This year’s independence anniversary provides another opportunity to reflect on the state of the Nigerian polity, economy and society.

I acknowledge that Nigeria in its current state is not the Nigeria of the dream of the founding fathers nor of the current generation. Many Nigerians, especially younger people, are clearly disenchanted with several aspects of the country, particularly the performance of key functionaries and institutions involved in governance.

Gov Oshiomhole

Life remains unbearable for a majority of Nigerians, a fact that is evident in the rising unemployment and generally acknowledged deepening poverty levels.

Compared to other nations with which Nigeria attained statehood, far less progress has been made in economic development, especially in the areas of infrastructure. Indeed, the robust gains and solid foundations for development laid by the immediate post-Independence leaders have been eroded over the years through ill-conceived policies, incompetence and corruption.

With the recent upsurge in sectarian violence and the growth of ethnic and religious tensions in some parts of Nigeria, it is now obvious that we need to do more to manage our diversity.

But the challenge is not to despair or to dismiss the country as failed, as a few have tended to do out of frustration or mischief. Even in advanced democracies today, we still see evidence of social, economic and political explosions, some of them of severe magnitude. However, such chains of events have not provoked their citizens to dismiss their countries or re-draw their maps, as some habitually sectarian elements often do here in Nigeria.

While Nigeria is passing through tough times, I believe that the challenges of the moment are not insurmountable. Fixing Nigeria calls for all of us to redouble our efforts, especially to restore broken bridges and unite the people. These times call for leaders across the spectrum to moderate their utterances and desist from orchestrating sentiments that tend to be divisive.

Our political elite need to develop the tools that can foster reconciliation. It is noteworthy and commendable that Mr. President has already taken some steps to address the grievances of those who have taken up arms to canvass their views. We must continue to encourage all such groups to give up arms and avail themselves of the opportunity for peaceful resolution offered by the President.

At 51, Nigeria ought to strengthen the foundations of democracy. We need to build on the recent gains towards evolving an electoral system that meets international standards of transparency and credibility.

As I have always argued, Nigerian people are resourceful. However, our people need to be economically empowered through the provision of infrastructures, particular energy, in order to bring out the best.

As I always like to recall, in the early years after Independence, our local entrepreneurs competed side-by-side multinationals and State enterprises across all sectors of the economy, because they were empowered by policies which promoted indigenous industrialization and entrepreneurship. Therefore, we must continue to encourage President Goodluck Jonathan to take the necessary steps towards revamping the power sector.

Direction of Nigeria

Above all, as Nigerians, we have to appreciate that we own the country, not the leaders. As owners, we have the duty and the right to ensure that we determine the direction of Nigeria.

Those who are privileged to be in authority are merely stewards, whose conduct must be subjected to public scrutiny and popular oversight at all times. Therefore, we must develop the tools of constructive engagement and strengthen our popular organizations to trouble our leaders and make them accountable. Transformation will occur only when the people give up agonizing and organize as a vanguard of economic and democratic change.

Finally, I wish to renew my appeal to all Nigerians to support the President. The President alone cannot do it all much as he is in the driving seat.

It will not help to insist that one man alone is responsible either for failure or success, nor would it make sense to expect that these past few months of President Jonathan in office would suffice to fix a country that has been rendered prostrate by decades of misrule.

Although he has a Pan-Nigerian mandate, President Jonathan cannot succeed without the genuine partnership of other arms and tiers of government, the Private Sector, Civil Society and even the political opposition. With the elections behind us, partisanship needs to give way to constructive opposition, which puts the security, unity and prestige of the nation first above partisan interests.

While partisan competition gives democracy its rhythm, once elections are concluded, development is nourished and nurtured by consensus. I wish my Country men and women a Happy Independence Anniversary. We must nourish ourselves with hope for a better future and faith in God’s positive design for our country.