As Nigeria marks its 62nd Independence anniversary, the populace across various regions of the country are lamenting hardships with loud cries to government for urgent measures to mitigate their sufferings. Lamentations of ‘High cost of living is sending people to early graves’; ‘We are witnessing too many armed robberies, killings, kidnapping, looting’; ’End this ASUU strike’; ‘Too Many taxes on citizens and businesses amid poor electricity supply’ continue to rent the air nonstop. No thanks to poverty that breeds insecurity and a chain of challenges bedeviling the nation and its citizens. These myriad difficulties and deprivation the citizenry is suffering didn’t start today. Day by day these challenges have continued to inflict dire consequence on the country.
For some years now, the celebration has been toned down and marked in low key mode in almost all regions of the country, owing to these many challenges confronting the country in the different facets of its existence. As the country marks 62 years of independence from colonial rule this year 2022, unfortunately things still look gloomy for the nation and people, especially as it faces increasing incidents of insecurity which seem to overwhelm the current leaders who have not been able to tackle the problems confronting the nation over the years. According to African Development Bank report, economic growth decelerated, averaging 3.2% during 2022– 23, due to persistent low oil production and rising insecurity. Inflation is projected to remain elevated at 16.9% in 2022 and at the beginning of the year, Statista, an economic watchdog released a report forecasting the unemployment rate in Nigeria for 2022. The report estimated the unemployment rate in the year at nearly 33%, a 0.5 increase from the previous year at 32.5%. Even in the face of the challenges, citizens are hopeful of a better Nigeria as they approach an election year, 2023 where they look forward to having a new crop of leaders who will look into the teeming problems and lasting solutions to them.
Speaking exclusively to The Catholic Herald newspaper on Nigeria’s 62nd independence anniversary celebration, Rev. Fr. Raymond Anoliefo, Chaplain, Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos said that Nigeria is blessed with huge potentials; including human and natural resources, which are yet to be fully harnessed. “First we must thank God for His graces that has kept the Nigeria as one entity thus far, in spite of the various problems that has stunted the country’s growth in the last 62 Years. We are a country that is so blessed, yet we are like someone who is living by the river side that is dying of thirst. We are so blessed, but we seem to be struggling so much”, Fr. Anoliefo said. Stating that the country has not winessed much development due to leadership problems it has experienced in the last 62 years, Fr. Anoliefo added that one of the major challenges of Nigeria is the scarcity of good leaders. according to him, “The trajectory of the country is nothing to write home about; things are looking gloomy and bleak everyday with all the happenings in the last few years since the turn of democracy. We seem to be going down instead of making giant strides and progress. Instead of moving forward, the country seems to be retrogressing in almost every facet of its existence; even human capital development.
All the indices for development don’t seem to be favouring our country at this time.” Speaking further on the problem of leadership in the country, the priest said, “What citizens are looking at is poor and inept leadership that summarises Nigeria; a land that is so blessed, so rich, so fortunate, yet so unfortunate when it comes to the issue of leadership, which has turned everything on its head.” However, Fr. Anoliefo sees light at the end of the tunnel as he spoke on the coming elections, “But of course, going into 2023; there is a glimmer of hope as we approach another election year. The heightened interest by citizens that is coming with the elections is good. The fact that there’s another political party and candidate beyond the two main political gladiators seems to give more options and encouragemnt to the people. It seems to have injected some form of hope, especially to the youths. It seems to give this coming election a new turn, and so, it’s something to be hopeful about, something to hold on to for a bright future for the country.
We hope that we as a people can get it right and that we scale through this time around. That’s what we are holding up to.” He called on leaders and followers to do their bit in making the country a better place for all. “But while we are preparing for elections, all hands must be on deck to make things right. Those who are at the corridors of power, especially at the level of the presidency must be strict men and women at this point making sure like the President promised Nigerians to bequeath free and fair elections come 2023. Am taking it with a pinch of salt, but then let’s hope that he delivers free, fair and credible elections. “Let’s also hope that INEC will be truly independent and that our votes will count. That will give us something to look forward to come 2023. And hopefully it might be the best for a new Nigeria in event of some change. It might not be Eldorado, but it restores hope that many seem to have lost over time. “We call on all players both state and non-state actors to do their bit. The citizenry should also do their bit. The government has to do their bit. And hopefully with all these done, we leave the rest in God’s hands and hope that things will turn out well”, he said. Also speaking on the independence anniversary celebration, Sir (Dr.) Charles Mbelede, Supreme Knight, Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM), Nigeria, disclosed that KSM Nigeria’s tenet is anchored on one united Nigeria.
He added that with a focused leadership, the country will attain its full potentials. “KSM Nigeria’s tenet is anchored on one united Nigeria. The order believes that in spite of the current inanities, with a focused leadership the Nigerian nation will attain its full potentials. The country is replete with human and material resources, which if imaginatively harnessed will put the country on a steady path of growth. The most important niche is to believe in Nigeria and the avowed resolve of Nigerians to be great.God bless Nigeria as we celebrate”, he said. For Sir Cyril Pinhero, SAN, he advised Nigerian leaders to copy the developmental patterns adopted by countries such asSingapore, Dubai and Malaysia to grow the country’s economy. According to him, “Nigeria is still far behind and we should just borrow and copy what development has been achieved in Singapore. In Dubai, in Malaysia and other countries with growing economies.” He stated that until the country’s leaders copy and apply the development patterns of the above mentioned countries, Nigeria may not witness meaningful and needed progress For his part, Prof.Ikechukwu Dozie, Vice Chancellor, Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, Ideato, Imo State, said a country that is marking 62years of independence anniversary should be seen to have made progress in every aspect of its national life.
“I thought that personally our being 62 years, by now we should have made tremendous progress in many aspects of our national life; economy and human endeavour. But it appears to be very slow and we are gradually hoping that as we continue to go on, we are learning. We should learn from past mistakes and then continue to work towards developing a better nation for all of us. But certainly, the progress and development in all aspects of national endeavour appears to be grinding slowly”he said. On the way forward, he said: “It is a collective responsibility both for leaders and those that are being led; that is, we must have leaders that are a bit more patriotic in driving the national development agenda. And also having a responsible citizenry that can also respect the laws.
