Nigerians flay insecurity, poverty, others as nation celebrates at 59

Seek prayers, restructuring, power rotation in 2023
Prominent Nigerians have decried the level of insecurity, poverty, corruption and underdevelopment bedeviling the country even as the nation turns 59 tomorrow.

Among early respondents to the nations 59th independence anniversary celebration are a former Governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, a former Chaplain of Aso Villa Chapel and General Overseer, All Christian Fellowship Mission, Reverend Williams Okoye and Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Reverend Anthony J. V Obinna

They all agreed that the country has not fared well 59 years after independence, noting that it was painful that Nigeria still remains in a sorry state 59 years after independence despite the enormous resources God has blessed the nation with.

Nnamani, who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa, tasked leaders to address the poverty, ignorance and disease hindering Nigeria’s development and lead the people to prosperity.

He lamented that almost six decades after Nigeria’s independence, the country was still faced with the challenges of inequality, unemployment, ethnicity and illiteracy.

In his goodwill message to Nigerians, he urged leaders at all levels to make deliberate efforts through policies and programmes that would engender development and rescue the people from the debilitating effects of ignorance, squalor, disease and poverty.

Besides, Wike noted that the country was at crossroads, a situation he said, required concerted prayers as the nation marks its 59th independence anniversary.

Speaking at the inter-denominational Church Service in Port Harcourt yesterday, he said the Rivers State Government would always remain committed to a united and prosperous state that works for everybody who lives and works in it.

Wike, who was represented by his Deputy, Mrs. Ipalibo Banigo, said, “At 59, Nigeria is at crossroads with lots of challenges bedeviling it. There is no time better than now for Nigerians to integrate and unite as a people.”

On his part, Okoye insisted on power rotation in 2023 and also called for restructuring of the country.

He stressed these in his message at a church service in Abuja, and blamed the nation’s problems, essentially on lack of leadership, deception, greed and selfishness.

Also, the Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta North, Reverend Wisdom Ihunwo said Nigeria was blessed with men and women with great potential, noting that there was hardly any part of the world you would not find a Nigerian doing well because Nigeria is in God’s prophetic agenda

Responding, Obinna said Nigeria was in a precarious situation and needed urgent redemption.

He stated this during his sermon at a Church service in Owerri, lamenting the level of poverty and insecurity in the country for which he enjoined the leaders and government to live up to their responsibilities to Nigerians.