I can remember during my primary school days, we all looked forward to celebrating October 1st in grand style, preparing solidly and consistently to have a "perfect" match past parade on welcoming the governor and important dignitaries of the state.
Similarly, my secondary school days at CIA, we all looked forward to Independence Day celebration as we had a tradition of having a rally round the community with us all donning green and white which was also used by the school for advertisement. In all, the joy and happiness we, the students derived from celebrating the country’s independence, waving the flag were notably inspiring.
But today, what do we have? Angry citizens who even give warnings and threats against celebrating our fatherland
"Our flag shall be a symbol that peace and justice reign". Coined from the second stanza of the old national anthem, today the flag now has blood stains, leaving us to describe the symbol in our own words and understanding.
Someone asked: what exactly are we celebrating? Expensive standard of living? – not high standard of living this time around. Bad roads? Unemployment? Injustice? Human rights being violated continuously? Insecurity? A fall in the value of our currency?
Arise O’, compatriots, it’s time we stood for what is right by getting our PVC and also ensuring that we don’t get swayed by campaign strategies; use our dignity to vote rightly so we can join hands together and make this nation a better place to live in.
The labours of our heroes shall never be in vain.
Obiyo Ifeomachi is an HND2 student of the department of Pharmaceutical Technology
