Former Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba SAN, has stated that nation-building is an unending process and that no country ever truly reaches a final destination called “democracy” or full development.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Cross River State Council, he emphasized that the only viable path forward for Nigeria is continual progress, despite the many obstacles and internal challenges the country faces.
Describing Nigeria’s journey like that of a marriage, Senator Ndoma-Egba explained that just as marital unions go through romantic, realistic, and even bitter phases, so too does a country evolve through complex stages.
He stressed that commitment is what sustains both marriage and the nation. “You just say to your husband, ‘no matter how useless you are, I am not leaving you,’ and vice versa. It’s that same kind of commitment that is keeping Nigeria together,” he said, noting that no serious-minded person truly wishes for Nigeria’s breakup.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s 65 years of independence, he remarked that while the country may not have achieved all its goals, it has certainly made significant progress.
He acknowledged the nation’s challenges but maintained a hopeful outlook, calling on Nigerians to “keep moving forward.”
According to him, “65 years in the life of a nation is still very young,” especially when compared to developed countries with centuries of evolution.
Speaking further on Nigeria’s history, the Senator, who is also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti, walked down memory lane, recounting experiences of colonial rule, the struggle for independence, the civil war, multiple coups, and the evolution from regions to the current 36 states.
He pointed out how at one point Nigeria’s major challenge was not lack of funds but rather deciding how to spend the excess wealth.
According to him, this wide spectrum of experiences within a single lifetime is unusual and, in other nations, would span multiple generations.
“Elsewhere, your great-grandfather would tell you of the fight for independence. Your grandfather would talk about the civil war. But in our case, all of this has happened in one lifetime. It’s a cocktail of experiences,” he said, adding that such compressed history could easily overwhelm the mental health of a people.
In spite of the challenges, he described Nigeria’s unity as “a miracle,” given the social, political, and economic upheavals it has endured.
“We are still one nation. That in itself is a major achievement. Forget those miscreants who don’t know what they’re saying about breaking up Nigeria. No sane Nigerian wants that,” he asserted confidently.
Senator Ndoma-Egba concluded by reiterating that nation-building is a continuous process with no clear endpoint. He pointed out that even developed countries like the United States are showing signs of decline in democratic values, reminding Nigerians that “development is not a straight line.”
He urged citizens to remain patient, committed, and optimistic as the country continues its journey towards a more stable and prosperous future.
No country is fully built, no destination called democracy – Senator Ndoma-Egba