I remain positive on Nigeria’s transformation —Akinjide
AS Nigeria marks its 52nd Independence anniversary today, Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ms Olajumoke Akinjide, on Sunday, was upbeat on the success of the transformation agenda of the present administration.

Akinjide, in a message felicitating with Nigerians and residents of the FCT on the country’s Independence Day anniversary, signed by her Special Assistant (Media and Publicity), Mr Oluyinka Akintunde, urged them to remain committed to the unity and progress of the nation.

“The last 13 years of unbroken democracy in the country has given Nigerians fresh hope for a more flourishing and prosperous future. 

“The transformation agenda of the present administration is on the right track and would guarantee Nigeria’s future and prosperity,” Akinjide said.

She noted that the government was committed to the transformation agenda, which had seen the implementation of new initiatives by the government, such as the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) and Youth Enterprises With Innovation in Nigeria (YOUWIN).

“The SURE-P and YOUWIN programmes are aimed at creating jobs and executing projects that would improve the lives of Nigerians. 

“There has been noticeable improvement in the areas of power, agricultural development and other sectors of the economy.

“The present administration at the national and FCT levels remain committed to executing projects that will positively impact on the lives of Nigerians. 

“The government is deploying financial resources in a manner that will guarantee sustainable prosperity for the country,” she said.

The minister enjoined Nigerians to renew their faith in the country and to remain fervent in their prayers for the leaders of the nation and the FCT.

Ex-Nasarawa gov sues for peace
AS Nigeria marks 52nd Independence anniversary today, the immediate past governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe-Doma, on Sunday, urged Nigerians, especially politicians, to bury their hatchets and find lasting solution to insecurity which had since ravaged the country.

The former governor gave the advice in his goodwill message in Lafia, the state capital, on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of creation of Nasarawa State.

He said for a country like Nigeria to continue to exist as a corporate entity, different ethnic groups in the country must come together towards achieving the same goal.

“We should, in one voice, condemn people who are busy deploying various tactics and intrigues to distort the dreams of our founding fathers and sow seeds of discord and animosity where none existed,” he said.

Alhaji Akwe-Doma enjoined Nigerians to continue to tolerate one another, as well as to ensure peace and unity of the country.

Ekiti PDP boss congratulates Jonathan
CHAIRMAN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Mr Makanjuola Ogundipe, has congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan and other Nigerians on the occasion of the 52nd Independence anniversary of the country.

Ogundipe, in a statement by his media aide, Mr Femi Omolusi, which was made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, on Sunday, described the celebration as “a good omen.”

He said Nigeria had witnessed “great and tremendous achievements and developments in all spheres regardless of its current challenges,” while he urged all Nigerians to rally the president to make the security challenge a thing of the past.

The Ekiti PDP boss lauded the courage of Nigeria’s founding fathers who fought for the independence and advised Nigerians to be patience with President Jonathan as he takes steps to make the country better.

He also felicitated with the people of Ekiti State on the 16th anniversary of the creation of the state.

Nigerians deserve better welfare —ActionAid Nigeria 
ACTIONAID Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation with special interest in poverty eradication, has said “Nigerians deserve to begin to feel the impact of governance in a much improved way.”

In a statement issued by the organisation, in commemoration of Nigeria’s 52 years of independence, the anti-poverty agency said the country, which has one of the greatest potential of becoming a leading economy in the world, was yet to attain the dream many Nigerians had at independence 52 years ago.

According to the Country Director of agency, Dr Hussaini Abdu, “these potentials are still achievable, with focused planning and a pro-people agenda.”

Nigeria, according to him, had enormous resources, adding that “not many nations have such space, blue and green, as Nigeria. Its creeks, waterways, rivers, streams and arable land are such that without mineral resources, the country would remain one of the most solvent nations in the world.”

The potential to be one of the biggest economies in the world, he said “is further enhanced with its large deposits of solid mineral resources, almost all of them at the high commercial quality. The icing on the cake was the discovery of oil which has since the beginning of its exploration thrown up the country as one of the highest income earning nations.”

He, therefore, demanded that these resources be put to better use for not just the economic development of the country, but the liberation of the mass of people who still lived in poverty. 

