Osinbajo to Nigerians: We must tell our own stories… it’s important for nation-building

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says Nigerians must always talk “good about and give the very best impression of our country”.

The vice-president spoke on Friday at the launch of a book titled “The Memory of Seasons”, written by Arukaino Umukoro, a Nigerian journalist.

The book is a collection of poems on nationhood, life and humanity.

Osinbajo described Umukoro as a poet of great talent and commended him for the completion of the book.

“He is a conscientious public intellectual and very restless social activist who believes in this nation fervently and this is demonstrated in everything,” he said.

On the theme of the event “Conversations on Nigeria’s Unity in diversity: Challenges, opportunities”, the vice-president said Nigerians need to talk up the country as it is a big part of nation-building.

“The stories of nations written by others focus on their own agendas. The negatives of course sell much faster. We must tell our own stories. I attend a lot of conferences and I have never seen a conference when anyone is speaking ill of their country or running down their country,” he said.

“When we get home we can criticise ourselves but we must talk up our country. We belong to one side and that side is the Nigerian side. We must make sure that in every way we can, we give the very best impression of our country.

“Our country is not its politicians, it’s not its religious leaders, it is you and I. Our country cannot be defined by any group of people or by any political party. Our stories must be stories of our aspirations, dreams and hopes because we have the talents and resources and are already on that journey.”

Speaking during the panel session, Tolu Ogunlesi, special assistant on digital/new media to President Muhammadu Buhari, said there should be a focus on the narratives of the country being passed around.

“We need to show that the things that unite us are more than the things that divide us,” he said.

Quoting from one of Umukoro’s poem, Imagine Nigeria, the vice-president read some stanzas:

“Imagine Nollywood movies winning Oscars every other year. Funke, Ejiro, Asabe, on the global stage.

“Imagine Super Eagles winning the World Cup, finishing top five on the Olympics’ medals table.

“Imagine food baskets all over the country, sufficient to feed 200 million people, yet enough left for export.

“Imagine the UN asking third world countries to learn from the rapid development of the West only this time, it is the South-West of Nigeria.

“Imagine the rise of groundnut pyramids like the sphinx in the Northern deserts.

“Imagine those cattle on a thousand hills and valleys, whose dairy products are sold in Europe.

“Imagine Harvard in Jigawa, MIT in Kebbi; and Almajiri a cancelled word.

“Imagine the best resorts in Africa in the Niger Delta, where children swim in clean water flowing from the creeks.

“Imagine Hawaii in Akwa Ibom or Bayelsa, Disneyland in Warri; architectural masterpieces, and a boat cruise in the Niger Delta.

“Imagine that over 250 ethnic groups understand their differences, harness her diversity into strength, to become a truly indivisible country.

“Imagine the one ‘Nigeria tribe”.

“Imagine a country with focused, selfless leaders. And strong institutions.

“Imagine a country where the rule of law prevails. A country where there is dignity in labour; where justice is a meal both for the rich & poor.”

Here are photos from the event: