For people of my age group, we should mark rather than celebrate this independence anniversary because of nostalgic recollections of the exciting hopes we had for the country at independence on October 1, 1960.
We believed then, that the human and material resources of the country guaranteed it to become by the turn of the century, a developed leading African country playing a significant role among the comity of nations. Then, the prevailing societal and national values were generally very worthy, and the incidence of corruption had not reached its present level which seriously undermines the development and well being of our nation. Nigerians travelling or resident abroad then, took pride in the universal acknowledgement and respect for their citizenship and their green passports.
Nigeria’s story in recent years, while recording impressive achievements in several areas, has been a story of unfulfilled expectations. But since according to Alexander Pope the poet “hope springs eternal in the human breast”, we must believe that our hopes which began to be rekindled in the more recent past, will this time be realized. It is in this spirit that I urge my fellow citizens to mark this our 55th independence anniversary.
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