We are 54 years today.
54 years of going through the birth, teething, crawling and walking stages and yes occasionally we run. As one who sees peace behind or in the midst of every storm, light in the darkest of places and beauty regardless of the dreary that abounds, I will dwell on the Hope, Strength, Faith and Love that keeps us going.
A part of our national anthem says “One Nation bound in Freedom…” and it struck me that to be bound meant restrain, have limited or no movement and thereby negative. But my joy knew no bounds (pun unintended) because it is FREEDOM that holds us in. despite every opposition, a typical Nigerian is an “I-don’t-care” person that always has hope to the point that he knows in his heart that if you won’t help him, another will.
That is the FREEDOM, the enemies of progress don’t get. How can they be happy in the midst of everything? How can they sing songs?! How can they still pray and dare to believe it will change and get better than this?!
But I ask….
Why shouldn’t we?!!!
Why does it upset you that we are not giving up or in easily?
Why try so hard to tear us apart and sow seeds of discord and disunity.
Remember, we “ONE NATION BOUND IN FREEDOM, PEACE AND UNITY.”
So today, regardless of what political/economic analyst and well-read orators have to say about where we are and are headed, I CELEBRATE NIGERIA! For not backing down, not staying down (after the fall), daring to rise repeatedly time and time again. I celebrate her uniqueness, her diversity, her culture, her colours (represented by every tribe and tongue), her ingenuity, her creativity (in the world of Arts, Fashion, Beauty, Progressive Media Content and many more), her diverse languages, her resilience, her fights, her freedom!!!
Like my friend and brother TIMI DAKOLO sang in “GREAT NATION”
We’re all we have, we’ll defend our land
We believe in this nation, and we know we’ll get there
We’re all we have, we’ll defend our land
We believe in Nigeria and the promise she holds
And that one day we’ll shine like the sun
We’re a great nation
Ask yourself (whether you are a Nigerian or not), how can I make her a better place, how can I help change the negative views people have about her. And it starts with YOU!
What are you saying about what you know or don’t know about her?
© 2014 Frances Kelvin Otung. All rights reserved . 
imanikingblog 
6 replies on “Celebrating Nigeria”
I like your writing on the positive side of Nigeria despite the fact that many things are far from being ideal. There are lots of things to be grateful about our country even though the leaders are busy playing politics.
Happy anniversary to Nigeria. May God give us leaders instead of rulers come 2015.
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Hello Hope, It’s been a while. Thank you for your message and Amen to the prayers, we truly pray for LEADERS who show the way by examples (good ones we mean).
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I love this! I am Nigerian myself, and my birthday also is its Independence Day (boy I miss having the day off on my birthday) so it’s always great to see an uplifting post about Nigeria and share some of the good (since the media so loves to focus on the bad). But like you said, there’s bad everywhere, including the U.S., so we may as well all be Team Good! 🙂
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Yeahhhhhh! HBBD, Trust you had fun (despite missing the holiday. LOL) Welcome to Team Good. Yippeee
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I so admire the love and pride that you share, in this post, for the people of Nigeria as well as the country of Nigeria. What a blessing this is. Sadly, in America, land of the free — many of us have been disillusioned and question whether our freedom is a “reality” or merely a “belief.” Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you for reading …wish I could fill my space with everything good about Nigeria. I know (like in every other nation) there are the BAD & the UGLY. But I’m committed to being in Team Good.
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