Happy Independence Day to Nigeria, the only country we can truly call our own. Even though we have not yet fully arrived, with time we will get there. On the first of October, we celebrate our independence day, marking the day Nigeria gained her independence from colonial rule. Since 1954, we have had different leaders such as Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa, Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Olusegun Obasanjo, who all played their part in leading Nigeria to where it is today as we celebrate the 56th anniversary.
Nigeria is a country blessed with diverse resources, great people, good weather, sweet delicacies, and different dressing styles. Among the ethnic groups that exist in the country, I am from Akwa Ibom, and in Akwa Ibom, we have different tribes, but I am of the Ibibio tribe. Ibibio is a wonderful tribe with beautiful traditional dressing. When an Ibibio man wants to dress typically, he ties his wrapper in a pattern called "usobo," wears a native shirt called etibo, adorns beautiful beads around his neck or a piece of the wrapper tied around his neck, adds a traditional hat and a walking stick, and then you see the true beauty of the Ibibio man. For ladies, they tie their wrapper with a buba, carry a good handbag, wear a big head tie called onyoyo, and beautiful beads around their neck.
Our food is diverse and delicious, including delicacies like ekpang nkukwo, asa iwa, ato mboro, edikan ikong, afere afang ye iwa, atama abak, editan, anyan ekpang, anem ye atong, and more. These delicacies are popular even outside the state, which is why Calabar kitchens exist in some major cities across the country, where you can request any of these dishes and be served.
We uphold respect for the elderly, and we believe in it. We have various cultural plays such as ekpe, ibiom, ekpo ndak eyop, and abang. Ibibio is a land blessed with great men and women, welcoming and accommodating, a peaceful place to live.
Nigeria is 65 years old, and we should continue uniting together, irrespective of tribe, gender, or background. Let us love ourselves and reject ethnic, religious, and political sentiments, as these vices set us back. Let us stop the killings; we are one. Nigeria is the only country we can truly call our own. Even if you travel abroad and gain citizenship elsewhere, you cannot truly call it your country. Let us make Nigeria a better and peaceful place. We should see each other as brothers and sisters, regardless of where we come from. I should see 
