…As govs, others sue for peace
As the nation marks its 54th Independence Day today, United States President, Barack Obama, has acknowledged the invaluable role of Nigeria on the African continent and the world at large.In a message addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan and made available to Daily Sun in Abuja by the United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria, Public Affairs Session, Obama noted that Nigeria continued to play a key leadership role in Africa and at the United Nations in promoting regional peace and stability.
Mimiko pardons 15 prisoners
Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has pardoned 15 prisoners serving different jail terms in the state to mark the nation’s 54th Independence Anniversary.
According to a statement issued by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, the governor’s gesture was in line with the power conferred on him by section 212 (1) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). They were all granted pardon on the ground of good conduct.
We’ve no reason to be poor -Atiku
Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar has bemoaned the disconnect between those in government and the average Nigerian, saying the ordinary Nigerians were still not certain what independence meant to them because of the widening gap between the leaders and the people. He regretted that the level of poverty in the country was inconsistent with the vast resources available.
According to him, the country’s wealth did not automatically lead to better life because good governance is lacking.
Nigeria’ll overcome challenges – Ndoma-Egba
Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) has assured that the country will overcome its current challenges, especially the insecurity in the North East. He said although the country was yet to achieve the goals and targets of nationhood set by its founding fathers, the country was steadily making progress in that direction.
“We are certainly not where we could be and indeed should be. We could have done better but that is not to say that we’ve not made any progress. We’ve remained a nation. Our democracy is more enduring; our economy, after rebasing, is now the biggest in Africa and we’ve continued to be a continental and global player.”
Let’s protect our democracy – Ekweremadu
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has commended Nigerians for the enthronement of the current democratic dispensation, urging them to continue in their determination to sustain it.
Senator Ekweremadu said this in his message to Nigerians on the occasion of the nation’s 54th Independence Anniversary.
We must protect Nigeria’s unity -Tambuwal
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has urged Nigerians to work tirelessly to promote the tenets of democracy, good governance and responsible citizenry as well as protect the nation’s unity.
He appealed to the political elite to moderate their utterances and be mindful of their responsibility to the country. He said with elections scheduled for early 2015, all leaders must avoid acts heating up the polity. According to him, what was of paramount importance now was for political office holders to approach elections with the intention to play by the rules.
The speaker reiterated his call for the people to isolate and expose all obstacles to the attainment of peace, development and progress of the nation.
Nigeria will rise again – Ihedioha
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha has expressed optimism that the country will rise again and claim its rightful place in the international community.
The deputy speaker, in a message to Nigerians to mark the nation’s 54th Independence Anniversary, said in spite of current challenges relating to security and development, the country would be propelled to the top given the human and material resources abundant in the land and efforts being made by government to put things right.
Leadership, bane of our development -APC
Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the celebration of independence in the face of increasing poverty is proof that Nigeria has been assailed by a visionless leadership for the greater parts of its 54 years as an independent nation. The party said the ranking of the sixth largest oil producer by the United Nations as the third poorest country in the world was worrisome.
The Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Joe Igbokwe, said when Nigerians should be celebrating the dividends of freedom, they were plagued by a blind and visionless government that had allegedly failed in all facets of leadership.
Let’s rededicate ourselves to national development –Kwara gov
Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has said that Nigeria is destined to survive as one of the greatest and prosperous nations of the world. According to the governor, “most countries that went through trying periods as currently being experienced by the country, usually emerge strong, prosperous and united, therefore, Nigeria may not be an exception.”
Ahmed urged Nigerians to use the 54th anniversary of the nation’s independence to rededicate themselves to the ideals of national development, unity and cohesion even in the face of daunting socio-economic challenges.
Nigeria needs prayers –Bayelsa gov
Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has said that like any other country, Nigeria has had its fair share of obstacles right from independence to date, stressing that challenges bedeviling the nation were not peculiar to the present administration There is nothing to celebrate–Okorocha
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State yesterday said Nigerians have nothing to celebrate after 54 years of nationhood.
The governor, who spoke with journalists on arrival from a foreign trip, regretted that after 54 years of Independence, the nation had remained underdeveloped.
The nation, he said, had been unfortunate to have leaders who could not make sacrifices.
“I don’t want to be part of a celebration of a nation without direction. At 54, we still import water, toothpick, creating jobs for other countries while our youths are roaming the streets. I will only celebrate a Nigeria that is politically and economically independent, where the rule of law is respected,” he said.
“We need a leadership that can make sacrifices, that can build a virile Nigeria. We should create jobs, we should not be talking about doing well at 54. We should elected our leaders based on issues not sentiments of tribe or religion. If we are talking about a Nigeria of our dream then there is nothing to celebrate until democracy is practiced the way it done in other places”.
While pledging to sustain the current rate of development in the state, Governor Dickson said his administration would continue to pursue accelerated infrastructural development and human capacity building to ensure a better tomorrow for the future generation.
We need a national rebirth –Prelate Uche
The Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Uche has called for a national rebirth as the nation celebrates her 54th Anniversary.
In his Independence day goodwill message, he said: “It is time for all hands to be on deck to save the country from sinking. While our Independence day is a day to thank God and celebrate our freedom and the opportunity to be the ‘Captain of our own ship’, it is also a day of stock-taking, a time for us to look back and evaluate our successes and failures. It is that time when we look at what our forefathers, who used everything within them to fight and make our Independence possible, bequeathed to us and what we are bequeathing to our children’s children and the generations unborn.”
Nigeria shall overcome her challenges -Lagos Speaker
Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji has reaffirmed his conviction in the fact that Nigeria will overcome whatever daunting challenges that may be confronting her presently.
In his anniversary message, he said: “ While it is clear that all has not been well with our nation for so long, we must however not lose sight of how marvelous the Almighty God has been to our dear nation. However, for us to therefore bounce back as the giant of Africa that God created us to be, we must re-commit ourselves to do things right, re-embrace true fiscal federalism, empower our youths, and aggressively pursue the politics of sustainable socio-economic and human development in all its ramifications. We must equally do more in the area of deepening the fundamental principles of the rule of law.”
Nigeria is our collective responsibility –Imo Speaker
Speaker of Imo state house of Assembly, Benjamin Uwajumogu, has called on citizens of the state and the country to exhibit high sense of patriotism and support to the service of their fatherland, while urging leaders at various levels in the country to always respect the ideals of the founding founders of the country by ensuring good governance and selfless service to the people.
He challenged political leaders in the country to always showcase their love and passion for the country through transparency, accountability and dedication to duty. He also urged Nigerians to always maintain a peaceful atmosphere in their different localities, especially at the current build up to the 2015 general elections in the country, assuring that with peace, love and unity, the country would come out strong.
THE SUN
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