By Paul Dada
Nigeria is a country that is yet to yield her full potential. This was the submission of Dr. Olatunji Dare, an associate professor at Bradley University, Illinois, USA, and a columnist with The Nation newspaper.
He made this declaration while delivering a lecture at the 75th birthday anniversary of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, organised by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) at the Agip Recital Hall of the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
Dare said though Nigeria is 49 from the date of independence, she has not reached adolescence. “She exists in the present but is a future country,” said Dare.
The veteran journalist, whose lecture was titled, Narrating The Nigerian Story: The Challenge for Journalism, said, “the story of Nigeria is that of false start, clumsy runs and abrupt ends. It is about censuses that are no censuses, elections that are no elections’ battles fought and won that have to be fought and won again.”
According to him, Nigeria has a story of waste and drift, under-performance and underachievement despite the fact that it is endowed with human and material resources, adding “in Nigeria there is a return from electricity to the hurricane lamp.”
The guest lecturer, however, said “the story of Nigeria is also that of postwar healing, reconciliation, equanimity, resilience, faith and hope in a better tomorrow.”
Dare further challenged journalists to find a common ground despite the divergence of interests of their employers.
“The press must defend the constitution where it is legitimate and hold public officers accountable. The press must ensure that the true rule of law is embraced and must re-orientate faith in the public on what true democracy is,” he said.
He warned against the indiscriminate conferment of awards on undeserving public officers, adding that doing so reduces the press to the role of a cheer leader.
The eminent columnist praised Prof. Soyinka for his contribution to the struggle for the betterment of Nigeria.
Eminent personalities present at the birthday anniversary included Prof. Ropo Shekoni, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Odia Ofeimun, Ayo Opadokun, Tony Mohmoh, Segun Ayobolu, among others.
Adeniyi Gbadamosi [ London]
14 July 2009 21:56Nigeria will remian in the woods in as much as we have a President with awesome power but cannot use this power for the common good of Nigeria and Nigerians. Here is a president with a tail but no head and as a corollary there is no direction and there is no vision.The ship of Nigeria state is drifting everyday.Here is a President who knows the importance of knowledge in the life of a country but he is not doing anything to redress the downward trend in the educational sector.Here is President who knows the importance of energy in the transformation of a country but he is comfortable with the power situation in the country.Here is president who knows that HEALTH is WEALTH but he is not doing something about this.Here is a president whose legacy is known already-President do nothing,yet he and other jokers are already talking about 2011 and Nigerians are watching and doing nothing.But let it be said that the BLOOD of Nigerians who are dying daily for lack of want and in the midst of plenty shall cry.The Bible says in the book of Genesis chapter 4 verse 10 and 11( And he said,what hast thou done?the voice of thy brother,s blood crieth unto me from the the ground and the ground has opened to take his blood from ur hands) .
Do not say I told you
15 July 2009 14:20still in wood waiting to be eaten by insects