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Nigeria @58: quo vadis?

When Nationalists like Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe and others demanded for the British to allow Nigerians govern themselves, they had the interest of the masses at heart. As detribalized Nigerians, they put the country first in all they did. It was always "one Nigeria", whether it was political, economical or social issue that was at stake.

 However, these great founding fathers of Nigeria must be turning in their graves with the ways things are going in the country at the moment. The Nigeria of Boko Haram cataclysm, Fulani herdsmen attacks, Chibok Girls kidnapping, election rigging and whatnot was never what they envisaged for the country when the Nationalists demanded and fought for the independence of the country.

 Every passing day in Nigeria comes with one sad development or the other that leaves right-thinking citizens to wonder where we are headed: whether for economic, political and social development or damnation. Nigeria was recently declared the world's poverty headquarters, with citizens living below $1 per day. This is despite the fact that political leaders and lawmakers walk home with millions, if not billions of naira per month as salary and allowances.

 As we celebrate fifty-eight years of self-rule, leaders and followers alike must pull their resources together to get the nation out of the precipice and wrong direction that we are headed. Let lawmakers initiate and pass bills that will uplift the plight of the masses. The executive should desist from killing the same citizens they swore to protect, while the judiciary should live up to its role as the last hope of the common man by not passing judgement to the highest bidder.

 Nigeria will be great again, but we must have retrace our steps and do the right things at the right time; in order to achieve and live in the Nigeria of our dream. God bless and long live Nigeria @58!

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