The General Secretary, National Union of Textile and Garment Workers and Vice President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu, has commended Nigerians in all the states of the federation and their governors who defied rain and sun to come out to hoist the national flag during the Nigeria at 51 celebrations.However, he decried the decision of President Goodlock Jonathan to belatedly shift the celebration of the independence anniversary from the Eagle Square to the Presidential Villa.This, according to him, amounted to an unacceptable 'privatisation' of the independence anniversary by some select political elite.In a statement entitled: 'Independence celebration: mass inclusion, not privatisation,' the General Secretary of the textile workers said all nation's were confronted by one form of threat or the other and that the President should have used the opportunity to present the strength of Nigeria rather than run away from the public.He said: 'We commend Nigerians in all the states of the nation led by their respective governors who came out in the rain and sunshine to raise the flag of Nigeria at 51 with parades, concerts and other patriotic activities. The activities of few criminals must not stop peace-loving and patriotic Nigerians from celebrating a worthy independence.'Nigerians who came out in spite of threats truly exhibited the spirit of an independent Nigeria at 51. Notwithstanding the unfortunate present security distractions, 51 years of nationhood and independence are still preferred to 100 years of British oppression and exploitation. By stepping down national celebration from a national arena (Eagle Square) to the Presidential Villa, President Jonathan gave an unhelpful impression of an overwhelming threat to nationhood.'All nations are confronted with one form of threat or the other. But what Presidents do and which President Jonathan must follow is to exhibit the strengths and opportunities of their respective countries, while confronting their weaknesses and warding off any possible threat.'The independence celebration offered President Jonathan an opportunity to showcase the strengths and opportunities of Nigeria which can only be done in a public arena with the participation of all Nigerians. More than ever before, Nigerians are deserving of leadership that will raise hopes and remove despair in the land. The independence celebrations of Nigerians offered a unique opportunity to raise hopes for deepening development, and end poverty and underdevelopment.'He added: 'The decision of President Jonathan to shift apparently (belatedly and in panic) the historic celebration of the 51st independence anniversary from the public arena (Eagle Square) to Presidential Villa inadvertently amounted to an unacceptable 'privatisation' of Independence Anniversary by some select political elite.'He stated that about 40 million Nigerians led by notable frontline leaders namely Herbert Macaulay, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafa Balewa, Aminu Kano struggled to rescue Nigeria from British domination and exploitation in 1960.
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