As Nigeria clock 60 years in few days from now, it has become expedient to wholesomely review where we are coming from, how far we have gone and what direction we must take from here going forward, according Chief Dr Kalu.

My reaction is with mixed feeling over the state of the Nation which lack of pragmatic leadership has put her in this state of uncertainty of a united country desirous of progress and growth.

I am proud of Nigeria because we are a strong nation, blessed by nature with everything we need to be great and the founding fathers did a great deal of patriotic work to set Nigeria on the path of becoming one of the greatest nations on earth after some decades, or at least to have been on the positive path to that viable and visible pedestrian of greatness and civilization.

But 60 years down the road, can we say we have progressed well as a nation? Have we made the right headway for a nation that is FREE for about 60 years? The answer is YES and NO, Yes for the fact that despite our complexity and diversities as a multiethnic nation, we have remained as one nation, albeit, reluctantly.
No for the fact that we have not made progress to build solidly on what was given to us on the platters of gold, in fact, we have retrogressed.

We cannot boast of good educational system as the best driver of any progressive society, we have not done enough to create the best infrastructure that will guarantee civilization and development. We cannot boast of good economy driven by people oriented policies to drive growth and human capacity building. We have done nothing to institute a working healthcare system that will guarantee the well being of her citizenry.

We cannot boast of security that guarantees life and properties to enable investment because Nigeria have become a killing field for unchecked elements that find pleasure in destruction and waste of fellow human’s lives with reckless abandon.

So I will not be wrong to say we have not fared well as a Nation, but that does not mean we are out of hope that given the right orientation and leadership frame of mind, Nigeria can be great again because if we chose to live in unity as a Nation with no part seeing others as enemies to conquer, then we can beat our chest and say we are proud to be Nigerians”

Untill then “HAPPY INDEPENDENCE NIGERIA”

Chief Dr. Emeka Kalu is the National Coordinator, PDPCo, the DG, Global Initiative For Good Governance.