As the nation celebrates another independence anniversary, some traders coming under the aegis of Association of Young Traders of Nigeria (AYTN) have tasked Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of patriotism and nationalism which, it noted, are cardinal virtues that prompted the fight for the Independence from the colonial masters.
The association spoke through its National President, Comrade Uzochukwu Ikejiofor, in a press statement made available to media houses in Abuja to in commemorate the 54th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence.
According to the traders, “it’s only when we begin to see ourselves more as Nigerians than on tribal sentiment that the country will move forward,” the association said, stressing that ethnicity-based orientation has been the major set-back facing the country since Independence.”
The association, which has educating youths on the need for self-employment through the establishment of private trading concerns as one of its major aims and objectives to, went on to identify “corruption, tyranny, disrespect for human rights, poverty and injustice as some of the major obstacles hindering our growth to an enviable nationhood.”
AYTN recalled that the nation was on the path of positive economic growth after the Independence and noted that selfishness and corruption especially from our political and military elites have drawn the country backward to an insignificant status in the comity of nations.
“We regret that the work of our forefathers seems to have gone in vain by the inordinate ambition of our military and political class.
“We have gone down from being a frontline nation in economic growth to a beggarly nation that now depends on hand-outs from western countries to keep afloat,” it noted.
While frowning at the pervasive insecurity in the country, the association regretted that the activities of Boko haram were negatively effecting the smooth economic growth that is being pursued by President Jonathan.
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