Restates Pledges To Transform NigeriaUS Urges Effective Response To ExtremismAtiku Craves Action Against PovertyKanu Calls For RestructuringYadudu Blames Military For WoesDavid-West Calls For PrayersIN spite of the myriad of challenges facing the country, it is celebration today as Nigerians, home and abroad, mark 50 years of self governance which was granted the nation by the British imperial power on October 1, 1960 when theBritishUnionJack wasloweredand replaced byNigeria'snational Green-White-Greenflag.As usual, the independence anniversary provides germane point in the nation's history to x-ray the journey so far with a view to ascertaining the extent to which the goal of the founding fathers of the country, that prompted the struggle for self determination, has been achieved. The event also provides ample opportunity for leaders and the led in all segments of the society and from friends of the country to analyse the realities in Nigeria and chart the way forward for the nation.President Goodluck Jonathan, in his address to mark the occasion assured Nigerians and the world that Nigeria will overcome its challenges, make life more meaningful for its citizens and take its rightful place in the comity of nations.Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged Nigeria to develop a ``strong, effective security response'' to violent extremism in the country.President Jonathan who noted that the nation's founding fathers set aside their differences to secure the unity and independence of the country, urged the present generation to keep the Nigerian spirit alive.Jonathan said: As we celebrate today, we remember with pride, the nationalism and patriotism that inspired our founding fathers and the Nigerian people. They set aside their differences, to secure the unity and independence of our great country.That is the Nigerian spirit! For the Nigerian spirit cannot be broken. We are a resilient nation, determined to chart a course, through the turbulent waters of nation building. The Nigerian spirit is vibrant today in the world.'Urging Nigerians to keep faith in their country despite the problems facing it, President Jonathan said: 'The journey to nationhood always has its own challenges. Nigeria has had her own share. Our growing pains as a nation have included the civil war, the June 12 election crisis and restlessness in the Niger Delta. But Nigeria has always overcome each of these challenges. We overcame before. We will overcome yet again.'On the insecurity in the country, President Jonathan who condemned acts of violence, pledged that the current administration will tackle the situation, saying 'My administration will spare no effort in fighting crime, building peace, and securing our homeland against internal threats and infiltration by violent groups, from outside our borders.'We condemn all acts of violence and declare that such acts of mindless savagery shall not be allowed to define our country. We will not be deterred. Our resolve is strong.'I have put in place a new and reinvigorated national security strategy, to combat the threat to our safety. Yet, no matter what I do as your President and no matter what we do as your elected leaders, at all levels, the peace and security of our nation rest also on our collective efforts as citizens, in our various communities.'All leaders and citizens, in every community, must therefore make peace the number one priority of their daily routine. This is because, without peace, no community can realize its objectives or achieve a happy and productive life for its members.'The current incidents of violence and terror, in parts of the country, will surely be overcome. We will secure the safety of our citizens for only when we do this, will we be able to build the needed peace and tranquility in all parts of the federation.'Securing our peace and stability will ensure economic growth and prosperity for all.'The president, who acknowledged the crucial place of infrastructure in national development, promised to carry out major reforms in various sectors of the economy, fight corruption and put the nation on the path of real growth. And to generate job opportunities for the youth.As Jonathan assured all of better Nigeria, some eminent citizens lamented slow progress of the country, urging the leaders to brace up for more responsibilities to take the country to desired heights.Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called on elected leaders at all levels to move away from what he called rhetoric and sugar-coated pronouncements to concrete action to make the lives of the citizens better.In his message, Atiku expressed regret that more than 50 years after independence and 13 years of current democratic experiment, the ordinary Nigerians are still struggling desperately to eke out a living, despite the country's immense natural and human endowment.According to Atiku, 'social volatility, occasioned by hunger, unemployment and despair are serious challenges to security, which elected leaders must treat as matters of national urgency or priority, because democracy is a social contract in which the voters expect service delivery from their leaders while discharging their own obligations to the state as citizens.'The former PDP presidential aspirant explained that the level of poverty is inconsistent with Nigeria's huge resources and the huge expectations of better life that come with democratic governance.In what seems to be a review of the challenges currently facing Nigeria, the former Vice President said for the economy to do well, the burden of sacrifice for economic recovery must be evenly shared by the leaders and the citizens.'My heart bleeds at the picture of conspicuous consumption of the political elites while millions of voters who pushed the wheel of democracy continue to wallow in abject poverty. There is no pretence that corruption is undermining the national economy and consequently its capacity to make positive impact on the average citizen.'Leaders must demonstrate courage and sincerity in confronting corruption. Half-hearted and selective fight against corruption in the past had badly slowed down the momentum of the crusade and the current rulers should learn a useful lesson from that,' Atiku said.To former military governor of Imo and Lagos states, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd), it will be difficult for the country to develop under a defective federal arrangement.He told The Guardian in an interview that efforts to build a nation state out of Nigeria since independence has been proving abortive because the country has left the foundation and right road on which it was formed.He said: 'From independence, so to say, the independent nations tried to build a nation state out of a country, Nigeria. That is what was there. Unfortunately, by actions of omissions and commission, mistakes were made, the right road was left and that right road is in realising that we are different nations in a country named by somebody else, of course, which became a country purely as a federal entity. The moment you left that, you then have very badly affected the structure on which you can start building that nation state. That is where it is and I will not hesitate to keep saying it because it is the basic truth.'This country will not make progress except it goes back to the earlier arrangement of nations, no matter how large or small those nations are. That is our fundamental problem and it encompasses everything you can think about'security, corruption, lack of development and what have you. Whatever you think, there is a fundamental matter that has to be addressed. If we don't, we will only be going from bad to worse.'Kanu debunked claims that Nigeria has been having problems because its people are not compatible. 'I think we are compatible but only within agreed terms. The history is still there; the experience is still there but there is a structural disability that wounded it and is not leaving it up. So, we have got to really know that with all the posturing and statements, when this country fails, it the fault of everyone,' he said.Fielding questions at a news conference with visitingNigeria's Foreign Minister Olugbenga Ashiru, Clinton warned that ``some terrorist and extremist groups are absolutely unreconcilable.They cannot be convinced to end their violence and participate in society.``But where there is an opportunity for any dialogue or outreach, we would support that.''Again, the U.S. Secretary of State condemned last month'ssuicide bomb attack on UN office in Abuja,claimed by Boko Haram, describing it as ``absolutely unjustifiable.''She added: ``We think that its ( Boko Haram) attacks on ordinary citizens, on institutions of the Nigerian state, on the UN office in Abuja, are absolutely unjustifiable.``There is no set or principles or beliefs that can justify taking the lives of innocent people, and we offer our deepest condolences to all those families who have lost loved ones in these senseless attacks.''Clinton assured that the U.S. would work with Nigeria and other countries in West Africa to improve security and to address the legitimate needs of people before extremists have a chance to exploit them.Considering the myriad of problems bedeviling Nigeria, 51 years after independence, former Minister of Petroleum, Prof Tam David-West, advised President Jonathan to declare a day of prayer and fasting to mark tte day.David-West, who spoke in an interview with The Guardian, said Nigeria should emulate the United States' practice of declaring a day of fasting and praying together, for Nigeria's progress.The professor of Virology urged all Nigerians, regardless of ethnic or religious background, to pray God to deliver the nation from the grip of politicians whose activities have turned the country into a 'failed state.'He said at 51, Nigeria has disappointed itself and God for mismanaging its abundant resources rather than benefitting Nigerians.
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