NIGERIA'S INDEPENDENCE, IS IT WORTH CELEBRATION? By Nifemi Irimabuyaku

*MR BUHARI TAOFEEK KUNLE (AQUACULTURIST PRACTISING@LAGOS,NIGERIA)*

As for me No

In all sector they are backward, in education, in politics in infrastructure, health service, internet facility, utility Bill's, the government are against the masses. It's a parasitic Government. Now we are been taxed on everything we buy, airtime, electricity, when we send and recieve money it's just annoying.

 In conclusion, let's just be grateful for life and build our own mansion in the means of the storm.

*AKINRELERE OLUMUYIWA, State Secretary (RATTAWU). State Publicity Secretary(TAMPAN) and ( NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, FIBAN)*

Well every celebration is worthy of been celebrated because there is always a beneficiary of every situation or circumstances no matter how bad or good. So, for people at helms of affairs of Nigeria administration now will tell you Nigeria is better now at 60 than what it used to be in the past when we fuel at ₦60, rice at 4000 etc and they are astute enough to prove it to you or force you to take it. That is the reflection you now see yearly every October first. If you see some people celebrating, they are doing that based on the selfish gains they are likely benefiting from the festivity while others do out of frustration in the hope of getting closer to a relief that has never come just like a poor widow remembering or celebrating the reminiscences of his good late husband.

 *OGUNTIMEHIN OPEYEMI (POLITICAL ENTHUSIAST@ALLIANCE FOR NEW NIGERIA)*

Capital No

1. We have never been more divided as we are right now...

I think we have lost our identity as one nation...

Like the VP said a couple of days ago" The crack we have in this nation if not taken care of is capable of dividing us..

2.There is practically no sector of the nation that we can actually pinpoint of working effectively...

We keep struggling even after 60yrs of our so called independence from colonialism...

All I see is a baby been called a giant...

From our economy to national security to the power sector and the likes...we have always been talking of having a better Nigeria then compare to now

If all we see is looking back and saying Nigeria was better than this then there is nothing really to celebrate..

Why don't we have some reflection on how far we have gone...

Our currency has become so devalued that foreign company are even contemplating of closing up..

There are lots to say...

 We are 60yrs not 10yrs old

There is practically nothing to justify our celebration apart from saying we are still together.

*THOMAS LUCKY(LIFE COACH@THE AUDIO PRODUCTION STUDIO,* *PETALS FM, 102.3* 

 *Bódìjà IBADAN, NIGERIA* )

No

Independence has not yet occur in the mind of a leaders and even the people of this country. And until this happen, when we as a country can wholly depend on our own Resources - (Natural and Human Resources). Also Structure our country.

This yearly celebration is just nothing. A waste of all the things put together for the celebration.

*ALABI TAIWO. Esq*

Yes, it's worth celebrating. 

It can be celebrated by increasing our youthful mentality as regards the nation building. Many don't understand how nation building should be. We take it the other way round 

Nigeria should he celebrated by instituting poverty scheme's, visiting Abiola's plan and other leaders' scheme.

Proper technological acumen

*ENGR. AWE SEGUN*

I'm really trying so hard to be positive and think of little achievement worth celebrating but I can't think of any. It's similar to the scenario of a 60-year old man who has failed in "every" aspect of his life celebrating his birthday. In Nigeria's case, we have not only failed in every aspect, we have deteriorated so badly that most of us just want to leave the country and go seek greener pastures anywhere else, including countries smaller than Nigeria. It's sad. What we just need to do as a country is to come together with positive mindset and being deliberate in all our doings to improve the country, not celebrate our failure. I believe we can be great. The truth is we're not just ready.

*OLUWATOYIN ABEGUNDE. Esq, Founder, OLUWATOYIN ABEGUNDE FOUNDATION*

It should be celebrated by beseeching God for mercies

We need divine intervention indeed

*FALUYI FAITH(A PRACTISING ACCOUNTANT@ THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA)*

My opinion is "No, it shouldn't be celebrated"

The whys are even simpler, are we really independent, in the truest sense of the word? No, we're not. We should just thank God for life and get back to work. 

From being the world's biggest producers of tomatoes, crude oil, palm oil etc, to being the nation that spends billions of dollars to import tomato pastes, petroleum products and palm oil amongst others.

The "giant of Africa" (I don't know if we still deserve that moniker anyway) is neck deep in debt. Security, education, political system, unemployment has all gotten worse. We keep finding deeper levels of despair I don't even know how deep into the abyss a country can get, the only thing worse than the current situation of Nigeria is war, and isn't that brewing already little by little?... 

Right now, we just expect the worst and hope for the best, I hope our generation gets it right and like our national pledge says, 

"so help us God!".

*ADEBIYI ISREAL (CRITIC)*

We are not unaware that a country at 60 should have actually grown past where we are as we speak. And it is a shameful thing that we can point at countries and even neighbor countries ; some , we did get independence before , doing well than our beloved country. Our existence as a country should not be seen as bane , neither are we to be treated as an Anathema , it is no news that our problem has been bad governance since the invasion of the military government and after , the vision of the leaders who actually fought for our independence was shattered. Until this kind of corrupt democracy we run meets it's Waterloo, the problem will be recurring .

