Wike Explains why Nigeria
is not progressing
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has
declared that these are extraordinary times for Nigeria, which is made worse by
the failure to successfully redefine and restructure the country towards a
progressive path since independence.
As part of the 57th Independence celebration, Wike
also paid fines for 19 convicts to regain their freedom, commuted 32 death
sentences to life imprisonment, approved unconditional release of 32 convicts
from prison and granted free pardon to three convicts.
In an Independence day address at the Sharks
Stadium in Port Harcourt, the governor said Nigerians must unite behind the
national flag, set aside the narrative of division, violence and hate, and
replace them with the narrative of peace and unity.
According to him, "After nearly 18 unbroken
years of democracy and despite positive assertions to the contrary, our
democracy keeps floundering under the watch of the federal government just as
the vast majority of Nigerians are alienated from the state and estranged from
the development process and denied the dividends of democracy.
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Work for a United Country With Equal Opportunities,
El-Rufai Urges Nigerians
Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has
urged Nigerians to work towards building a strong and united country with equal
opportunities for all citizens.
In a broadcast at the weekend to mark Nigeria's 57th Independence anniversary, the governor
called on Nigerians to shun selfish politicians and elites who are
exploiting divisive tendencies for their
personal gains.
According to him, "Rather than enable few of
our selfish political elite in their pastime of seeking personal advantage
through exploiting ethnic, regional and religious fault lines, let us build a
strong constituency that demands and works for equality of opportunity for all."
The governor said Independence anniversary was not
only a moment for Nigerians "to give thanks to the Almighty God that has
preserved us amid all the storms and stresses, but it is also a time to reflect
on how we, as citizens and leaders, can contribute to strengthening our
country, uphold peace and harmony and embrace the common humanity that shines
so brilliantly through our diversity."
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Obiano Commutes Death Sentences of Eight Prisoners
to Life Imprisonment
The Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, on Sunday changed the jail sentences of eight prisoners who were on death row to life
imprisonment to mark the Independence celebration.
The governor disclosed this during a church service at Saint
Matthew Catholic Church, Akpu in Orumba North Local Government Area of the
state.
He said the gesture was in the exercise of his powers on
prerogative of mercy on the occasions to celebrate Nigeria’s Independence
anniversary.
Obiano said some of the prisoners had spent 18 years in
prisons, adding that 12 others had their sentences reduced to various jail
terms, while some were granted absolute pardon.
He said he considered the health and mental
conditions of the prisoners in the circumstance.
Also, the Catholic Bishop of Awka diocese, Anambra State, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor,
in his 57th Independence anniversary message, said matters of inequalities and
marginalisation of some areas in the country should be addressed to assuage various
agitations in the country.
He said: "As Nigeria marks her independence
anniversary, we need to build an egalitarian society devoid of marginalisation
and inequality.
"At 57, the nation should be united and every
section of the country should be given equal representation in the polity; no part Nigeria should be an opportunity cost
to the other."
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Abe Salutes Nigeria At 57
... Donates
Transformer to Aleto, Ward 10 Eleme
The Senator representing Rivers South-east
senatorial district in the National Assembly, Magnus Abe, has congratulated
Nigerians on the country’s 57th Independence anniversary.
Abe, who spoke at a reception organised in his
honour by the people of Akpajo community in Eleme Local Government Area of the state,
said despite the numerous challenges facing Nigerians, the country under
President Muhammadu Buhari is working assiduously to reposition it as an
economically viable country, insisting that there is hope for Nigeria and a lot
to thank God for.
According to him, "Where we are today is not
where we should be. Rivers people are proud people and that is why we should
play politics without acrimony- not to destroy one another. I plead with you
not to quarrel with anybody because of Senator Abe, let's live in peace with
one another.
"I urge all Nigerians to continue to live in
peace and shun bitterness, hatred and divisive tendencies because Nigeria is
still making progress and will continue to make progress.”
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Embrace Peace, Unity, Baba Aladura Bob-Manuel
Enjoins Nigerians
The Prelate and Baba Aladura of the Eternal Sacred
Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim (ESOCS), His Eminence David L. Bob-Manuel,
has enjoined Nigerians to embrace peace, which he said remained key to the
country achieving any meaningful progress envisaged by all.
In a message of felicitation on the occasion of
Nigeria's 57th Independence anniversary, Bob-Manuel said he firmly believes that
God has a plan to make Nigeria a great country, adding however that to make the
promise a reality, every citizen needs to play his or her own part by standing
together as one peaceful indivisible country under God.
"As our dear country celebrates 57 years of
nationhood, I charge you all to be one another's keeper, to seek peace and
pursue it with all diligence especially at this time that our dear country Nigeria
is once again at crossroads," Bob-Manuel said.
