INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE

29th September, 2012 NIGERIA AT 52: QURANIC PARABLE OF A BLESSED BUT WASTED COUNTRY   The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) congratulates all Nigerians as the country clocks 52 on Monday 1st October, 2012. The only cheering news in our independence anniversary is that we are still alive to witness the occasion and that in spite of all odds, this country is still intact, at least to the ordinary eye.   The Glorious Qur'an appears to have encapsulated the Nigerian phenomenon in its parable of the blessed but wasted city when it says, "Allah sets forth the parable of a city enjoying security and peace, abundantly supplied with its needs from everywhere, yet it failed to appreciate the favours of Allah, therefore Allah made it taste hunger and fear because of the evil handiworks of its people" (Qur'an 16:112).   Nigeria has failed to harness its vast human and material resources and this has resulted in the tragedy staring us in the face today: unemployment, hunger, insecurity, disunity, corruption, bad roads, poor health facilities, epileptic power supply, leadership failure and boot-licking citizenship.   Nigeria has all it needs to be a great nation if both the leaders and citizens change their mindset. Leaders must be prepared to render selfless service. Followers must be transparently honest in places of work. Parents and guardians must properly discipline their children and wards. Above all, the fear of God and the love of our fellowmen must be the first consideration in all our dealings. Until this is done, Nigeria remains a blessed but wasted country.   Professor Is-haq Akintola,  Lagos State University, P.O. Box 10211, LASU Post Office, HO 102 101, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria. Tel. 234-803-346-4974        234-818-211-9714 Website: www.ishaqakintola.com Blog: drishaqakintola.blogspot.com Twitter:  ishaqakintola Facebook: facebook.com/ishaqakintola Twitter: ishaqakintola   I remain oppressed untill the hungry are fed, the naked clothed, the sick healed and the homeless sheltered