Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman hopeful, Otunba Segun Showunmi has decried
the national award to “undeserving appointees and political office holders who have done nothing remarkable to deserve the so-called honor” noting that political leaders need to show seriousness in taking the country out of her woes and pursue inclusive national economic development for the common good of the nation.
Showunmi who was once a governorship aspirat in Ogun state made this disclosure in a statement sent to veracitydesk.com on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 to mark Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day anniversary.
The PDP chieftain used the occasion of the country’s 64th independence anniversary to advise the citizenry to stand up and walk adding that they are the hope of the black race. “We can do it, we all need to commit to a national rebirth” he said.
While underscoring the significant role of the government in sustaining democracy, the Abeokuta born politician stressed that the country could only thrive in an atmosphere where everyone is given a sense of inclusion, where there can be free and fair election with a deliberate effort to banish feelings of alienation.
Read the statement in extenso as reproduced hereunder:
Nigeria @64 The Urgency of National Rebirth.
Every October 1st brings my mind to Nigeria and our progress and that of the People’s Republic of China.
Oct 1st is also the Independence Day for their new republic.
The liberation day after their leader Mao Zedong known as Chairman Mao started what China observed as National Day on Oct. 1.
They are 75 since the founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) while Nigeria is 64.
Now look at the gap between our progress and that of China, is it a mere 11 years of catch-up.
Why would anyone look at our situation, who loves and believes in our role as the most populous nation in Africa as China is the same in Asia and the world?
Look at how people who were so desperate just 75 years ago have become such a respected nation doing phenomenal things and becoming the best version of themselves.
Whereas we are battling with issues that a real leader would have resolved in a few years.
It is embarrassing that at this time priority for the president is a meaningless national award to undeserving appointees and political office holders who have done nothing remarkable to deserve the so-called honor.
For had they been honourable men they ought to know that the circumstances under which our citizen’s lives especially since the beginning of the Tinubu government are nothing but miserable, frustration, poverty, desperation, wastefulness in the use of state resources, shamefully low value of our national currency which is no longer a store of value as people have been devalued into great poverty.
We are wasting the promise of democracy because we struggle to have free, fair, credible and transparent elections.
We have all but derobbed our judiciary of their hitherto honour and integrity because we have become a nation of strange court orders, and obnoxious rulings that make one query how we recruit those who have no honour nor elevated understanding that the judge ought to be lord over good order and the law.
We are wobbling and we need to reset our priorities.
We are fast becoming a nation that leaves the majority of its people behind as against a nation that is working to ensure that no citizen is left behind.
We must now stand up and walk for we are the hope of the black race. We can do it, we all need to commit to a national rebirth.
Happy Independence Nigeria.
Otunba Segun Showunmi
