5 decades ago, a product was birthed
Celebration filled the air
Young and old crying for joy
Cities agog for what is called independence

I may not know the true meaning of independence
And I also acknowledge that no nation is and will be truly independent of one another
But I beg to ask the difference between liberty and isolation

While a school of thought views independence to mean liberty
Another take it as mere isolation
Towards what area are we tilt? - Isolation or liberty.

You may want to ask!
Why is Nigeria the beneficiary of the many donor agencies?
Why is Nigeria the recurrent scene in IMF, World bank, and many UN agencies
If truly we claim to have independence
Why are we usually the helped and not the helper?
Why are we the borrower and not the lender?

Because we need help
But needing help is not bad
But trading help is better
If only we have something to offer
Then we become a donor
Not necessarily of money
But we can trade to get foreign currencies
Not cringe to get them.
That is the true language of interdependence

But remember this saying
That we may not be where we want to be
But we are not where we used to be
We may not be in the sky scrapper community
But we are neither in huts or shallows

We may not be riding the best cars
But we are no longer riding the carts and the wheels
For this reason,
We have a cause to celebrate

50 years of learning lessons
They say a fool at 50 is a fool forever
Fellow compatriots, the fool will not be the name Nigeria
The fool will be the people of Nigeria
The fool will be you and I

So lets refuse to be a fool
Let’s rise up to build a better nation
Not by mouth participation
And public analysis
But by contribution with audacity
Making our stands sure and our positions firm
Integrity is the key

From the progeny of our national flag
We stand for faith unity peace and progress
Do you see a new Nigeria?
That is a measure of your faith!

Can we as Yorubas, Hausas and Ibos live together as one?
Are we going to do away with words like zoning formula and begin to adopt independent candidacy?
For all of a truth, what will be the essence of zoning formula, if Nigeria is one body?
Do you see a new Nigeria
Where your candidacy for elections will not be based on your money or origin of a particular state, but on the measure of your contribution and impact to that area?
Do you believe together we can achieve more?
That’s the measure of our unity?

Can we restore peace to Niger Delta?
Can we stop the jos crisis?
Can we drive on the roads without budgeting the N20?
Will you need to contest elections without using bullet-proof cars?
That’s the measure of our peace.

Do we have a strategic goal as a nation?
Are we moving towards that goal or just moving?
The closer we are to that goal, the more we make progress
But do we really know our strategic goal?
Where are we heading?

We hear of vision 2020…the 7 point agenda and the likes
Where is our strategy..
How do we get there?
What will be the responsibility of corporate offices?
What will be the responsibility of government?
What will be your own responsibility?

Let me close with this…
If a large ship wants to wreck in the middle of an ocean
And the ship is said to be independent
So it does not need any rescue
And the occupants are large but do not know what to do
What will you call that?
…..foolishness I guess
But we are not far from that.
we are large….the giant of Africa they call us!
we are skilled to save our ship!
If Nigeria is that ship on the verge of wrecking
We are the occupants…
And we do not need help from any where…
What shall we do….?
Everybody becomes the sailor
But with specific duty and contributions
What will be your duty in saving the new Nigeria?
What will be your duty in saving the wreck of Nigeria?
What will be your duty in saving your state?
More importantly, what will be your duty in saving yourself?
Nigeria needs you and I
Lets join hands to build a great Nigeria

(SONG)
We are the one …..
We are the people..
We are the one to make a new Nigeria
So let’s start working
There is a joy it brings to you
In shaping Nigeria
To be a better place for you and me