By Busayo Onijala
Lagos – Bishop Emmanuel Badejo of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo says that Nigerians will have the country of their dream when they work together in unity and as an indivisible entity.
The cleric gave the advice on Tuesday to Nigerians as they celebrate the country’s 59th independence anniversary.
He said that they would achieve the desired goals of unity in diversity if they did so not minding their religious or ethnic affiliations.
Badejo also implored Nigerians to make accountability and the fear of God their watchwords in all their endeavours.
Badejo, in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) , said that self-discipline and respect for the Rule of Law would also usher in true freedom and independence for them.
According to him, true development will be achieved when selfishness, greed, corruption and hypocrisy are gotten rid of.
He said that with true development in the country, able-bodied Nigerians would not be seeking greener pastures in other countries where they would be treated as second class citizens.
“When everything is in place, no one will want to escape to other lands. No one wishes to be independent from a good life of justice, security and peace.”
He also added, “The Independence of Nigeria is a work in progress and as a geographical entity, Nigeria has never been in bondage.
“We are not there yet but we can have Nigeria of our dream by working together,” he said.
Badejo also said that the idea of independence was turning to an illusion because Nigeria, like every other place in Africa, had always been free.
“Colonialists came to this land and left at different times in history. It is the people within this geographical area who claimed to have become free 59 years ago.
(NAN)