Nigeria at 56: British Ex-Serviceman calls for unity in Nigeria

By Michael Eboh

 

Mr. Babatunde Odunuga, a frontline social and political activist, has called on Nigerians to use the period of the 56th Independence Day celebration to come together as one to fight for a common goal.

In a statement in Abuja, Odunuga said the country has every justification to dwell more on what is not right, especially as Nigeria goes through a difficult period of recession.

Odunuga was addressing newsmen at a forum in London in celebration of Nigeria’s Independence Day, which he tagged, ‘Nigeria and the Unity of all Tribes.’

 

He stated that there are so many blessings we have as a nation, which other countries can learn from, adding that those are the factors we should be thankful for as we grow older.

 

Highlighting the blessings he meant in his speech, Odunuga, who is a an ex-serviceman in the British Army said agriculture, abundant rainfall and predictable weather forms a very vital background for the growth of the agricultural sector in the country.

He reflected on the period when Nigeria was a major contributor to agricultural exports to other parts of the world, while expressing optimism that very soon, Nigeria shall reclaim her place in the realm of agricultural exportation and relevance.  

 

He said, “Every country has its own peculiar problem and so, Nigeria as it were, is not isolated where issues concerning the economy is concerned. Globally, nations are passing through a difficult period. Even Saudi Arabia that seemed to have everything under control is heaving under the weight of the crash of oil prices.

“They are not alone. So many countries are battling with acute recession and so, Nigeria is not alone. In fact, if I am permitted to say so, Nigeria has more prospects where getting quickly out of recession is concerned. We were once known as a major exporter of cocoa, groundnuts and other natural resources, we still have the capacity to get back our envied position in that area.  

“I have lived outside the country for more than two decades and I can say categorically that most of the super countries Nigerians like to refer to in terms of growth cannot boast of the type of fertile land we have in this county.

“We have human and natural resources in abundance. Not only that, we have a government that is focused and ready to assist farmers harness their full potentials. As the world goes through a very arduous period, Nigeria is likely to snap out of her difficult period as soon as we begin to take the issue of agriculture more seriously.”

 

Commenting on the issue of security and the effect of poverty on the safety or people due to the soaring level of unemployment, Odunuga said social security and service is one of the areas he hopes to be able to guide the government through within the shortest time possible.   

He said, “Let’s not run away from the truth, poverty, lack of employment, economic hardship and total lack of social service contributes largely to rising crime rate. Even in counties where social services are readily available to citizens, you find out that there are still so much sophisticated crimes going on. So, you could imagine what would be happening in a country where most people are literarily, on their own. When there is no hope and people don’t have a place to go to for counseling, solace and funds, they resort to crimes.

“In advanced countries, so much is put into place to alleviate the suffering of people. You have council flats for families with children; you have job centers to help with job search, there are provisions put in place for unemployed or unemployable people and so on; yet, there are crimes everywhere. 

“That’s why people like us who have worked in the system of countries where such amenities are provided are desirous of coming back home fully to be involved in the way things are run and done.”  

“‘Nigeria and the Unity of all Tribes’ may soon become a regular slogan because Babatunde Odunuga has expressed his readiness to begin to work with men, women and youths in Nigeria to achieve this.

“This is a workable project and I’m going to start working on it from my Surulere, Lagos constituency. I grew up in Lagos and as you know, Lagos is a cosmopolitan city where people of all tribes have lived in peace for hundreds of years. You have intermarriages, inter-religious events and the grandparents of most people who claim Lagos to be their state of origin today came from different parts of the country and even the world. If the unity of different people of different backgrounds has worked in Lagos for years and worked in Nigeria too, it must continue to work.

 

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