FROM MARTIN LUTHER KING JNR TO NIGERIANS
As we mark the 50th anniversary of the greatest speech, that change the phase of democracy...I am reminded in the hope and better life to come as we galvanize and solicit for support to see noble men of our nation in leadership
I present to you a re-written and edited speech of Dr martin luther king Jnr to our own nation, Nigeria
We have come to his hallowed spot to remind Nigerians of the fierce urgency of Now. This is not time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.
Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy.
Now it the time to rise from the uphill of Aso rock and to the spring stream of Osun and denounce the ethnical divisions, religious sentiments,jungle justice and move to the paradigm path of unity and justice.
Now it the time to lift-up our nation from the quicksands of ethical and tribal intolerance to the solid rock of brotherhood.
Now is the time to make justice a reality to all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of average Nigerians. This sovereignty of Nigeria people's, legitimate discontent and will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. fifty three years ago is not an end but a beginning. Those who hope that Nigeria needed to blow off steam and will now be content; will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual.
There will be neither rest nor tranquility in Nigeria until stability and peaceful environment, devoid of Boko -Haram and religious fundamentalist . The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities.
We cannot be satisfied as long as plutocrats get away with crime .
We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by legislating "Teenage Marriage"
We cannot be satisfied as long as a Nigerians ; Igbo person cannot vote in Sokoto and a Fulani in Onisha,.
No, we are not satisfied and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
I am not unmindful that some of you do not believe Nigeria can reach a greater hight because of the corruption and bad governance .... Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by storms of persecutions and staggered by the winds of police brutality.
I know many have become veterans of creative suffering(SMILING AND SUFFERING -'FELA -ANIKULAPO KUTI'). Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.
Lets all go Eagle Square in Abuja, go back to city hall in Lagos , go back to Bodija in Ibadan, go back to Isaac Boro park in Port-harcourt , go back to Onisha market, go back to the slums and ghettos of our modern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.
Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. I say to you, my friends,comrades, elder statesmen, academia,Entrepreneur,Industrialist, diplomats and friends of Nigeria , we have the difficulties of today and tomorrow.
Lets arise as men of ages past rose to defend the freedom we have today
This is our paradigm
This is our generational struggle
Nigerians , I plead with humility and sense of urgency
lets look beyond ethnical , religion and tribal line
lets forge a common goal for development and stability of our nation
lets makes this dream our dream and the dream of the unborn generation
That yes ; Nigeria shall rise
And shall put forward men of integrity
In every spheres of our polity
That yes; corruption will be a forgone issue
That yes ; Nigeria could afford basic necessities of life
That yes ; Nigeria can go to the moon
That yes , Nigeria can champion the course of Africa unity
Today . I called us all into history of our nationhood
The beauty and joy of October 1st,1960
Lets be also reminded the vast resources and human power of our people
That enough is enough of proliferation and deviousness
Nigerians , I salute the courage of today and tomorrow
That despite the war mongering ,
We have remain calm in the mist of the storm
Nigerians I hail thee
Please copy and past it on your wall
God bless you
God bless our land
God bless Nigeria
By 'Jide Adesina