It was the occasion of Nigerian centenary celebration, and President Jonathan gave an address as part of the programme of events. Many Nigerians were worried about the need to have gone ahead with the celebration giving the reecent massacre of able young minds in Yobe by suspected terrorist group.
Some felt the Nation was to be in mourning and such celebration was in-congruent with our present realities, while others felt stepping it down could have at least meant some regards for the lost of the loved ones. Able young minds they were; leaders of tomorrow.
At any rate, the events went on amidst fireworks and fanfare and this was what my friend had to say.
"With his national broadcast last Wednesday focusing mainly on the
centenary celebrations, President Jonathan missed a golden opportunity
to assure the citizens of Nigeria of their safety and well being. I
could imagine how a President Obama would have started that speech in
respect of the same breach of American security: 'On Sunday, we lost 59 students to terrorists who invaded our Unity
school to spread their campaign of hate and division. They burnt down
the school and leveled it to the ground. On Monday, the same gang of
killers invaded a village in Adamawa and shot at everyone and everything
in sight. Many of our citizens lost their lives. I have summoned a
meeting of my service chiefs and I have instructed that the Army and Air
force immediately go after these guys and pursue them to their holes.
They shall have no hiding place. We shall unearth them
from every hiding hole. It is unfortunate that this is coming at a time
we are celebrating our hundred years of nationhood, when our very union
is at stake and we are doing everything to cement that unity. It is
ironic that these people chose to attack one of the very symbols of our
togetherness, a Unity School.
I have decided to scale down the centenary celebration. We shall now use
the occasion to celebrate our brothers and sisters who lost their lives
to these senseless and unwarranted killings. Never again would agents
of darkness be allowed to roam our streets with the freedom they refuse
to grant others. America will not go to sleep and allow this nonsense to
have any impact on any of our citizens. My National Security Adviser
has been mandated to report the latest developments to me on an hourly
basis. My heart reaches out to these victims and their families.
Michelle and I offer our condolences to a grieving nation. We promise to
do
everything possible to protect innocent kids who are the future of this
country. We must all resolve to say Never Again. God bless America! -
President Barack Obama"
I was moved with goose bumps when i read this write up. I felt it was a President Obama talking, and i really had no doubt that the character of the write up shows the same. What moved me most was that what it showed that we have Nigerians with this same character that we so much cherish and admire about others. Nigeria is blessed with able young minds with the character and requisite skills to turn the fortune of this country positively. I do not have any doubt about this, but i wonder why we still suffer so much in the midst of plenty.
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