"In a goodwill message by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, the Senate President said: “We are yet to get to the level of our dreams, nobody can deny the fact that we have recorded some landmark achievements since the colonial masters left our shores. ”Besides the infrastructural developments across the country, we now have skilled and qualified manpower in virtually all fields of human endeavour.” He therefore, implored Nigerians to renew hope and faith in the “capacity and capabilities of our people to rise to a level where citizens could enjoy an internationally acceptable standard of living, thus earning the status of a developed nation.” Our challenges are surmountable — Tambuwal House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, said though Nigeria was passing through tough times, the challenges confronting the nation were surmountable. Nigeria will be great! –Dr. Mimiko “God knows that we are working for the progress of our people. Our youths who are jobless will soon see the wonders of God. You will know that God is behind us in terms of job opportunities that will soon open up. “In the nearest future, many will come to Nigeria for greener pastures and our people will smile again. We will lift our people from the brink of poverty and joblessness and we are not looking back. All hands must be on deck to ensure that the nation’s unity is not compromised. In his congratulatory message to Nigerians, he said the nation’s unity is her strength and that everything should be done to safeguard it. – Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Governor of Ondo State. "Today marks 53 years of our Independence as a nation. First and foremost, I would like to say congratulations to us all. Through thick and thin, we have built this country together. Through triumphs and trials, we have developed a Nigerian identity in our own way. In truth, Nigeria is still a work in progress and we are challenged everyday to keep building in spite of the various obstacles that we face. Our strength has been in our diversity. If we look back over the years, we can say confidently that there is every reason to celebrate. I admit that these may not be the best of times for our nation. Our people are divided in many ways – ethnically, religiously, politically, and materially. I cannot hide from this reality. I cannot hide from my own responsibilities. As we prepare to mark the centenary, therefore, today offers us an opportunity to reflect on our long journey to nationhood and the progress we have made so far. Whatever the challenges that we may face, we have every reason to be proud of our national accomplishments; we have every reason to remain proud and optimistic. Our collective national journey has witnessed great watersheds, thanks to our spirit of endurance, perseverance and sacrifice. Getting the rest of the job done with determination and courage is just a matter of time. We are Nigerians, a nation of talented people, endowed with resources, potentials, and Divine Grace. In our journey to greatness as a nation, we have built an economy that is robust and erected enduring infrastructure and institutions of democracy. Our social system is now more inclusive, open and compassionate. We are waging a steady battle against poverty, unemployment, and corruption. Our sense of community, solidarity and shared expectation is strong and capable of withstanding the present social, economic and political challenges that still confront us. In saying this, I am reminded of the comments I made a week ago to a cross-section of Nigerians in New York during the 68th United Nations General Assembly. I declare now as I declared then: we have a duty as Nigerians, whatever may be our differences or prejudices, to always put Nigeria first. Our politics should be an art of patriotic labour and selfless service to the community, particularly by the political elite who are placed in positions of great trust and responsibility. Politics has its own high moral principles which abhor distracting and divisive rhetoric. As men and women in leadership, we must continually focus on service, duty, responsibility, and the next generation. Those who are elected to govern at all levels must focus on improving the lives of our people, not selfish ambition. In the words of the American theologian and author, James Freeman Clarke, ‘a politician thinks of the next election; a statesman of the next generation’. Whether we are Muslims or Christians; rich or poor; from the North or the South; East or West; regardless of our political affiliations, this is the time for every one of us to be a statesman! My clarion call therefore, on this special day, is that we should begin to align our political utterances and conduct solely to the nobler passions that unite our people. Politicians do not make a nation; ordinary folks do. Our nation is made great by the big and small efforts of regular citizens. These are the teachers and men and women in academics who inculcate the knowledge and wisdom that transform into tomorrow’s wealth; the traders and market women who tend to our everyday needs; the farmers whose labour feeds the nation; the artisans whose work ensures that our homesteads are well maintained; the doctors, pharmacists, nurses, accountants, bankers, engineers, and other professionals who add value to our lives; the sportsmen and women and those in the creative industry who bring honour and fame to our nation; And the men and women of our armed forces and security services who toil day and night so that you and I may live in a safe and secure nation. It is the individual and collective heroism of these regular folks that has placed our nation on the path of greatness. Politics and politicians sometimes distract the people and create unnecessary tension. But our independence celebration is about the same people, the people of Nigeria: their industry, sense of mission and purpose, and their patience and perseverance as we navigate historical turns in our march towards prosperity and self-sufficiency. Today, I salute the people of Nigeria..."~ President Goodluck Jonathan. NIGERIA-AT-53
Posted on: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 08:55:14 +0000
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