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The management and staff of Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) conveyed a message of goodwill and sustainability to the people of Nigeria on the 53 years anniversary of the country’s independent.
At 53 Nigeria is of age and no longer an exuberant youth that is full of energy but deeply vulnerable and flawed in judgment. This is the appropriate time to take inventory, a time of reflection and a time to set into motion affirmative outlooks and policies to remake Nigeria and get her ready for tomorrow’s challenges and opportunities.
Looking back and evaluating our great nation, we have come a look way.
Although Nigeria is still a long way from the promise land but all things being equal there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The nascent Democracy despite all the hindrances and setbacks is unfolding slowly and steadily. It has become chic and acceptable to blame our leaders for all the problems of the country but the truth is that the people too have their own responsibilities too.
After all, leaders come from the people and people deserved their leaders.
This is not to let leaders off the hook especially the leaders who have betrayed the nation. But let the people know that eternal vigilance and civic responsibilities are the coins for exchange in democracy. People must be engaged, committed and ready to stand up for truth and justice.
The bitter truth is that many politicians are mismanaging democracy while most Nigerians have become cynical and disengaged. The complaining and shouting will not do the job of rectifying the problems of the society.
The only sustainable way to create a vibrant and stable nation is rooted on the engagement of the citizenry with fairness and sincerity. A committed citizen becomes imperative to uplift the down trodden of the society and becoming serious on the solidification and consolidation of democratic principles of fairness and justice for all.
President Goodwill Jonathan despite all odds is doing the best possible even with all the mountains of obstructions, ossification and obfuscation confronting the nation. Nigerians are expecting the problems of the nation to be solved immediately but the truth is that the problems have deep rooted branches that cannot be easily uprooted and removed. The debris of corruption, inefficiency, tribalism and laziness cannot be washed away with same old ways of doing business. Uncommon problems call for uncommon solutions. Nigerians must be creative, innovative and magnanimous in solving her problems.
Without doubt, Nigeria with all the vulnerabilities and encumbrances is in right direction. The macroeconomic of the nation is sound, yes it is. The economic growth is hovering above 6 percent, the inflation rate is less than 10 percent and direct investment in non-oil sector is surging and that is very encouraging. These are bellwethers, an indicative that the country is moving forward. The need for economic diversification cannot be overemphasized; oil is not the economy of tomorrow. Modern technology, industrialization and sound educational system are the paths to reliable and sustainable economic growth.
This is not to hide behind good econometric indices and to imply that everything is well. Nigeria has a major problem with unemployment especially among its bulging and restive youths. No nation can survive with its social and political stability in tact with such a large numbers of unemployed youths and young people. Youths with over flowing energy can be an agent of change for good but also when not properly manage can become a disaster for a nation like Nigeria struggling to build a strong and stable nation. Nigeria must find creative ways to ameliorate unemployment especially among its youths.
Sectarian violence, armed robbery and kidnapping are social ills making life unpleasant and depressing for all Nigerians especially the poor Nigerians surviving with less than 2 US dollars a day, struggling to eke out a living in nation where random and senseless violence poses a threat to earning a livable income.
Nigerians must come together, work together with our leaders’ in order to secure peace and goodwill for all Nigerians including the future generations to come. Nigeria’s unity and economic prosperity cannot be compromise or negotiated. Nigeria must become a nation that we all must be proud to call our own, a true giant of Africa. For a great and good nation must also come from a great and good people.
Written By Emeka Chiakwelu
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