We Move… But To Where Exactly?

(A Democracy Day reflection)

Today is Democracy Day. A day meant to remind us of how far we’ve come since the days of military rule. But beyond the speeches and ceremonies, we owe it to ourselves to ask: Where is Nigeria heading?

Let’s be honest—life is hard. From power outages to rising food prices, inadequate healthcare, insecurity, and a pervasive sense that things aren’t working as they should, many Nigerians are exhausted. Tired of promises, tired of slogans, and tired of pretending things are fine when they’re not.

We’ve heard about “rebranding Nigeria” many times. But rebranding isn’t just about changing our image. It’s not a new logo, a fresh campaign, or catchy jingles on TV. Real rebranding begins when we address the issues that make us ashamed in the first place. When we stop exporting only bad news—corruption, fraud, violence—and start telling stories of hope, resilience, and everyday people who are doing good in tough conditions.

But how can we tell a better story if we don’t first live it?

We must begin by asking ourselves the real questions:
Are we honest in our dealings, even when no one is watching?
Do we treat others fairly, regardless of tribe, religion, or background?
Do we celebrate excellence, or do we reward shortcuts and “connections”?

Nigeria’s biggest challenge is not just bad leadership—it’s broken trust. Many citizens no longer believe in their leaders, institutions, or even themselves. That’s why the first step to rebranding must be rebuilding trust. And that trust will not come from the top. It will come from us—the people.

Let’s be clear: Real change won’t happen overnight. But it begins when we, as Nigerians, say enough is enough. When we decide that we want more than survival, we want dignity. We want fairness. We want a country we can proudly call home, not one we’re always trying to explain or escape.

And yes, the world is watching. But more importantly, our children are watching too. What kind of Nigeria will we leave for them?

This Democracy Day, let’s go beyond celebration. Let’s reflect, let’s ask the hard questions, and let’s choose to do better—in our homes, in our offices, on the streets, and in government.

Because truly, Nigeria’s rebranding doesn’t start with a campaign. It starts with you and me.