NIGERIA is set to celebrate its fifty-eight Independence anniversary, which is usually celebrated on the first of October every year, since its freedom from the colonial masters in 1960.
The Federal Government has declared Monday next week as a public holiday to mark the event.
Meanwhile, as Nigerians observe the day, our correspondent, sampled the opinions of the citizenry on the journey so far in Anambra State.
Speaking on the event, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor, who described the Independence day as the day of freedom, however, called on the Federal Government to be more serious in tackling the unknown gunmen that are killing innocent citizens across the country.
For the Anglican Bishop of Awka Diocese, Right Reverend Alexander Ibezim, Nigerians are yet to experience true democratic governance and called on the Federal government to be more proactive in providing democracy dividends across the country.
The Founder Save a Soul for Africa, Sir Ogo Ezeonu, noted that Nigerians should use the period to reflect on the concept and ideology of democracy which he observed is not in practice in the country as the voices of the masses could not be listened to by the leaders and representatives, praying God to give Nigerian leaders sense of justice to maintain an ideal democratic system that would be beneficial to all citizens.
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Sir Ogo called on the Federal government to do its best in ensuring that the people are listened to, with emphasis on restructuring which the citizens are clamouring for, saying that if the Federal Government accepts true federalism which will be ushered into the country by restructuring, the country’s indivisibility would be strengthened.
Contributing, the Transition Committee Chairman for Awka South Local Government Area, Hon. Leo Nwoba harped on the need for people to secure their voters’ card in order to express their power to elect the representatives of their choice during the 2019 general elections, and ensure more functional and people-oriented governance.
For the President general, Ohanaeze Ndeigbo Anambra State Chapter, Chief Demian Okeke-Ogene, Nigeria has nothing to celebrate, as the phenomena has remained and grown dormant and unfunctional since the country’s independence in 1960.
The Igbo leader who pray God to guide the leaders right, charge Nigerians to take the bull by their horn to address the issue of restructuring in order to bury the agitation of injustice, marginalisation and imbalance appointment by the present Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari across the six geopolitical zones.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to set-up a monitoring committee to look into vote buying syndrome that has become the order of the day, noting that if urgent attention is not given, it would truncate 2019 general elections.
The lawmaker representing Dunukofia state constituency in Anambra House of Assembly, Hon. Laurence Ezudo, who also made case for true federalism in his message on Nigeria’s 58 Independence anniversary said that injustice and conflict would continue to fester for as long as the constitution is constantly and unnecessarily breached.
The APGA lawmaker called for a constitutional review which would ensure that more powers are decentralize from the centre, thereby enabling true federalism to drive for National unity.
Weak electoral system, Security challenges, infrastructural decay, and weak national institutions are all products of what Hon Ezudo described as a bogus system and concentration of power at the centre.
He therefore suggested that the National Assembly should implement a comprehensive legal framework that would ensure political stability and uniformity for the country democracy to meet International best practices.
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