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A few minutes ago I saw President Obama (doesn’t it feel good to call him that) escort ex-president George Bush to the “Mobile One” helicopter and went back to the steps of the white house to wave at him as he was flown off the white house premises. That was the activity that culminated the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States of America. A few minutes before then the president had been sworn in at the Capitol Hill and had given a land mark inauguration speech.
I saw the camera view change time and time again from the crowd at the Capitol Hill to crowds in Memphis, Tennessee, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and so on. Even in the National Museum was gathered a crowd to watch on screen the inauguration process. Crowds gathered in the streets of New York to participate in this uncommon but popular mark of history. I was moved to tears especially during his speech not only because it occurred to me that he was setting in clear terms the direction for the price of oil subsequently with statements like “We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories”, but also because I felt, if we ever have any inauguration or swearing in of a president that has as many people in the country participating in watching the process, then whoever that person is must be the right person this nation needs to rule it.
I have a dream that one day, crowds of people will gather to see Nigeria swear in a true president that is deserving of the office.
Regardless of how much emotion one feels at the fulfillment of such a seemingly far fetched goal, we must understand as Nigerians that loads of preparation and strategy must have gone into the process. Even George Bush never really knew anything about Obama until about two years ago and could never have had a bad dream in which Obama was running for president on the ticket of the Democrats not to talk of becoming the President he would hand over to. He was watching out for Hilary Clinton.
We as forward looking Nigerians, Nigerians who want to see a new Nigeria, Nigerians who desire a procession like that we just witnessed today; Nigerians who want to have leaders whose quotes generations after them would stand with pride and declare; Nigerians whose children and grandchildren would learn about in their primary and secondary schools with pleasure and a sense or awe; Nigerians, whose definition of leadership would be service and progress to humanity and the society; NIGERIANS WHO WILL DELIVER THE FUTURE.
Fellow Nigerians, interestingly the 2 verses of our National Anthem define how responsibility should be divided. Verse 1 points to our responsibility and verse 2 points to God’s responsibility. If we do our responsibility FIRST, we can then pray and trust God to do His part.
So then,
ARISE!!! O compatriots, NIGERIA’s call OBEY
to SERVE our father land, with LOVE and STRENGTH and FAITH
the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain
to SERVE with HEART and MIGHT,
one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity

O God of Creation, DIRECT our noble cause
GUIDE our leaders right, our youths the truth TO KNOW
in love and honestyTO GROW, and living JUST and TRUE
great lofty heights ATTAIN, to BUILD a nation where peace and justice SHALL REIGN.

God bless you and God bless Nigeria