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Ondo State indigenes, including the state governor,
Olusegun Mimiko, have called on Nigerians to remain focused as the
nation celebrates its 50th independence anniversary.

Mr Mimiko, in his goodwill message, noted that though
the promise of independence has not been fully realized, this should
not be allowed to diminish the value of freedom and the significance of
becoming a sovereign nation.

The governor’s message which was released by his
spokesperson, Kolawole Olabisi, described Nigeria as a great nation
with great potential.

He said rather than engage in recrimination over our
misses and woes, today’s celebration of Nigeria’s golden Jubilee should
be a forceful reminder of the promises yet to be fulfilled and of
dreams yet to be attained.

He said the attainment of that is the task that must
be done to take the nation to the heights desired for her by her
founding fathers.

While positing that the nation must be re-tooled to
take its pride of place among the comity of nations, Mr Mimiko said for
Nigeria to be given its dues, its leaders must ensure that credible
election hold next year.

“As we celebrate our nation’s golden Jubilee, there
is no doubt that our nation is today faced with a number of daunting
challenges, but in the face of all these challenges, our resolve and
abiding faith must remain unshaken,” he said. “These challenges, to my
mind, should however be taken as ample opportunities waiting to be
translated into stepping stones to an assured destiny of peace,
progress, and prosperity for our common posterity if we all remain
focused and do our bit.”

Tackle the problems

Human rights activist and lawyer, Tunji Abayomi, said
the celebration should serve as an opportunity to ponder how to save
the nation from the multifarious problems which has relegated it among
its peers.

“The nation has gone through a lot of difficulties
basically, the failure of leadership. In reality, the nation should not
be where it is today. Social infrastructure, the well being of the
people have been treated with levity and disdain,” he said.

“If you assess where the nation is today, you are
bound to say that the nation has failed. There is no good road, no
access to health and water, unemployment is on the increase, and
kidnapping is the order of the day and corruption is the highest common
factor.” Mr Abayomi noted that the only way the nation can be freed
from the shackles of poverty and maladministration is to ensure that
people with the genuine interest of the nation at heart are given the
chance to rule.

Leader of the Yoruba Socio Cultural Group, Afenifere, Rueben
Fasoranti blamed the nation’s woes on corruption in high places and
poor administration.