Nigeria still struggling with challenges 'Al-MakuraAdemola Adegbite and Umar Muhammed, LafiaNASARAWA Stategovernor, AlhajiUmaru Tanko Al-Makura, on Monday, lamented that despite the huge natural resources available in Nigeria, the country is still struggling with a plethora of challenges, instead of celebrating conquests.Governor Al-Makura, while delivering his speech on the occasion of 52nd Independence anniversary and 16th year of creation of the state, at Government House, Lafia, said after five decades of independence, Nigeria was still crawling instead of competing in advanced races in science and technology.'We are still fighting corruption, instead of upholding transparency; our democracy is fledgling when it should have been a model after half a century. Above all, the tragedy of our nation remains the poverty of leadership. This appalling situation calls for holistic reformation of our society.'Today's occasion also marks 16th anniversary of the creation of our state. It is pertinent to recall that the desire for self-determination, economic empowerment and social cohesion was the impetus to the quest for the creation of Nasarawa State. Yet, 16 years after our existence as a state, we are still a far-cry from realising our dream of a virile state,' he said.The governor lamented that the scenario had eroded the confidence of the people in the government, both at the state and federal levels.While visiting the state command of the Nigeria Prisons Service later, he granted amnesty to nine inmates and advised others not to lose hope.Nothing wrong with Nigeria's composition 'WadaYekini Jimoh, LokojaKOGI State governor,Captain Idris Wada,has disclosed that there is nothing wrong with the present composition of Nigeria as done by the colonialists.He, however, blamed the woes on the inheritors of the legacies.The governor maintained that Nigeria has so much to celebrate on its 52nd Independence anniversary.Represented by his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, at an interdenominational church service to mark Nigeria's 52nd Independence anniversary in Lokoja, which was organised by the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Wada called on the present crop of leaders to be selfless in service.While describing the present administration in the state as not corrupt, Governor Wada said Kogi State is blessed by people with ideas, adding that the present administration had come to stamp out corruption in government.Earlier in his sermon, CAN chairman, Archbishop Emmanuel Egbunu, while acknowledging that the country was passing through difficult times, described the present challenges as temporal, while he called on Christians to pray.Let's reflect on state of the nation 'ObiSylvanus Eze, AwkaAS Nigeria marks its52nd Independenceanniversary, the Anambra State governor, Mr Peter Obi, has stressed the need for Nigerians to reflect on the state of the nation.Obi, in a broadcast on Monday, said 'while we contend with political, economic and security challenges, there is hope that if we as a people demonstrate the will, we can overcome our constraints.'He charged Nigerians to endeavour to build on the contributions of founding fathers, adding that 'when the leadership and followership, compelled by love of country, discharge responsibilities to the state, Nigeria will take its pride of place among the comity of nations.'According to him, notwithstanding the problems of nation-building which the country may be grappling with at the moment, 'the Nigerian spirit is alive and should continue to be nourished as the vehicle of our national journey.'He further charged Nigerians to shun negative tendencies and cultivate virtues of patriotism, saying that 'if we fail to work together in unity, our children will not forgive us. The society we abuse today will take its revenge on our children tomorrow.'Aliyu calls for patienceAdelowo Oladipo, MinnaNIGER State governor, Dr Mu'azuBabangida Aliyu, has urged Nigerians to be patient with their leaders, saying Nigeria is destined to be one of the greatest countries of the world.A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, advised citizens to continue to keep faith in the Nigeria Project, adding that the nation would soon overcome the current challenges facing it.Governor Aliyu said the significant progress made in the last 14 years against the background of a turbulent period of military rule, which reached its heights in 1998, was an indication that leaders were working hard to put the country on the path of sustainable development and steady economic growth.'It is not for nothing that the country has been listed among the next few emerging world economies,' the statement said, adding that with the vast human and material resources available in the country, coupled with the commitment of its present leadership, the sky is its limit.The statement called on Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliation, to support the transformation agenda of the Goodluck Jonathan-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration, saying 'only an all-inclusive government can bring about the desired change for a better/Let's emulate our founding fathers 'MarkAyodele Adesanmi, AbujaSENATE President,Senator DavidMark, has, for the umpteenth time, urged Nigerians to re-enact the indomitable spirit of founding fathers who envisaged a united, peaceful and prosperous nation in 1960 for the nation to make progress.He made this known at a special church service to mark the 52nd Independence anniversary at St