at independence in 1960, to the  presidential system. It must however be noted, that Nigeria is nobody's fiefdom and it is nobody's estate. Nigeria is  God's own country. There must be liberty for all citizens of this country.

When God gives you a land to possess, you must possess it with confidence, humility, absolute loyalty and unswerving obedience to the owner of that land. As Nigeria turns fifty, Nigerians should do self critic of how they have occupied the land, how they came to possess the land and how they have not only protected the land and its inhabitants but how they have fared with her landlord over the five decades.

At the risk of repetition, I must emphasize that Nigeria's  Golden Jubilee is worth celebrating. However, caution must be exercised before Nigeria considers herself victorious as a nation. This celebration of celebrations should be seen as symbolizing a new beginning as well as a renewal of the spirits of Nigerians. In my view, the best way to celebrate this independence is for Nigerians and the leadership to concentrate attention on its unresolved problems. This calls for sober reflection. Questions like these should war within the minds of Nigerians and the leadership, fifty years after. Has Nigeria been able to move away from social insecurity, political servitude and economic impotency? How about ideological confusion, psychological immaturity, spiritual complacency and mental stagnation? What conditions have contributed to Nigeria's inability to rise from slumber fifty years after?

I know that Nigeria is the most populous black nation and is endowed with quality and competent people but the unnecessarily prolonged military interregnum in the country left her consistently inexperienced in the art of governance. Today, Nigeria's democracy practices the presidential system of government; Nigeria has learnt to rise and fall but the truth is that, Nigeria has not completely fallen. For these sustainability and resilience in the art of democratic governance, Nigeria and Nigerians have cause to celebrate.

Fifty years after independence, I call on all Nigerians to reposition our sad and misleading historical heritage from some colonial or local historians. Nigeria is neither a historical mistake, a geographical accident, nor a contraption from the fertile minds of her colonial masters. Nigeria is not also a mine field constructed by inept engineers to be desecrated at will. Rather, Nigeria is God's covenanted "child" in this generation. A greater than Israel is here. Nigeria is the "micro" of the macro-universe, for God is the sole stakeholder in her. I know that Nigeria is blessed with mineral resources in abundance. Though most of these mineral resources have been discovered now, something greater than oil will soon be discovered in this country.

But what has the leadership of Nigeria done with those already explored? Nigeria is blessed with agricultural products of varying degrees and Nigeria has the capacity to be industrialized. This country has a viable history; she has men and women of strong intellect with enormous leadership potentials. These intellectuals have unlimited capacities to transform Nigeria into not just an African power, but importantly a world power. These are the worries, questions and postulations that should agitate the minds of Nigerians as you celebrate this Golden Jubilee.

Contrary to the robust provisions made by God for the benefits of all Nigerians, most Nigerians are still in chains of poverty. Nigerian youths are unemployed. Her corruption index is very high. We invest in churches and mosques but Nigeria reaps the fruits of nihilism and anarchism. Today, Nigeria has enough religion to make her hate but not enough to make her love one another. There is a sea of false religion being practiced in Nigeria and where the true religion has prevented one crime, false religions have provided covers for a thousand crimes. All humans on earth, Nigerians inclusive come from the same SOURCE of LIFE yet forget the essence of the Brotherhood. Why is Nigeria constantly experiencing religious crises? Despite the fact that Nigeria is abundantly blessed, most Nigerians are embarrassingly impoverished. Why is it difficult for the leadership in Nigeria to contain the onslaught of kidnappers and militants? Nigerians find it difficult accommodating each other. There is an alarming hype of tribal condescension in Nigeria. Why is this so? Fifty years after independence, what is the moral content of Nigeria's educational curricula from the kindergarten to tertiary institutions? What is Nigeria's ideology from which our children must learn and generations unborn will depend on?

Is the leadership in Nigeria making concrete efforts at educating the youth of this country along Science and Technology discipline? The election year in Nigeria is almost here. What type of election do you envisage? Let it be made known that only those destined to lead this country will be cleared. As Nigeria celebrates this Golden Jubilee, she must think of where she has fallen and strive to make amends in order to soar ahead and therefore take her rightful place in the comity of nations as God's light bearer. 

Nigeria does not appreciate the love of God for her. She forgets too soon. Nigeria is quick to forget that God brought Nigerians together to become citizens of this country. That God gave Nigerians this vast land that flow with milk and honey. That it is God that gave Nigeria the initial ability and humility to stay as a nation. That it is God that hid Nigeria's abundant mineral resources from the lustful eyes of her colonial masters. That it is God that gave Nigeria political independence on a platter of gold. God, it is, who saw Nigeria through a three year civil war. That same God gave her the initial skills and virtues to manage her human resources. For all these, did the leadership of Nigeria within the past fifty years show appreciation to God? And are Nigerians and the leadership reconciled to God after their various levels of indiscretion? Above all, did Nigerians use the resources meaningfully? Were these resources not used on debauchery and self gratification?

For fifty years, Nigerians have taken their fate in their hands, and God has taken the back seat. What steps will Nigerians take to see God's face again? Nigeria's higher institutions are struggling to get rid of cultism. The effort at rebranding Nigeria is yet to make impact as cases of corruption still reverberate in the air as government officials are still bent on perpetuating corruption.

Let it be stressed that as Nigerians celebrate the Golden Jubilee, the leadership of this country should accord God Almighty His rightful place. Fifty years of ignoring the sustainer of Nigeria is unthinkable. To Him such celebrations would be a sham, the sovereignty and liberty not blossoming, your national greatness swelling vanity, your sound of rejoicing are empty and heartless. Your prayers, and hymns, your sermons and thanksgiving, with all your religious parade and solemnity are to Him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety and hypocrisy. It's all a thick veil to cover up crimes, which would disgrace a nation of savages such as we parade. There is not a nation of the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are people of Nigeria at this very hour, yet God is here.

As Nigerians peer into their future from the fiftieth year of their existence, Nigerian leaders and government must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering for ease and convenience of the precious resources of tomorrow. Nigerians must not mortgage the material assets of the present and future at the detriment of the abundance of superior divine heritage of today and tomorrow. In the interim, Nigeria's democracy is in the process to fulfil God's mission for His people. 

I ask that Nigerians stop re-fighting the battles and recriminations of the past. I ask that Nigeria looks now at what is right with Nigeria at her possibilities and her potentialities. I ask that Nigeria accepts the responsibilities of leadership as a good neighbour to all peoples and enemy of none. I ask that Nigerians strive to become in the best Nigeria tradition, something more revealing as the covenanted  children of God Almighty as they celebrate her fiftieth birthday.

Nigerians must stand up for the  Holy Spirit in just and merciful dealings and works for  love and mercy on earth. If the Brotherhood of peoples is to be realized, all nations and Nigeria in particular must go through a process of inner renewal. The renewal of spirit, body and soul of all Nigerians, will concretize in all planes of creation, the sacred essence of this  Golden Jubilee celebrations. 

Let My peace and blessings be with the entire world now and forever more. Happy Birthday Nigeria.

His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu
The King of Kings and  Lord of Lords
Chairman BCS Executive Council and
Head of Administration.