Nigeria is 50! Should we rejoice or should we cry? Should we celebrate or should we mourn. Many are divided as to what to do at this time. We are all filled with mixed emotions. In this post I seek to sort out my feelings and hopefully help you sort out yours.
Those who say we have no cause to celebrate have a very valid point. I asked myself this question: what really do we have to celebrate? Is it 50 years of corruption? or 50 years of social, economic, political and educational degradation; maybe its 50 years of deplorable and unstable leadership; or 50 years of embarrassing ourselves on the world stage. It could be 50 years of intertribal and religious wars; or 50 years of criminal acceleration. Are we celebrating 50 years of steady decline into poverty or 50 years of chaos and decadence? The questions go on and on. Looking at the past 50 years do we have a cause to celebrate?
After giving the question some thought, I have to conclude that YES, we do have a reason to celebrate. What?! You say, didn’t I just list all the reasons we have not to celebrate. So why would I turn and say that we have a reason to rejoice? Let me tell what we are celebrating. We are celebrating the fact that in spite of the corruption, wars and conflicts, socio-economic and political downfall, educational decline, we are still here, we have survived. We are rejoicing in the fact that Nigeria is still here despite the odds, that though we have been pressed we are not crushed, though we are knocked down we are not destroyed. We celebrate the ability of the Nigerian people to smile and enjoy life in the midst of debilitating circumstances. We pay tribute to the labour of our forefathers. We honour the strength of the Nigerian people and her indomitable spirit that refuses to accept defeat. We celebrate the fact that after 50 years we are still one nation despite all the events that have threatened to pull us apart. We praise the ability of our people to persevere and even thrive under the most deplorable conditions. In summary we celebrate the Nigerian spirit. The spirit of strength, tenacity, determination, perseverance, hope, optimism pride in who we are, dignity, hard work and confidence (that GOD gave us )that has kept us thus far.
I am proudly Nigerian. I am proud to be counted among a people who are characterized by determination and strength, who excel against all odds, a people that are extraordinary, a people of dignity, a people rich in every way mentionable, a people of joy , a nation of survivors, a people of excellence. So yes, I will celebrate Nigeria at 50 and above all I will pray for her, that this day will mark her first step into glory and the realization of her full potential. I pray that she will today begin to take her place in the world.
GOD BLESS NIGERIA.
Signed,
NessaD (proudly Nigerian.)
