By Benjamin Njoku

Popular Canadian-based Nigerian filmmaker and  actor Pascal Atuma, who turned 52 today,  has  taken a quick swipe at the sad state of the country, lamenting  bad choice of leaders as the reason  Nigeria is currently in  this   economic  woes.

Atuma made this assertion in an Instagram post to mark his special day.

According to the ‘Golden Boy’ who is also the Chairman/CEO, TABIC Records Ltd., while he’s grateful to God for his new age,  he  still faces the realities of today’s Nigeria.

Lamenting  the prevailing hardship in the country today, the Ikwuano Umuahia, Abia State- born filmmaker said this is the worst Nigeria he has witnessed since he was born 52 years ago.

” We have never degenerated to this level before,” he added.

He, however, opined  that Nigeria needs visionary leaders who will turn things and bring the country on the path of growth again.

“We need visionary leaders to turn things around and reverse our path,”, he said.

He wrote: “Today is my birthday, but as much as I am very grateful to God for life, I still face the realities of today’s Nigeria.

“My family and friends want to celebrate with me, but I cannot justify the celebration. Are we celebrating Naira exchanging at #1800 to a dollar? Are we celebrating the masses gradually dying of hunger? Are we celebrating diesel at #1500 per liter? Are we celebrating the kidnapping of innocent citizens? Are we celebrating government broad day robbery under the guise of “cash transfer” to Nigerians whose identification we don’t know? Or are we celebrating one kilogram of chicken selling at #6500?

” What could justify a celebration in Nigeria as we know it today? Should I be celebrating the reality that my village, Iberenta Ibere, in Ikwuano LGA, Abia State, will become wholly cut off come the next rainy season if nothing is done urgently to arrest the gully erosions?What is there to celebrate?

“Maybe celebrate the bravery of the Super Eagles at the just concluded African Cup of Nations? Yes, that is positive; at least it reminded us of the strength in our diversity and what we can accomplish as a nation when we come together.

“It reminded us that Western religion and ethnic and tribal divides were all weapons imported from the Western world and should not destroy our nation. Yes, the Super Eagles’ accomplishment in the just concluded African Cup of Nations is the only positive thing to celebrate that has recently happened to Nigeria.I hope this hardship will serve as a wake-up call to the process and the persons we select for political positions in Nigeria moving forward.

” We must know that no country ever prayed for prosperity without work and that we need industries rather than religious stadiums. We cannot continue to have elected political officeholders who become Lords/Billionaires overnight, simply for the fact that they were elected to serve the masses. “Nigeria cannot continue like this; the earlier we work together to save Nigeria, the better for all of us. Nigerians must wake up before it is too late. Nigerians know those who used elected offices to steal billions.

 “We know those who did not add any economic value but cashed in on petroleum subsidies. We have seen governors who became more prosperous than the states where they ruled for four to eight years.

” They should return the money so that starvation will cease to be the order of the day in Nigeria.

“This is the second consecutive year, where I happened to be in Nigeria for my birthday, and we can all say for sure that Nigeria is in total shambles and disarray!!”