…As Jonathan, Akeredolu, Utomi, PDP, Others Speak On Nation’s Travails

Mixed reactions bordering on anger, frustration and outright despondency, today trail Nigeria’s 61st Independence anniversary with a resonating conclusion among many prominent Nigerians that the country has substantially failed to meet the aspiration of its founding fathers.

Rather than celebrate today, it should be a time for sober reflections on the journey so far. They also believe that only such deep reflections would produce the needed panacea for the myriads of maladies bedeviling the country at present.

Be Optimistic – Jonathan urges Nigerians

Former president, Goodluck Jonathan, has urged Nigerians to be optimistic about the future of Nigeria in spite of the challenges currently being faced.

Jonathan stated this in his goodwill message issued in Abuja on Thursday to Nigerians on the occasion of the country’s 61st independence anniversary.

“I join all citizens to celebrate the 61st Independence Anniversary of our great nation, Nigeria.

“As we mark this day of freedom, it gives us the opportunity to reflect on our progress, celebrate our humble attainments and ponder over those dreams that are yet to be fulfilled.

“We may have hiccups along the way and challenging times that might be stretching our resolve and determination to forge ahead. But we shouldn’t relent nor succumb to fear, discouraging trials and threats of today.

“We will never lose hope in our country and in our indomitable spirit and capacity to overcome difficult times, seize the moment and conquer.”

Nigeria holds a very bright future — Pat Utomi

Mr Utomi, a former presidential candidate on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, made this remark while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on the nation’s 61st Independence Anniversary.

According to him, the country has had her days of great hope, days of great expectations and days of despair and anxiety about whether it is facing the right direction not to talk of moving at the right speed in that direction.

“I believe Nigeria, in spite of all these problems, holds a very bright future. I see a Nigeria with a future so bright,” he said.

“However, this thing called nation building comes with ups and downs. What we must do is, first and foremost as elite, ask ourselves the question why this country is more divided today that it has even been.

“We must make a self-conscious effort to bridge these divides.

Nigeria Will Never Fail – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that Nigeria ‘will never fail’ as a nation despite the various challenges it is battling.

It made the assertion on Thursday in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, to commemorate the nation’s 61st Independence anniversary.

“The PDP congratulates Nigerians on the nation’s 61st independence anniversary and urges them to use this year’s occasion to further consolidate on our unity and resilience for the task ahead,” it said.

“Is it not also an irony that as we celebrate independence, thousands of our compatriots are falling victims to extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and illegal detention in dehumanising cells, which underscore the horrible situation under President Buhari and the APC, as even profiled by reputable international organisations, including Amnesty International (AI) and US Department of State?”.

Akeredolu calls for urgent restructuring

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has called for urgent restructuring of Nigeria to reflect the diversity and address the various misunderstandings and high rate of criminality in the polity.

The Governor made the call on Friday in a statewide broadcast in commemoration of the 2021 Independence Day Celebration.

Governor Akeredolu, who said the current system adopted in the county does not encourage ingenuity, noted that it is time for all patriots to unite and speak with one voice.

“It has become imperative that the current structure be tinkered with in a fundamental way. It is no longer sustainable,” Governor Akeredolu said.

“Our country is blessed abundantly. There is hardly any part of this vastly endowed space that should not be self-sustaining. This land should not be a place where hunger, poverty and a general sense of lack predominate.

“We must be bold enough to interrogate why these challenges appear perennial. We must not shy away from the reality of our diversity which should, ordinarily, be a source of strength but is gradually becoming an albatross.

“We must inquire for the reasons why those who regarded themselves as brothers and sisters no longer feel comfortable seeing or accommodating one another. We must be willing to confront whatever system which has reduced the once self-reliant sub-national entities to perpetual dependencies practically.

Concentrate On Issues Of Unity Rather Than Divisive Tendencies, Buni Tells Nigerians

As Nigeria celebrates 61 years of its independence, the Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni has urged Nigerians to concentrate on issues that unite the country rather than exhibiting divisive tendencies.

He said, “although Nigeria might not have reached where it wanted to be after 61 years of independence yet, we have cause to celebrate our existence as a country.

“We may have some challenges but we still remain a United country with lots of hope to prosper and attain greatness as a united country”.

Bad, Selfish Leadership Causing Nigerians Unnecessary Pain – CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said it strongly believes that bad and selfish leadership over the years has caused what Nigerians are suffering for the past 61 years of the country’s independence.

In a message, the CAN President, Rev. Dr Samson Ayokunle, explained that Nigerians are already suffering because they do not fear God, adding that today people are suffering from insecurity and other vices that make life very difficult for the common man.

The CAN President noted, “We are already in the hands of the enemies because of our corrupt and sinful life. We are in pains of insecurity, inflation, unemployment, poverty is stirring many people in the face. Kidnappers and bandits do not allow us to rest.”

He added that for the past years, bad and selfish leadership in the country have largely contributed to the unfortunate state Nigerians are in today, saying that these bad leaders did not plan for the country to grow and if they did, they never made an effort to implement the development plans.

Nigerians should mourn 61 years of backwardness –Ezeife

Former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife believes that Nigeria has not made any progress in its 61-year chequered history as an independent nation. To him, Nigerians should be mourning 61 years of backward growth and not celebrate failure. “It has been 61 years of non-achievement; everything is comprehensively going negative. “We have been saying the same thing for many years without any result. So, it is quite unfortunate and saddening that instead of growing forward, we have been growing backward,” he said.