Our alliance as a people living under the umbrella called Nigeria did not come by accident—we have been designed to live that way by destiny. What good is it when we wrestle with those things we cannot change? Leaving your footprints in the sand of history wherever you go in life is the hallmark of a great man or woman. Posterity will judge you by how many lives you changed and how many people you were able to move from obscurity to the limelight.
The reason why you are not blind is to provide sight and vision for the blind. It’s no use having a pair of eyes and not being able to help the blind cross the street to the other side. It’s no use having a pair of eyes without using your abilities to put the blind through the pain of identifying the colours of his choice. You are rich for various reasons—chief amongst them is to bail out the poor in the time of needs, and help him when he cries to you for help. Let your wealth spread to the right branches—touch lives and let the people around you feel the full weight of your riches in a positive way.
The dumb cannot speak, but your ability to speak out when he is being unduly cheated is the reason why you have the ability. Do not keep or stay silent when the poor is being trampled upon by the heartless of the society. Speak out when a cruel government official is being overzealous. While cruelty and unpatriotic acts cannot be stamped out in a single effort—refusing to stay quiet in a single act of wickedness against the oppressed can be the inspiration the society needs.
Though, we have come a very long way as a nation, you must realise the fact that we still have a very long journey ahead of us. Speak the truth; tell the blind what you have seen, without adding to it. At 55, we are nowhere near where we ought to be as a nation, but we will get there if we keep pressing towards the mark.
The match to freedom is a long way away from where we are at the moment; but surely we are not where we used to be 55 years ago. Hand in hand we can make it and get to our destination—but the journey starts with speaking the truth one to the other.