Finally , I will say that we should hope against hope that this country will be great again, however I will also like us to know that the power lies with the people and until we are ready to take the yoke off our shoulders; heaven help those who help themselves. I still have a feeling that we are where because it kind of still soothe us a Nation, we indulge, condole and tolerate these leaders because we ourselves share a part in their corruption. Maybe one day which I pray should be soon , we will be tired or probably our eyes be open to see that we can clean these mess ourselves , so help us God.

We still got to celebrate , all hope should not be totally lost . And for the sake of the coming generation which I am positive about , I believe NIGERIANS should still celebrate independence.

*OLALEKAN TOYIN(GROWING ENTREPRENEUR IN PHOTOGRAPHY@ADO-EKITI)*

For the fact Nigeria is still united as one, even though there have been ups and down, it worth celebration.

*COMRADE IFEOLUWA BOLUWATIFE ADENUSI@FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF OYE (FUOYE).*

An individual with 60years old should earn respect, immature, do not value herself in anyway.

As Nigeria is, 60 is not a small number now that we are still the way we are.

Her citizen cannot have freedom in her territory through speech,movement or what a view. The No.1 citizen also, a militant treating us as slaves in a Civil society even introduced Hate Speech one time to silent people from expressing themselves.

At the age of 60, an individual should have children, grand children that should be doing well and the individual should be happy.

Nigeria do not have hope in her youth.

*AMURE SEGUN(PUBLIC AFFAIRS ANALYST@ JORDAN FM, BWARI ABUJA and FOUNDER, VOICE OF THE MASSES)*

To start with the question is of mixed opinion because when we look at everything we've passed through, our journey, when we follow the trajectory of our nation, we see that the celebration of independence is essential. But the point is are we celebrating the independence that truly we are independent.

After the struggle, after the fight of independence from the colonial masters, we've become dependent on our leaders who have seen the affairs of the nation, the treasury of the nation as a thing that should be looted within their dynasty or their political class. Let me put this straight that the general perception of social and governmental institutions is that Nigeria is startling, our leaders those who have led from 1960 till now have nothing tangible to show in celebrating the independence... And even to stress it out, shortly after the independence was gotten, ethnic chauvnism, ethnic bigotry, self centered attitude, self seeking attitude, corruption among other things undermined the independence. And when you look back a nation of 60, a nation who clocks 60 ingloriously will know that the independence does not worth celebrating.

When our leaders, the Nigeria born leaders who have led since 1960, their leadership has nothing tangible to show for it are we talking about the bandits, corruption, favouritism, ethnic chauvnism, nepotism, insecurity, that has ravaged the land.

The independence does not worth celebrating!!!!

And how should we celebrate it, we should celebrate it in a sorrowful manner, because at 60 we are still a nation begging the world to feed her citizen.

*ESAN MICHEAL( BRAND INFLUENCER)*

Totally, it's worth celebration, It's independence...take a good look at Armenia right now who though are independent but still suffer...yet it's but a small young country.

They're currently under something I'll call a sub war. God has been good to us...no matter how We've misspent it. I am a Nigerian and so are you. We make up Nigeria, so yes it's worth celebration because I'm not celebrating independence day in support of Nigeria but because I am we're Nigeria and so it's a celebration of our freedom...minding what we've face so far down the road

*How should it be celebrated?*

Sincerely,

 *For me* (cos Nigeria starts from me), it's a day to intercede for Nigeria with everything going on with us

*For you* (cos Nigeria begins from you), try to make Nigeria a better place by be coming a better person. Carry purpose for your country.

 *For the leaders* (who make themselves pillars of false hope), Nigeria does not need a new logo, anthem, flag or beautiful banner that costs over a false billon. What you need to do is make Nigerians happy by showing it to them, make it a government of the people like you pomised.

 Throw a party not of colours...but one that breaches every tribe and culture in unity, this party shouldn't be thrown in a day...it should be thrown for the whole new year we've got. *ONLY IF*

*Why shouldn't it be celebrated*

It is a *must* to be celebrated

*MOSES OWOYEMI (POLITICAL SCIENTIST)*

Well, I don't see the need for her to be celebrated, an adult at 60 that has no vision or plan for the future should be regarded as a nonentity, we don't celebrate nonentities/ failures we only celebrate success

*ADEDAYO AYOSUNKANMI(CRITIC et ENTREPRENEUR)*

No it doesn't, at all, what exactly are we celebrating, is it the death of people, is it the security in the country, is it the rate at which people are suffering there's nothing to celebrate, there's no development perse in Nigeria in any way in any form. I feel this 60th should be a moment of sober reflection, there's nothing worth celebration in this country,look at the economy set up is just degrading and depreciating at every point. The educational sector too is nothing to write home about, strikes here and there, people in schools that ought to have graduated like two years earlier, they are still in school, courses that are meant to be four years are now nine years, so what exactly are we still celebrating.

Even the political sector, you see party members gathering against themselves, ganging up against themselves, is that what we are celebrating?, It doesn't worth it at all, it doesn't.

I think this should be a moment of sober reflection, a time to think, a time to re-strategize, what can we do to make it better, what can we do to make it move forward, what are the things that need to be done that haven't been done.

*ORIMABUYAKU NIFEMI*

*FOUNTAIN NEWS BREAKER*