Nigeria@60: Independence speech is reflective

This independence anniversary speech is a bit different from Mr President’s past or recent speeches because it is very reflective.

It started with and dwelt widely on our challenges as a nation with emphasis on the country’s misfortunes (civil war, prolonged military rule, increase in population and urban dominance, economy issues, security challenges, general institutional decline and artificially controlled fault lines; making these problems seem inherent, accidental or universal and unavoidable in most cases.

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It is also different because it is not only soberly reflective but also seem to be a call to collective responsibility of building a more united country TOGETHER. A lot of emphasis on doing it together.

It dwelt also on upholding democratic principles and the President was proud of improved electoral process with emphasis on the Edo example.

It is important to note the indictment of the judiciary on compromise and the threat to saboteurs (30,31 and 32).

The speech is also slightly highlighted the tall economic dream of becoming one of the top 20 economies of the world and of bringing 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.

The end of the speech was on government’s social intervention programs and more importantly on the justification for petroleum products price increase and the traditional cross countries comparison of the prices for its justification.

Dr Kabiru Sufi Sa’id is a lecturer at the Kano State College of Arts and Science (CAS), Kano