1 Like some residents of Ekiti said Nigeria has a lot to celebrate, others thought that the country was still lagging behind in the concert of nations.
2 They spoke in separate interviews with the Nigeria News Agency on Saturday at Ado-Ekiti
Commenting, Alhaji Jamiu KewulereThe Grand Imam of Ekiti Central Mosque, said in Nigeria, we have every reason to give thanks to God for holding the country together despite its diversity and challenges.
3 Kewulere said that only in an atmosphere of unity and solidarity could the much desired socio-economic development be achieved.
4 “First, we must give thanks to God that despite the many challenges of insecurity, turmoil and domestic problems, Nigeria still remains a sovereign entity.
5 “Many countries today, especially in Africa, are currently in a situation of civil war, while others are in a precarious atmosphere that has threatened their survival and existence.
6 “But, in our own case, we remain one entity despite the many socio-economic, political and national challenges facing the country.
seven “It is only in such unity that we can think and plan the political transition in 2023; it is only in this unified atmosphere that we think of having a national census.
8 “So first and foremost, we have every reason to use the anniversary occasion to thank God for his faithfulness in our lives and our country,” he said.
9 Also, Prophet Christopher Aboyeji of Christ Apostolic Church, Ori-Oke Alaseyori, Iworoko-Ekiti said the country needs divine intervention through prayers for its continued survival and existence.
ten According to him, the current development in the country has exceeded the capacity of any human being to clean up or repair on their own without the divine intervention of God.
11 “In fact, it was prayers that kept us this far.
12 The rate of poverty, hunger, insecurity, unemployment and economic constraints have caused excessive tensions among the citizens.
13 “We are now more divided on ethno-religious, cultural and political background and the only way out of this impasse is to dedicate ourselves as true and responsible citizens to pray for the nation on the occasion of its 62nd anniversary” , did he declare.
14 Aboyeji stressed the need for parents, religious leaders and traditional leaders to be aware of their parental, spiritual and traditional responsibilities to bring the desired peace and tranquility to the country.
15 Contributor, Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin, the Olukere of Odo-Oja-Ekiti in Ikere local government area of the state, said national security, socio-economic and other national challenges were surmountable with the collective responsibility of each stakeholder.
16 “I think we have been running our business for 62 years and with more effort from every Nigerian, the country will reach its dream destination.
17 “If we can think as Nigerians, and not as Yoruba, Ibo or Hausa, then these problems or challenges will be a thing of the past,” Obasoyin said.
18 The traditional ruler said the dreams of the country’s founding fathers of a prosperous, unified and economically viable nation should be paramount in the minds of every citizen as the country celebrates its independence anniversary.
19 He called for more constitutional roles for the nation’s traditional rulers, saying this would go a long way to complementing governments’ efforts to transform the grassroots.
20 Also, Sunday Adewale, an undergraduate student from Ekiti State UniversityAdo-Ekiti, regretted that the confrontation between the Federal government and University Academic Staff Union (ASUU) was allowed by both parties to escalate and linger.
21 “What started as child’s play has now become a major problem in the education sector.
22 “For me, the unresolved confrontation has tarnished any celebration of the country’s independence anniversary.
23 “I take this opportunity to call on the warring parties to urgently halt industrial action for the benefit of the students and the nation as a whole,” Adewale said.
24 Also, Mr. Biodun Ogunniyia craftsman, decried the rise in raw materials for auto parts, furniture making, sewing and car repairs, saying they were too expensive to pay.
25 Ogunniyi said that five years ago cars were affordable to buy and many other commodities were also cheaper in the market but now things are getting unbearable for an average Nigerian.
26 He denounced the sudden increase in oil prices, paving the way for higher prices of food, drink, cars, rents, land, clothing, gasoline and kerosene, which had made the cost of living difficult for an average Nigerian.
27 Ogunniyi advised the Federal Government to look at the various challenges facing Nigerians and end them soon as Nigerians were in the mood to party.
28 In comment, Mrs. Tolani Bamigbosea civil servant, said that a civil servant’s monthly salary could no longer feed his family for a week, if not a month.
29 Bamigbose explained that many government employees lived on loans and monthly contributions, commonly known as “Ajo”.
30 According to her, this was due to the relentless increase in the prices of food, rent, transport, clothing and auto parts, among others.
31 She urged the Federal Government to establish a workable policy that would improve the economy of the country and make the basic needs of Nigerians affordable and cheap.
32 In his speech, a university professor, Dr. Helene Adebimpesaid the suffering of Nigerians was enormous.
33 “Nigeria at 62 is not worth celebrating because political leaders have wasted the country’s resources,” Adebimpe said.
34 She said many Nigerians were starting to travel out of the country because the cost of living in Nigeria was too expensive, adding that there were no good jobs for young people as insecurity prevailed on a daily basis. .
35 Adebimpe advised the Federal Government to prioritize the welfare and safety of Nigerians and not focus on crafting policies that would add to the hardships of its citizens.
36 Commenting, a lawyer, Mr. Biodun Adelusidisapproved of the level of insecurity in the country, saying there was not much to celebrate, if the issue of insecurity was not resolved.
37 Also, Mr. Josiah Adelaboua banker, said Nigeria was facing a myriad of challenges, especially social, economic and security challenges, which made it increasingly difficult for the country to realize its potential for greatness.
38 Adelabu said no patriotic Nigerian could claim to be satisfied with the development and progress of the country 62 years after independence.
39 “There is not much to celebrate about Nigeria at 62, as the depressing indices in areas such as safety of life and property, food production, industrial production, quality of education, health care, economic diversification and productivity were indeed sources of concern.
40 A businessman, Mr. Tobi Solomonsaid Nigeria still has a very long way to go, as “our economy needs serious attention and sound political and economic judgment, so that it does not get worse.
41 Also, in the field of education,
an educator, Mr. Wale Iboridasaid Nigeria had evolved politically, educationally and judicially over a period of 62 years.
42 Iborida said Nigeria got off to a responsible start in education when we gained independence in 1960.
He said the colonialists ceded to Nigeria an education sector which had a positive impact on the masses as each geographical region engaged in healthy competition with each other to nurture great minds.
43 Iborida said the success recorded in education in Nigeria over the 62-year period was the result of both government and individual efforts.
44 He said stakeholders including government, private, traditional and religious leaders should mobilize to save the education sector from deterioration by ensuring that more funding is made available to the sector.
45 The educator said the way forward for the current education system is that the government should increase funding for education.
46 Iborida adding that they should provide more infrastructure in all educational institutions in the country.
47 He said the government and school owners should reduce the cost of education so that parents can easily afford to educate their wards.
48 Lawyer, Mr. Temitope Omotayosaid the main challenge facing Nigeria since independence was poor leadership, which had led to the country’s underdevelopment, among other African countries.
49 Omotayo said this has affected various sectors in the country, which has demoralized the country’s progress and development.
50 He said the country’s development remained stagnant due to the series of challenges it faced, while the production of goods and services was very low and poor.
“As the 2023 general elections draw near, the electorate should vote for a new government that will answer the cry of the masses, tackle corruption, unemployment, among others, in order to make Nigeria better, progress and develop like other African countries.
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NewsSourceCredit: NOPE
