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By Madu Obi
AS Nigeria marks her 64 years as an independent nation, Valentine Obienyem, the media adviser to the former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi has asked the country's leaders to openly express remorse for betraying their people.
He said that while one is not suggesting that a 64-year-old country has no right to congratulate itself, the question remains whether the congratulation should be for failure or for success.
He said it was on that basis and understanding that he supports the Independence anniversary protest, provided it remains peaceful.
He said: "Nigerians must seize every opportunity to remind our leaders that we are all sitting on a powder keg in this country.
"What we truly need in Nigeria is mourning. We should have donned sackcloth and ashes today and not engage in match pass. Our leaders need to openly express remorse for the betrayal of so much faith and hope.
"Nigerians should have gathered under trees to review the state of the nation among themselves, striving to teach one another the lessons of history: the rise, progress, decay, and fall of nations, and how, through accidents, errors and foolishness prevalent in Nigeria over the years, these great changes and failures occurred. Most importantly, we should discuss how they may be repeated or avoided.
"Through various social media platforms, we should remind one another that all the factors making for revolution are all with us today.
"We should also remind one another how revolution commence and how they are carried out and by what a fatal chain of circumstances the wisest men are driven far the limits of moderation, and by what impulses an enraged people is precipitated into excess at the very thought of which they would have shuddered.
"We are at a crossroads. We know what is happening today, but no one can predict what tomorrow will bring. We need leadership that understands this reality and acts decisively to steer us in the right direction."
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