise in support of the ongoing crusade to reinvent and transform the country. What will see us through is hope, courage, perseverance, prayer, reconciliation, peaceful co-existence, and patriotism to build a new  Nigeria of our dreams where everyone will live in peace and harmony.