As Nigeria marks its 65th Independence Anniversary, Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel has commended Nigerians for their enduring courage and resilience, calling on citizens to remain united and optimistic about the nation’s future despite historical and contemporary challenges.
Speaking on the significance of the milestone, the Ogun East Senator and former Ogun State Governor acknowledged that while the country’s progress may appear modest compared to nations that gained independence around the same period, Nigeria has substantial reasons for gratitude.
“Sixty-five years is quite a long time, and when you look at the trajectory of some of the countries that we attained Independence at about the same time, one can say that some have done really well. I also think we do have more than enough cause to thank God Almighty,” Daniel stated.
The senator highlighted Nigeria’s survival of a devastating civil war as a testament to the nation’s strength and unity. “That we have gone through a civil war, there are not many countries with such a history that have survived such a civil war, and we are still able to bond together,” he noted.
Reflecting on the country’s democratic journey, Daniel traced Nigeria’s political evolution from the Second Republic through military rule to the current democratic dispensation. “We started on the path of a new democratic experiment in 1979, which was truncated in 1983, and we had the various military interregnums. We returned to democracy again in 1999, and we have successfully transitioned from one democratic governance to the other, on three or four different occasions, which means we have started a process of stabilisation, and I can only say that it gets better by the day.”
Addressing concerns about national cohesion, Senator Daniel emphasised that unity does not require uniformity. “A number of people think that unity is homogeneity. There are many democracies with various ethnic nationalities and various religions that have, in one way or another other been able to manage their differences and to attain greatness,” he explained.
The lawmaker painted an optimistic picture of Nigeria’s natural endowments, describing the country as uniquely positioned for greatness. “Nigeria is particularly a lucky location with various unlimited natural endowments, agricultural and mineral endowments. In recent times, we have found out that there is virtually nothing that is not available in Nigeria. So, we give thanks to God that at 65, all we now need to do is to get our acts together and leapfrog into the future, and I feel happy that it will happen.”
Drawing lessons from Nigeria’s civil war experience, Daniel urged citizens to transform historical pain into national strength. “Our civil war experience was such a painful and dark side of our history that we have survived. There is no one family on either side that wasn’t hit one way or the other in the course of this. That we still remain one country at 65 calls for celebration, and we must build on this dark and painful side to come up with a virile country.”
Addressing current security concerns, the senator maintained an optimistic outlook, suggesting that challenges are inevitable for a nation with Nigeria’s potential. “The security issue hasn’t been able to destroy this country; it might have slowed us down and reduced some of our potential. There is no way a country with great potential like ours will not be tested locally and otherwise,” he said.
Senator Daniel’s Independence Day message strikes a balance between acknowledging Nigeria’s struggles and celebrating its achievements, while calling on citizens to harness the nation’s vast resources and diverse population to build a prosperous future.
As Nigeria enters its 66th year of independence, the former governor’s words serve as both a reflection on the journey thus far and a rallying cry for citizens to work collectively toward realising the nation’s full potential.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