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Our Strenght Lies in Our Unity, Say Conoil
The nation’s foremost indigenous oil marketing
company, Conoil, has enjoined Nigerians to focus more on those great qualities
that bind Nigerians together as the world’s most populous black country, and
ignore the intangible things that tend to divide the people.
In a goodwill message on the occasion of the
country’s 57th Independence anniversary, the energy company advised Nigerians
to deepen their sense of patriotism in order to rekindle the flame of oneness
and fortify its enviable position in the comity of nations.
While urging Nigerians to work assiduously to ensure
togetherness with a view to guaranteeing a brighter future for the country, it
implored them to maximise their common ideals to foster the nation’s unity.
Noting that Nigeria’s journey to nationhood has been
characterised by milestones that demonstrate its strengths, Conoil urged
Nigerians to recommit themselves to own and live the country’s national anthem
with the resolve “to serve their fatherland with all their strength as one country,
bound in freedom, peace and unity.”
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Ikpeazu: Unfulfilled national aspirations fuel
agitations
Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, on Sunday took
a hard look at the pace of development of Nigeria after 57 years of
independence, saying the spate of agitations in the countr was a product of
unfulfilled expectations.
He expressed this view at an interdenominational church
service held at St Stephen Anglican Cathedral in Umuahia to mark the country’s independence
anniversary, noting that Nigeria has been left far behind by its contemporaries
in the journey of development.
“It is true that there are reasons for agitations.
There are reasons for worry. We are not yet where we are supposed to be,” he
said, adding: “The journey we started with other countries like Taiwan, China,
seems to have been abandoned and left in the backyard of development among the
comity of nations.”
The governor regretted that Nigeria was marking its
57th anniversary with “despondency written on the faces of many Nigerians
irrespective of tribe, religion and geographical location.”
According to him, with the sorry state of affairs in
the land it would be foolhardy for anybody to pretend that things are working
as expected, “therefore, we cannot say that all is right; that we are not
challenged and pressed on all fronts”.
Nonetheless, Ikpeazu noted that despite the myriads
of challenges confronting the nation, he was convinced that God’s purpose for
Nigeria would be actualised and the most populous black nation would take its
rightful place among the comity of nations.
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Udom Emmanuel Expresses Renewed Faith in Nigeria's
Unity
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has said his
state was not among those campaigning for the segregation of the country
instead of seeking the unity of the country.
The governor who made the declaration at the weekend at
the Uyo township stadium after inspecting guard of honour to mark the 57th Independence
anniversary of Nigeria, maintained that the state believes and would continue
to work towards corporate existence of Nigeria.
“Nigeria will remain one indivisible country, where
equity, justice and fairness shall prevail,” he declared, adding: “We have come
too far to entertain options other than to strengthen our bonds of unity and
equality.
“Here in Akwa Ibom State, our faith in the National
Project remains sacrosanct.”
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Ortom Hails Nigeria's Progress
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Sunday restated the
commitment of the government and people of the state to the unity of Nigeria.
He reassured the Benue people particularly that his
administration would not relent in its resolve to guarantee the safety of lives
and property while providing good governance for all.
The governor made the statement while congratulating
President Muhammadu Buhari on Nigeria Independence Day celebration.
He said with the president administration efforts
in taking the country out of economic recession and the successes recorded in
the area of security, he is optimistic that the country will attain greater
heights in the present administration.
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Ijaw Youths: At 57, We Are Tired of How Nigeria is
Being Run
Ijaw youths under the banner of the Ijaw Youth
Council (IYC) Worldwide on Sunday expressed disappointment over the current
state of Nigeria, 57 years after independence from Britain.
The group said the life of an ordinary Ijaw person
had not markedly improved in the last 57 years, and therefore called on the
government at all levels, oil multinationals and other stakeholders “to reflect
on the state of the country and to truthfully tell ourselves if we can continue
in the same path.”
In a statement made available to the media in Yenagoa
which was signed by the national spokesman of IYC, Daniel Dasimaka, the group
said a large part of the concerns expressed by their forebears at the Constitutional Conference held in
London in 1957 leading to the Willinks Commission remained unresolved.
“It must be noted too that majority of the issues
we raised through the Kaiama Declaration during our inception in 1998 (19 years
ago) are still unaddressed.
“Till date, the quality of life of Ijaw people is
deteriorating as a result of utter neglect, suppression and marginalisation
visited on Ijaw people by the alliance of the Nigerian state and transnational
oil companies,” the IYC lamented.
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Gov Ahmed Calls
for Unity
As Nigerians marks her Independence anniversary,
Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has called on Nigerians to work
for and believe in Nigeria's unity and peaceful coexistence as means to attain
growth and sustainable development.