Mulumba's Catholic Chaplaincy, Apo, Abuja, on Monday, adding that the founding fathers craved for a country that would be economically and politically strong and a leading force in the continent.According to him, 'what went wrong along the line is akin to a deviation of the set goals, because subsequent leaders did not toe the same path. It is time Nigerians, both the leaders and the led, must agree to reinvent the wheel and redirect our steps in the right path.'The cooperation of all is inevitable, because government and the governed need to be on the same page for progress to manifest,' he said, while reiterating that unity, commitment to the ideals of nationhood and love for one another are the essential ingredients for nation building.ln his homily, the priest, Reverend Father Innocent Jooji, called for peace, unity, love and reconciliation between and among ethnic and religious affiliations in the country.It calls for celebration 'AhmedBiola Azeez, IlorinKWARA State governor,Alhaji AdbulfatahAhmed, has said Nigeria's 52nd Independence anniversary calls for celebration, just as he charged Nigerians to reflect on blessings, accomplishments and potentials of the country.Speaking on the occasion of Nigeria's 52nd Independence anniversary in Ilorin, on Monday, Governor Ahmed said the occasion 'is a period to ruminate on our strengths as a nation, our uniqueness as a people and the life-transforming resources that the almighty has blessed us with.'We must also celebrate the resilience of our country which has survived a civil war, coups d'tat, violent political upheavals, threats to our corporate existence and natural disasters.'That we remain one of the happiest people on earth despite these challenges speaks volumes for our relentless spirit as a people and our collective belief in the hope of a more prosperous Nigeria,' he said.Governor Ahmed, who said Nigeria would be great despite its present challenges, added that the country continued to present viable opportunities for rapid socio-economic development, as illustrated by recent growths in national economy and the continuous in-flow of foreign investments.He also thanked the people of the state for their support for his administration and for remaining peaceful and law-abiding.It's not been bad for Nigeria 'AmosunOlayinka Olukoya, AbeokutaOGUN State governor, SenatorIbikunle Amosun, has said that it has not been bad for Nigeria, despite myriad of challenges confronting the country.In his speech at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, to commemorate Nigeria's 52nd Independence anniversary on Monday, Amosun said Nigeria, in the face of various challenges, including insecurity, poverty, and power failure, remained a strong nation.'I congratulate Nigerians on this year's Independence anniversary. No doubt, some sections of our people might think that as a country and people, we do not have any reason to celebrate.'In spite of everything, however, Nigeria remains a strong nation with almost limitless possibilities, deriving strength from its diversity, both of culture and terrain,' he said.Amosun said Nigeria needed moral rebirth, value re-orientation and character change, while he admonished Nigerians to be law abiding and eschew any form of violence.'To this end, the greatest service we can render to our founding fathers is for all of us to join hands together for the development of our commonwealth. We should eschew violence and express grievances, if any, in a peaceful manner,' he charged.Labour, youths protest in Oyo, OsunFrom Adebayo Waheed and Adewale AjayiLABOUR unions, including members ofthe university community, in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday, protested against alleged government's insensitivity to the plight of the citizens.The protest, led by the state coordinator of Joint Action Front (JAF), Dr Ademola Aremu, saw over 3,000 people marching through the major streets in the state capital.The protesting groups included members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan (UI) branch, led by Dr Segun Ajiboye; Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), led by Alhaji Bashir Olanrewaju; National Socialist Movement, Senior Staff of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and other civil society groups.The procession, which took off in UI, moved towards Samonda, Sango, Elewure, Bodija, Housing Estate, Favours, Bodija and back to UI.In his address, Dr Aremu said the government had been insensitive to the issue of flooding, insecurity, infrastructural decay and hike in prices of petroleum products.Aremu lamented high rate of unemployment among undergraduates, adding that Nigerians were being exploited in the new billing rate of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).In Osun State, a coalition of youths from various tertiary institutions across the state, on Monday, staged a peaceful protest in Osogbo, the state capital, with a call on the Federal Government to move the nation forward.The youth, who thronged areas in the state capital, including Olaiya junction, Okefia, Ogo-Oluwa, Odiolowo and Fagbewesa, among others, demanded for a better society.Chairman Joint Campus Committee, convener of the protest, Mr Naheem Olaore, called on the Federal Government to gear up its activities on education, especially as it related to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recommendations.Akpabio proffers solutions to Nigeria's survivalUdeme Utip, UyoTHE survival ofNigeria as acountry calls for self liberation from the venoms of