Nigeria at 56: Crawling from Self-Governance To Good Governance. By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

Nigeria is not 56 years old- it is a journey of 56 years post-colonial rule and every Independence Day affords us the opportunity to remember the struggles of our founders- their devotion and sacrifices for an independent nation. On Saturday, October 1, 1960, Nigeria became an independent nation. What follows was Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa's speech delivered at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos at the Independence Day Ceremony. In his speech, he said: “All too soon it has become evident that for us, independence implies a great deal more than self-government”. Unfortunately, 56 years on, we are yet to experience "The Great Deal" Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa talked about in his speech.

No doubts, it is a good thing to be independent- it means a lot more than just not being under the control of a colonial master. It is more than the desire and passion for self-governance- it is a journey towards Good Governance. Unfortunately, at 56, Nigeria is still crawling towards attaining this.

In this article, I do not mean to recount our woes and problems, however, it is my intention to draw our attention to the fact that we have by ourselves refused to transcend from the state of self-governance to a height of good governance.

Rio 2016, Nigeria And The Gold Medal Of Shame. By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

The 2016 Summer Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro are over and yet a country as big as Nigeria comes home with just a bronze medal. This time, there were additional disgraceful actions and inactions from the Nigerian Football Federation and the sports ministry before and during the biggest sporting events in the world.

Where do we start from? Is it from the social media plea by Nigerian athletes to crowd- source fund to find their way to Rio? Or from the Dream Team VI that got stranded in Atlanta, Georgia only to arrive Rio few hours before their first match? Perhaps from the opening ceremony where Nigerians filed out while dressed in their tracksuits? Should we start from the fact that Mikel John Obi, had to use his personal money- $4,000, to ensure that the Nigeria Olympic team did not miss their flight to Salvador while players and officials of the Dream Team VI, were held to ransom in Sao Paulo, over unpaid bills incurred by additional officials? Or from the fact that Nigeria's Olympic kit only turned up a few days to the end of the Olympics after most athletes had completed their events? I am quite sure there are many more embarrassing moments unknown to the public.

#PMB365Days: Change, In Dire Need Of Speed! By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

I find it increasingly difficult to write about the 1st year anniversary of President Buhari`s administration, not because I care less about what becomes of his administration, but I am suspicious of how much I have begun to rage against what he has and has not done. I see reactions in some people around me, this same feeling about him.

There are lots of articles - different groups and individuals with divergent opinions and impressions about his 1st year in office. Various polls have rated him in different areas, but the fact is, his first-year scorecard seems below expectation considering the hype in which the administration sold itself prior to its election.

The Buhari`s administration has come under pressure from various quarters- with support here and hostility there; some saying he has done really well while others complained bitterly about how terrible his administration is. Friends are torn apart in the debate; comrades are not left out, while critics joined with the hashtag #PMB365WastedDays. But make no mistakes; whether you are for Buhari or against him, whether you believe he has a good scorecard or a terrible one- one thing is common, this administration lacks speed.

Dear President Buhari, The Last Time I checked, You Are Still The Minster Of Petroleum Resource. By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

Your Excellency Sir, I write you this piece not as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but as the minister of petroleum resources appointed by yourself on the 11^th of November, 2015.

You seem to have forgotten that you are the minister of petroleum resources and may have completely relinquished your responsibilities to the minister of state of petroleum resources- Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who to me, to a reasonable extent has been up and doing.

You seem to have neglected the fact that you are directly answerable to Nigerians as the Minister of petroleum resources, and owe it to Nigerians to make the product readily available and affordable.

As a reminder of what you already know- the fuel scarcity has fully gripped major cities in the country and contributing negatively to an economy that is still struggling to pick its stand.

Dear Mr. Femi Adesina; Your Vulgarity Is Fast Becoming Unbearable, Take Heed Lest You Fall. By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

Dear Mr. Femi Adesina; I bring to you this passage from the Holy Bible: “Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he falls- 1 Corinthians 10:12”. That is my message for you today. Meanwhile, I will try as much as I can, to keep it brief but concise, lest you call me a wailing wailer.

Sir, may I remind you that your appointment into your present position came on the 31^st May 2015, you resumed officially into office on the 9^th June, 2105 and on the 1^st July, 2015, barely a month after your resumption into the President Buhari`s led administration as the special adviser on media & publicity to the president, you coined the phrase- “wailing wailers”.

Ese Oruru, Yinusa Dahiru And The Tragedy Of A Divided Nation. By Ogundana Michael Rotimi.

We may not have been together if not for the 1914 amalgamation. But since the artificial wedding took place over a century ago, it is quite surprising how and why we remain divided in the face of various integration plans and programs to keep us united.

Few weeks ago when the Ese Oruru saga broke out, it again showed to the world how divided a nation amalgamated over a hundred years ago is. The Ese Oruru saga, prove once again that we have only been struggling to live in harmony with one another and always looking for the slightest opportunity to go against each other.

Worse as our division is, we are not only divided along regional or ethnical line, but we are so divided along numerous lines and that only calls for concerns for a nation dreaming of development and prosperity. One wonders how we have managed to stay together as a nation in the midst of these divisions all these years.

Let`s Talk Frankly, All Lives Matter! By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

You must have noticed that it has gradually become a norm that we almost completely overlook and feel very much less concerned when there is a terrorist attack or violence that claimed the lives of innocent people especially in some particular part of the country. For the government, all it does is to wait for about 24/48hrs before condemning the attack just casually and mildly sympathize with the victims or with their families and loved ones. For the people, all they say is- “Eh yah… Na wa o…” and move on. While those on the social media especially Twitter, continue their normal political racketeering and sides taking and showing fewer concerns for the victims of the incidents as long as they are not directly or indirectly a victim. Worse as it were, our media houses only report the attack like a flash. Like- “BREAKING NEWS: Boko Haram attacks Maiduguri”. And to me it appears like, don`t worry it`s nothing serious, people died though but no big deal…