Fellow country men and women at home and in the Diaspora, as Nigeria turns 52 today, I invite you all to join us in thanking God that despite the wobbling steps, the many fault lines in the wall of the House of Nigeria, the now regular tremors and earthquakes that continue to threaten her very foundation, it has pleased the God of the Heavens and of the Earth to add one more year to this ever rancorous and shaky-shaky House that has lost her soul and place in the comity of nations, yet rather than mourning on this occasion of her 52nd Anniversary, we should like us to sing the Song of Nigeria; for it is strength to sing in adversity and through it.
But before we do that let us pause and ask ourselves the honest question: How well have we done, how well has the House of Nigeria done? Since an honest question requires an honest answer, the honest answer to this question is: Not very well, again, we say not very well, again and again, not very well. Although we have set aside today to sing the Song of Nigeria and not to point accusing fingers at anyone, we must however not fail to tell ourselves the utmost word of truth that the elders in the House of Nigeria have failed her, amongst these elders are first and foremost, the traditional rulers, past rulers-Heads of State and Presidents; retired civil servants and all who had had the opportunity to serve our Nigeria from their various little corners; retired military officers who have acted stupidly and remained highly partisan in the face of the many threats to the soul of Nigeria, in the face of the many threats to national security, particularly Boko Haram and of course, the politicians; the law makers; the professionals; academics, young Nigerians collecting money from the East and their local financiers in order to shed blood and split the country; every Nigerian in their various little corners, home and in the Diaspora; above all, the press which have lost its soul and bearing and now wait by the side of the master like a greedy puppy for crumbs that will fall from his table have all failed Mother Nigeria. And we must accept this honest fact that we have all failed our country.
At 52, Nigeria has not exhibited maturity and growth; at 52 Nigeria has shown the world that it is a nation lacking will, a sound mind and a sound body-this ever convulsive land has for so long remained paralysed in spirit, soul and body, hence all the locusts, canker worms palmer worms and caterpillars are feasting in the House of Nigeria unchallenged.
At 52, there is not in modern day Nigeria, a Pan-Nigerian Movement/nationalists/federalists association cum conference to counter the many multi-ethnic associations that abound. Again and again, we had screamed and shouted at Jack Yakubu Gowon to be the Moses, once more, and lead us in a modern Pan-Nigerian Movement and move the various discourses oozing out from ethnic tents with daggers and swords to the table of national brotherhood, but Gowon had for the umpteenth time exhibited his trade mark indecision and paralysis of will, making it clear to the world and posterity that he is a Jack and not a Moses, and that he is a Gowon, and not a Lincoln! Pity! Pity, Jack! Pity then, Gowon!
Although, the trumpet TO THY TENT, O’ ISRAEL is not yet blasted, every Nigerian in cowardice has in fact, been speaking from their ethnic tents, deceiving themselves and the world that they speak for Nigeria.
More woeful is the fact that Nigeria had enlisted herself amongst the nations with retrogressive and regressive cultures who are ever at daggers-drawn with themselves. At 52, behold the friends of Nigeria: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan and Turkey-all members of the D-8, thus compromising her secular status. What is worse, since 1986 Nigeria has been a member of the Organisation of Islamic Conference, the membership of which has continued to polarise the country and bear evil fruits of Islamists extremism.
Just before we invite you to sing the Song of Nigeria, it is our patriotic duty to remind Mother Nigeria that anyone who scoops live charcoals under their scrotums shall surely be burnt!
Finally, as we prepare to sing the Song of Nigeria this season, our message to Boko Haram and all those troubling Nigeria is: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of Nigeria...uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14New International Version (NIV).
Let us sing:
Nigeria, great country, destined to rule the world
There’s no nation in the world as great as our Nigeria
With God, this Nigeria, God’s own beloved nation will rule the world
Yes, Nigeria, God’s own beloved nation, shall someday rule the world
God, Creator of the Heavens and the Earth
Help us to live together as one, brothers and sisters
Accepting one another in spite of our differences
Understanding and forgetting such differences
And working together side by side with our children
To build a strong and virile nation where in our diversity
Every citizen is treated equally and fairly.
God of Nigeria, give to all those to whom you have entrusted
The task of governing Nigeria to govern well in a manner that will glorify you
Give them the grace not to think highly of themselves,
But to in their entrusted little corners think of themselves as servant- leaders;
O God of Nigeria, give our leaders the grace to be selfless and patriotic;
Give them wisdom and hearts large enough to love and serve all;
Keep them away from greed and corruption,
So that instead of asking, “What’s in it for me?”
They will ask, “What’s in it for all of us?”
Give them the grace to in judgement be impartial, remembering the poor in our midst;
Showing no respect to persons, but acknowledging you always as the God of Nigeria who has placed them in authority over us;
Give them the wisdom to be broad and whole in thinking
And let them embrace strategic thinking and shift away from oil and genuinely diversify the economy
O God of Nigeria, implant in the heart, mind, spirit,
Soul and body of every Nigerian love for each other,
Respect for each other in an atmosphere of peace
Surpassing all understanding and having respect for one another’s faith without recourse to religious bigotry in dealing with one another
On daily basis in word and indeed;
Let this spirit of love permeate every fabric of our society
So that whether in the North, South, East or West of our country
We shall in peace and harmony live together
In a country where there’s no North, no South, but one Nigeria;
In a country where there is no division as to ethnic nationality, but one Nigeria;
In a country where there’s no division as to indigineship, settlership, but citizenship only;
Where all Nigerians are citizens of one great and indissoluble country,
Having one mission, vision, one dream, one purpose, one destiny with one commonality
As one people, set to take over the world in all things-politics, science, innovations, technology, sports, agriculture, cultures, standard of living, social welfare and per capita income, etc.
Help us to build a nation where no one will be persecuted, killed for embracing or belonging to a Faith;
Give us the spirit as a people to strive for excellence, competitive performance instead of the usual recourse to hereditary privilege;
Help us to do God and not religion, church or mosque,
O God of Nigeria, give us the wisdom, courage to bring up
Our children in the fear and nurture of you;
Give them and the coming generations the grace not to give up on Nigeria;
But that they should act their own part in the rebuilding of Nigeria,
Never to be bitter, but be sufficiently angry
to challenge the status quo, committed, loyal and patriotic
And when they shall ask us in this national Odyssey,
“Are we nearly there?”
Let us then respond with love and inspiring words that
“We are not nearly there yet, but on our way
And we shall arrive very soon on eagle’s wings.”
Yes, we shall soon arrive on eagle’s wings
And some day our Nigeria will rule the world
Again we sing the song of Nigeria in unison:
Nigeria will rule the world!
- JOHN ODEY ADUMA
Aduma, a British Chevening Scholar, is the CEO of UK Magazines Limited, publishers of Vigilance-The world’s leading Security Magazine.