tribalism, religious bigotry, sectionalism, nepotism and corruption, the Akwa Ibom State governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has said.Akpabio, in his speech during the 52nd Independent anniversary at the Uyo township stadium, called on Nigerians to bury their differences in boundaries, religion and tongues and pursue peace and unity to save the future of the country.The governor said if Nigerian leaders imbibed the spirit of the founding fathers, who did not consider their differences, but fought together for the independent of the country, the conflict witnessed today would have been avoided.'I believe we are in conflict because we have failed to imbibe the spirit of our founding fathers. Somewhere down the line, sectional loyalties swallowed up our national pride. We have tended to forget that we do not have to see eye-to-eye in order to walk hand-in-hand. Political, regional and religious differences exist and will continue to exist, but when Nigeria calls, we should shelve such differences and serve our nation with heart and might,' he said.Speaking further, Akpabio called for peace, love and unity, maintaining that if no blood was shed to secure Nigeria's independence, it should not be now.He condemned the present insecurity situation in the country, adding that violence was not a part of the noble and dignified struggle for Independence.Let's be patriotic, Makinde chargesPEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP)stalwart in Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, has urged Nigerians to be patriotic and imbibe culture of selflessness if they desire a better nation.He said this in a release to mark Nigeria's 52nd Independence anniversary in Ibadan, on Monday.According to Makinde, greatness of Nigeria is a duty that all Nigerians, irrespective of social class, tribe, ethnic, religion and political affinities, should ensure they play their roles effectively.Makinde also used the occasion to commiserate with Nigerians on the loss of lives and properties caused by incessant flooding in some parts of the country, while he called on government to rise to the occasion.Fight for independence, ACN chargesTHE Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) has urged Nigerians to gird their loins and fight for their independence from those who have assumed the role of 'internal colonialists,' thus wiping out the gains of the country's independence from British colonialists in 1960.The party, in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on the occasion of the country's 52nd Independence anniversary on Monday, said incompetent leadership, bad governance, massive corruption and lack of patriotism by successive administrations had made Nigerians worse.''A country that offered so much hopes and possibilities for its citizens at independence has today become a land of suffering, insecurity and near hopelessness, no thanks to visionless leaders who have failed to lead a well-endowed nation to harness the talents of its vibrant, energetic and resilient people. The result is what we have today: a country exhibiting all the characteristics of a failed state,'' it said.The party, however, urged Nigerians to keep hope alive and to remember that they hold all the aces in securing their independence from the 'rapacious, thieving and bumbling class of people masquerading as leaders.'The party said while it would be unfair to blame the current leadership of the country for all the woes of post-independence Nigeria, 'the truth is that the current administration has proved as incompetent and visionless as its predecessors in its efforts to take Nigeria to the promised land.'Falana, Keyamo, NBA call for sober reflectionSOME Lagos-basedlawyers, on Monday, say Nigeria's 52nd Independence anniversary call for a sober reflection, especially by the elite, on how to ensure sustainable democracy.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the lawyers, who spoke in separate interviews in Lagos, expressed optimism on the survival of the nation's democracy and democratic institutions.Mr Femi Falana (SAN) said the important task facing the political system was how to foster lasting democracy and not 'the mere celebration of independence.'According to him, 'the quality of life of an average Nigeria is better off in the past, compared to the present situation.'Falana said Nigeria's 52nd Independence anniversary should be used to evolve strategies for redressing the national crisis of underdevelopment and the consolidation of democratic principles, adding that 'our leaders must ensure the realisation of the dream of independence, which is to make life more abundant for the citizens.'Mr Taiwo Taiwo, chairman of the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said the country lacked true democrats, in spite of operating a democratic government.'We operate a democracy without democrats. Our politicians must sit up to the challenges of ensuring true democracy in the polity.'As it were, the Nigerian democracy is not so much of a plus, but there is still room for redress; I am sure we will get there soon.'Mr Festus Keyamo urged the present political leaders to take a cue from their predecessors in the 1990s.He said contrary to misinformed opinions, democracy as a system of government should be progressive.'A true democracy must begin with making the votes of the masses count in every election,' he said, adding that while the nation was gradually advancing, more was still desired in the political system.
Click here to read full news..
