UP UP UP NIGERIA: OCTOBER 1 (1960 – 2007) – IT’S A MIRACLE!

HALLELUYAH! HALLELUYAH!! HALLELUYAH!!! HIP! HIP! HIP! HURRAY!!! HEARTY CHEERS ARE VERY WELL IN ORDER. NO SHAKING. GOD BLESS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.

Through the sunshine, rain, fire, floods, war, pain, darkness, sorrow, joy, laughter, happiness and all … I thank God for His enduring Love, Mercy and Grace upon the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Let us all give thanks. Let us all search our hearts and minds for a change and give God His dues.

The nation of Nigeria has a conscience. You are the conscience of this nation. You the Nigerians and friends of Nigeria are the conscience of the nation. I mean friends not just those who claim to be friends. Where are the watchmen at the gates of this great nation? Do not sleep.

Awaken you children of Nigeria for the nations soul is in jeopardy. Just at a time when God began to Answer our prayers. Some have gathered in their own power and numerous strengths; they are determined to take back the soul of Nigeria which has been snatched from their hands.

It only takes a few dedicated patriots to ensure that the will of the enemies of Nigeria (within and without) does not come to fruition. You can imagine if you do your bit, play your part and I do likewise; we, together would be like a vast army, with one common purpose and focus, that Nigeria will live.

Even though it has only been 47 years, it feels like hundreds of years and Nigerians and friends of Nigeria have very high expectations, as the parents of a very bright and wise 16 year old who expect the child to be as a full grown adult. This expectation is only borne of the child’s manifested excellence, not the reality of the age of the child.

Sound the trumpets and roll out the drums and celebrate every good that God Has done unto Nigeria. Regardless of any setbacks, God deserves praise. Less of the murmurings today. Let us count the blessings for a change and we may be well surprised at all what the Good Lord has done.

On another note, we must put a stop to the politics of death. Death has entered into the consciousness of the nation through greed and avarice. Selfishness fuels the pathways of death. Right from the homes, through to the institutions of learning, wickedness has been nurtured and everything we see in the body polity today is a harvest of what had been sown.

Once upon a time we sowed unity in this nation; for example during the civil war and for some years after. For this, I cannot ever forget the years of Retired General Yakubu Gowon. I do not want to go into what was sown in the tenure of some others. Unity is a must for us, so we can stand.

We had a period in our history when people from a particular part of the nation held the nation’s juiciest strategic resources in every sense of the word. You had to be of a particular religion too. It was evident to all. The result is the over impoverishment of the others, especially the so very education conscious peoples of the other part of the nation.
The evidence is so clear when you investigate the throngs of Nigerians overseas for economic reasons and those running abroad daily. Take a walk in any of the major cities in the nations where our brethren sojourn; you will find the obvious answers to the missing link in these statements.

However, thanks be to God for the wake up call of the past 8 years. The reality has dawned heavily upon us all that it is with one’s own hands that one improves one’s attitudes and behavior patterns (owo eni l’a fi n’tu iwa ara eni se). Self empowerment will ensure that no one is waiting for the government before mobilizing to help rebuild our nation.
We need a manifestation of certain attitudinal and behavioural change in our every day dealings. The culture of 419 etc. that has destroyed the nation’s image and caused untold hardship to many, must be replaced with a shift of paradigm to that of steadfast faith in Nigeria, come rain or shine.

Civics must return to the school curriculum and government must be forthright with the people for our democracy to be more meaningful. We cannot have the government saying one thing with such apparent faithfulness but be doing something else in practice.

The mantle is upon you, my President, Alhaji Umar Musa Yar’Adua.
We have continued to pray. We shall continue. Nigeria gave you a mandate against all odds. You have presented yourself to us as a servant leader. Do not be one that fails to be sensitive to the needs of all Nigeria, in respecting and representing only a certain caucus of people. What I am saying is that you do not portray yourself as such. It is about how things appear to the people largely.

I have seen a few opinion polls and not one has yet been on your side in your decision regarding the Naira redenomination, Attorney General and EFCC and ICPC. Now your Finance Minister wants to take us back into debt. Suddenly, the Central Bank Governor is not longer fit for the nation’s Economic Team. Neither is the EFCC Chairman. It would appear that the Economic Team is also going underground, whereas it was not unseen in the last 8 years.
Nigeria of pre 1999 is not the same my dear President. The spirits of the suffering masses whom you so much express a heart for will not forgive you if you allow corruption to escape the lady justice in your time. Nigerians all over the world were tremendously enthused and encouraged by the anti-corruption drive that began to take root during the last 8 years.

It was a joy that the image of Nigeria that was zero before 1999 internationally suddenly came into reckoning by the time you took over from Chief Obasanjo. Whether you like it or not Mr President; whether your new found friends (in the name of government of national unity) like it or not, it will be ungodly and unjust for you to rubbish the achievements of the last administration, which appears to be the case at the moment. Anyone can see this. You appear to be wining and dining with some of those who had been found wanting in the eyes of the international communities.

Your government appears to play undercard tactics even in the area of justice, quite contrary to your pronouncements; especially in specific cases of certain powerful and influential people. We expected to see the dynamism of youth and the nation’s diversity reflected in your choice appointments etc.

I may be missing something, but stand to be put straight. I am very willing to learn. People are now anxious that the Yar’Adua administration does not take us back to the Shagari era; and many do say that Alhaji Shehu Shagari himself is a man of integrity and not at all greedy. However, we all know what went on in his tenure.

Personally, my confidence in your choice as the PDP flagbearer remains unshaken, as my belief that you are God’s choice for Nigeria at this time, Mr President. However, I did not think it would be so difficult to reach out to my President, who is a servant leader. I am almost convinced that it is practically worse than reaching out to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The role of the Information Ministry is so underutilized; yet this is the core communicator of this government’s business. Would we suffer more lack of positive information as opposed to and increase in positive vibes? I do not mean spin. There are not many things so far that we are hearing about that can sustain the hope that has been aroused in us during the last 8 years and we do not want to faint.

Whilst I appeal to all Nigerians to bear with the administration for a while, we shall not be taken for a ride in the name of humility in terms of servant leadership, which some of Mr President’s men will use for their own benefit.

I will like to know in clear terms how Mr President intends to further deepen the reforms of the Obasanjo administration. We want to have first hand knowledge of what this administration is doing regularly as we had in the last 8 years. How exactly does the seven point agenda of Mr President help to connect with and provide continuity, which the PDP assured Nigerians would happen in this administration?

Where are the young technocrats that featured prominently in the last administration (or even the likes of them). Surely, Nigeria is not short of them. We want to see continuity in action. We want to see concrete evidence that Mr President is working towards the 20/20 vision. The last thing we want is for the public/international relations gains eroded.

October 1 is a very special day. I pray that God Will Continue to Bless Nigeria and Help Mr President to receive the right Counsel from God and man to take Nigeria to the next level and not backwards. As we celebrate, let us reflect. 100 days plus is not too small to see and indication of what is approaching. May the Lord Open the ears of Mr President to hear and obey the Counsel of God always.

Once again, for me, I am counting my blessings and Nigeria’s blessings. The Lord has been Good to us. I shout Halleluyah!

God Bless my Nigeria.

Prophet Folayan Osekita MBA – for October 1 2007.