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Ukorebi Esien | October 5, 2025
CALABAR -The former Leader of the 7th Senate of Nigeria, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, has described Nigeria's 65-year journey as a "cocktail of struggles and progress," saying it is a miracle that the country has remained united despite decades of political upheavals, coups, and economic turbulence.
Senator Ndoma-Egba stated this at the weekend when the executives of the Cross River State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by its Chairman, Comrade Archibong Bassey, paid him a courtesy visit at his residence in Calabar. The high point of the visit was the presentation of an Award of Excellence to Ndoma-Egba, who has been the longest-serving patron of the NUJ in the state, spanning over 40 years.
Expressing appreciation for the honour, the former Senate Leader commended the NUJ for its vibrancy and resilience over the years, saying his relationship with the union has been "a long and exciting journey."
"You might think that after 40 years, one should be bored, but with NUJ, you can't be bored because either there is a new idea or a new crisis. There is always something to keep you there," he said, thanking the journalists for their consistency and professionalism.
Turning his attention to Nigeria's 65th Independence Anniversary, Senator Ndoma-Egba reflected deeply on the nation's political history, likening the journey to a mix of trials, transitions, and triumphs.
"At 65, Nigeria has had a heavily packed experience a cocktail of events. I have seen colonial rule, the struggle for independence, the civil war, and several coups. We've gone from three regions to 36 states. It has been a lifetime of intense experiences that could cause mental stress for a person, yet we remain one people," he noted.
Describing the country's continued unity as a "major achievement," he emphasised that no serious-minded Nigerian is calling for the breakup of the country, despite its challenges.
"It's a miracle that we are still seen as a nation. In spite of our contradictions, we are still one. Forget the few miscreants who don't know what they are saying, there is no sane Nigerian today who truly wants the country to break up," he asserted.
The legal luminary and Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, further compared Nigeria's endurance to that of a marriage, saying that what keeps a union or a nation together is commitment, not convenience.
"In every marriage, there are romantic, realistic, and bitter phases. But the marriage lasts because there's commitment. That is what is keeping Nigeria together, our collective commitment to remain one," he added.
Senator Ndoma-Egba urged Nigerians to remain hopeful and keep faith in the country's potential, stressing that nation-building is an endless journey, not a destination.
"Yes, we would have wished to be miles ahead of where we are, but so have all other countries. Nation-building is not an overnight affair. We just have to keep moving forward, in spite of ourselves," he advised.
Comrade Archibong Bassey, who led the NUJ delegation, praised Ndoma-Egba for his steadfast support for the journalism profession and his long-standing role as a mentor and patron, describing him as "a statesman whose contributions to governance and media development remain invaluable to Cross River State and Nigeria at large."
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