TWO prominent Nigerians; former Chief Whip of the Senate, Roland Owie and former Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, Brig.-General Ikponmwen Idada (rtd) have said that the survival of Nigeria since independence, has been by the grace of God.

Owie, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said “We thank God that in spite of our failures as a nation, Nigeria remains a united country after 55 yrs of Independence. I believe that The Almighty God will not abandon Nigerians and will forgive us all.
“However God cannot be mocked and evil doers who are not remorseful can’t continue to count on the mercy of God. We must all change our ways and do what is right because where there is no justice, there can never be peace.

On this  55th year of our Independence, I urge President Muhammadu Buhari to do the following things: Steer clear of the affairs of the National Assembly or else he will spend four years without any achievement. Secondly, run from Obasanjo who has now become Buhari;s ‘Personal Assistant’, who now follows him everywhere even in the United States.
“Of the 55 years of our nation’s life, Obasanjo sat on Nigeria for 21 percent without achievements but impunity and lawlessness. There is that saying that show me your friends and I will know who you are.

Buhari should not fight corruption selectively but all inclusively, friends of foes and the fight should be with due process.”
Idada on his part said Nigeria has survived the various crises that have bedevilled her since 1960 by divine grace
“I think that those people who ruled Nigeria in a manner that showed that they don’t have value for the system did grave damage to the evolving nation. And to the civil war, you will also know that the event that gave way to the war that started in 1967, the coup that was started by 1967 which late Major Kaduna Nzeogwu ended up not leading and was taken over by those who did not plan it, those who you can say they did not identify with the spirit of the coup.

I must say that despite the mistakes that were made in terms of execution a serious look at the utterance of those who masterminded the coup showed great disdain for the corruption, manipulation and injustice that had become the order of the day in Nigeria prior to the coup.

After the first a coup, came counter coups, some were in quick succession, I think that It was by share luck and blessing of God that Nigeria survived these coups and counter coups and remains as one country till today.