Ahmed who congratulated Nigerians on the 57th
anniversary of Nigeria's independence, said with the current efforts of the
federal government at economic recovery, the country is poised for greatness.
In his anniversary message signed by his Chief
Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, the governor said all hands should be
on deck to support President Muhammadu Buhari's effort towards ensuring
security for all and effectively tackle corruption.
“We should use
the political independence to reflect on the prospect and progress as a
nation-state in a hurry to develop its people, infrastructures and indigenous
technology for the betterment of the government and people of Nigeria,” Ahmed
said.
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Osun Assembly Calls for Sober Reflections
Osun State House of Assembly under the leadership
of Hon. Najeem Salam has called on Nigerians to use the occasion of the 57th Independence
anniversary of the country for sober reflection on the Nigerian state.
The state assembly in a statement by the Chairman Assembly
Committee on Information and Strategy, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, maintained
that though the occasion is a milestone in the history of the country, it calls
for sincere evaluation and measurement of the journey so far.
He noted noted that at 57, it is worrisome that the country was bogged
down by issues of ethnicity, nepotism and is yet to realise her potential as
giant of Africa.
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Amosun Preaches Unity, Harmony, Peaceful Coexistence
As Nigerians celebrated the country's 57th Independence Day
anniversary yesterday, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has called
on the citizens to embrace and promote unity, harmony and peaceful
coexistence.
Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun on Sunday also
called on leaders in the country not to forget the roles played by great
Nigerians like late Obafemi Awolowo, late Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello, Mallam
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Herbert Macaulay, Anthony Enahoro, among others as the
country marked its 57th independence celebration.
The governor also highlighted the need for socio-economic
development, respect for the rule of law and eradication of corruption for
Nigerian development.
In his address during the celebration held at the
MKO Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta, the governor, stressed that the
significance of the National Day celebration is to take a lesson from the
sacrifices the past heroes and also ensure that nothing divides the people.
He urged Nigerians to begin to see strength in
their unity and diversity.
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57, A Significant Milestone in Nation's Cycle, Says
Bauchi Governor
Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar,
has said that 57 years is a significant milestone in a country’s life cycle.
He said keeping Nigeria as one country since independence
is a great achievement despite the challenges it had faced in the past and the
ones it is facing at present.
Abubakar made the remark at the weekend in a speech to
mark the country's 57th Independence anniversary.
According to him, "Within the last 57 years,
this country has had its ups and downs. Such is however to be expected in any
country that is struggling to attain a nationhood. Some of our greatest achievements
are our ability to keep the country as one indivisible entity and the entrenchment
of democratic rule.”
^%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Umahi, Egwu preach against violent agitations
Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has cautioned against
violent agitations by youths in the country, advocating for peace and united
Nigeria where fairness, justice, love of one another would be supreme.
Speaking during the Independence anniversary in
Abakaliki, Umahi disclosed that he would soon approach the state House of Assembly
to propose a bill for an Act prohibiting hate speeches in the state.
However, the celebration which was well attended
almost witnessed casualties as the crowd scampered to move out of the stadium
through a narrow space created as police blocked the entrance.
Also, the first executive Governor of the state and
senator representing Ebonyi North zone, Sam Egwu, warned the youths against the
agitations and violence for the creation of Republic of Biafra.
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Nigeria's Unity remains Sacrosanct Says Ugwuanyi
*** as Catholic priest tasks Buhari on restructuring
Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, at the weekend declared that the Nigerian unity remains sacrosanct, stressing however that
Nigerians deserved to be treated justly and fairly irrespective of ethnic or
religious leanings.
The governor, who addressed a crowd at the Michael
Okpara Square, venue of the 57th Independence Anniversary celebration in Enugu,
noted that despite the challenges facing the country, its future remained
bright.
The governor spoke as the Director of Catholic
Institute for Development, Justice a and Peace (CIDJAP), Monsignor Obiora Ike,
asked the federal government to heed to calls for the restructuring of the
country, adding: “Restructuring is the language of equity, justice and fairness."
Nigeria Needs Responsible Leadership, Says Melaye
Senator Dino Melaye has said at 57, what Nigerians
need is a responsible leadership in all arms and levels of government which
ultimately will engender good governance for the benefit of all irrespective of
social and political classes.
He made this known in a statement issued on Sunday to the media in Lokoja to mark Nigeria Independence Day anniversary. The senator
representing Kogi West senatorial district of the state opined that "it is
not by mistake that we have been together as one country since January 14, 1914,
and a nation-state since October 1, 1960 but by a divine design to fulfill the
purpose of the Almighty God."
According to him, given emerging sundry agitations
in the country, the federal government should quickly heed to the voices of reason
by giving attention to the most genuine concerns being expressed by the people wherever they
may be.
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