Nigeria Content Online

Nigeria’s problems
after 50 years of nationhood rest on failure of the leadership, the
Itsekure of Benin Kingdom, Nosakhare Itsekure, has said.

The chief, who
spoke in Benin City, said apart from the late Murtala Mohammed, who was
murdered in 1976, Nigerian leaders have failed in taking the country to
the pinnacle of its dreams.

He said the only
thing to celebrate as the country marks 50 years of independence is the
fact the country has remained one indivisible entity despite its myriad
of maladministration, leadership recklessness and political corruption.

Mr. Itsekure,
renowned for his outspokenness and struggles during the days of the
military juntas, said both military and political leaders have looted
the country dry.

He noted that the
country as it is today was not the dream of its founding fathers,
regretting that democracy has been hijacked by selfish politicians who
see politics and governance as a means of acquiring wealth

He lambasted the
political class and the parties for lacking ideology on how to move the
country forward as practiced in developed countries.

The only way
forward, he said, is for the youth of the country to take their own
destiny into their hands by insisting on accountability and
transparency in government.

Governors’ messages

Meanwhile, the
governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, has congratulated the people
of the state and other Nigerians on the occasion of the nation’s
anniversary, saying the people should focus on the positives rather
than lament the failures of the past.

“On the occasion of
the 50th anniversary of the attainment of Independence by Nigeria, I
join the good people of Edo State and other Nigerians to celebrate this
milestone in the annals of the nation,” he said.

“Despite the
seeming challenges facing the nation, there is a lot to celebrate as
the country remains one indivisible entity despite having passed
through many trials, including a civil war. While there is no doubt
that the nation could have developed far better that it is now, I urge
the good people of Nigeria to focus on the positives as the challenges
facing the nation are surmountable.”

Ogun State
governor, Gbenga Daniel, asked Nigerians to count their blessings,
recommit themselves to national development, set new goals and work to
actualize the immense potentials of the nation.

In a press
statement made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, Mr Daniel said despite
the failures of the past and the challenges of the present, Nigeria
remains one indivisible nation with promising prospects, stressing
further that the fact that democracy has endured for 11 unbroken years
was another sign of progress and a reason to celebrate fifty years of
nationhood and thank God for his mercies.