DESTINY AND THE GOD FACTOR

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DESTINY AND THE GOD FACTOR

AYELESO TOYOSI

                           “Yea, though I walk through the valley

                                   Of the shadow of death,

                                       I fear no evil,

                                  For you are with me;

                        Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

 

The human destiny is metaphorical to soap bubbles. While some never rise at all, some rise as though they don’t cause, they fall to the ground as soon as they rise and bust. In the same vein, there are some that rise and continue to move higher and higher till they disappear into heights. It is important to note that all the soap bubbles with their varying experiences are borne out of the same soap solution.

Now comparing it to human life, just as soap-bubbles are borne out of the same solution everyone born into this world is born with what I call the inbuilt ability to succeed”. This is a force that follows every human being that is born on the surface of the earth right from the period of labour. This therefore implies that everyone born into this world is supposed to be a success. Then, this could arouse this important question; “If everyone is born a success, then why is everyone not successful?

Interestingly, the answer is not far fetched and this is where the God factor comes in. The beautiful destiny of everyone that comes carrying success is born into this world, which is the valley of the shadow of death. This “valley of the shadow of death” which we call life is full of cosmic waves, which therefore tend to attack individual destiny depicted as the “soap bubbles”. Fortunately even in this valley full of cosmic waves that tend to blow up the soap bubbles so that they fall, how beautiful is it to note that some still end up rising higher and the sky happens to be their limit.

Full Text of President Jonathan's 52nd Independence Anniversary Speech

Beloved countrymen and women, on this day, fifty-two years ago, our founding fathers brought joy and hope to the hearts of our people when they won independence for our great country. Nigeria made a clean break with more than six decades of colonial rule, and emerged as a truly independent nation. That turning point was a new beginning for our nation.

Those who witnessed the lowering of the Union Jack and the emergence of the Green White Green flag continue to relish the memory, because that ceremony was not just about the destiny of a nation, but the future of a people.

That future is here; we are the inheritors of a great legacy that goes even much farther into the past.
The worthy patriots who made this possible were young men and women in their twenties and thirties. They worked together to restore dignity and honour to the Nigerian people. Their resolve united a multicultural and multilingual nation of diverse peoples, with more than 250 distinct languages and ethnic groups.
In 1960, our diversity became a source of strength, and the new leaders resolved to carry the flag of independence for the benefit of future generations. They had their differences, but they placed a greater premium on the need to come together to build a new nation.
It is that resolve, and that glorious moment that we celebrate today. We also celebrate the patriotism of our heroes past: Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Michael Okpara, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Herbert Macaulay, and several others who made the case for our independence.
We remember as always, their contributions to the making of the Nigerian nation, and the efforts of their successors since 1960. We also celebrate the unfailing optimism and resilience of Nigerians who remain proud of our national identity.