“That Nigeria has such huge potentials is enough reason to conclude that there is no justifiable reason for as many as 61.9 per cent of the citizenry to continue to live in absolute poverty, as revealed by government’s owned National Bureau of Statistics,” he added.

Nigeria’ll soon overcome its challenges —Folarin 
FORMER Senate leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, has congratulated the people of Oyo State and Nigeria in general, as the nation marks its 52nd Independence anniversary today.

He said although the country was passing through a difficult period in the annals of its history, very soon, “it will overcome all the challenges.”

The former Senate leader assured that since the country had successfully embraced democratic rule over a decade ago, it would surely overcome all the travails.

He, therefore, admonished all compatriots to have the fear of God, so that “we can all get to the promised land.”

Leadership, bane of Nigeria’s development —Kalu 
A former governor of  Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has traced Nigeria’s failure to develop to faulty leadership.

Kalu, in a statement to mark Nigeria’s 52nd Independence anniversary, said most of Nigeria’s leaders, past and present, were not prepared for leadership, but had it forced on them.

In the statement, signed by his special adviser (media), Emeka Obasi, Kalu said the time has come for Nigerians to be deliberate in their choice of leaders, instead of accepting anyone forced on them.

“It has become glaring that even now, we need to take another look at the current crop of leaders from the ward level to the presidency and begin to take a look at how we can effect changes democratically in 2015.

“Nigerians should no longer be content with having just any kind of leader, rather, there should be established parametres of performance, from where anyone presenting himself for leadership is coming from for proper scrutiny,” he said.

The former governor said it is obvious that anyone who does not consider public opinion, especially those of the ruled, is not fit for public office.

He said majority of Nigerians were suffering because rather than pursue programmes and policies that would be beneficial to most of the people, the government had been going after elitist ideas that further pauperised the majority.

“Inasmuch as President Goodluck Jonathan has said we should give him till next year to adjudge his performance, he should note that no sector can earn him praise or pass mark for now.

“So in positioning himself for assessment next year, the president should concentrate on the critical sectors, so we can have what to assess in 2013,” he said.

He cited the example of the ongoing flooding of several communities across the country, saying that a responsible government would have prepared for such a major disaster.

Amosun congratulates Nigerians 
OGUN State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has congratulated the people of Ogun State and Nigerians in general, on the occasion of the 2012 Independence anniversary.

In a press release signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Funmi Wakama, Senator Amosun said “Nigerians have every reason to thank God, in spite of the current challenges.”

According to the governor, “there is no democratic country in the world that is not confronted with one problem or the other, but with concerted efforts and sincerity of purpose, we can always overcome the challenges of our time.”

Amosun called for peaceful coexistence among adherents of all faiths, saying that “no religion in the world preaches violence.”

He also urged citizens not to take the laws into their own  hands, adding that grievances of whatever hue, colour or shade could always be resolved through peaceful means.

Amaechi calls for patience, cooperation 
RIVERS State governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has urged residents of the state to remain patient and cooperate with his administration to facilitate the needed development in the state.

Speaking at an inter-denominational church service to mark the country’s 52nd Independence anniversary at Christ Church, Port Harcourt, Amaechi said the numerous progress made by his administration so far was by the grace of God, as well as the support and understanding of well meaning Rivers people.

Amaechi said already, he had directed the executive council to liaise with the chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government to allocate to traders, the completed new layout town market for their businesses.

He said the government had commenced the deduction of the social contributory levy established by law to meet the demands and well-being of the people, stating that his administration would give account of how the funds were spent to justify its commitment to transparency and good governance.

Governor Amaechi, who also listed education, health, road and power as priority projects in the state, said some roads in the state were built between 30 and 50 years ago, adding that his administration had concluded plans to fix them during the dry season.

The governor also explained the decision of his administration to hand over the new government hospital at Emenike Street and the dental clinic at Garrison to Americans, as measures to sustain the public private partnership initiated by his administration.

Amaechi also used the occasion to thank traditional rulers, clerics, politicians and stakeholders for their cooperation in moving the state forward since the inception of his administration.

We must love fatherland, NOA DG charges  
AS Nigeria celebrates its 52nd Independence anniversary, the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Mike Omeri, has charged Nigerians to use the opportunity to rekindle their love and patriotism for their fatherland, stressing that Nigerians will never have another country to call their own.

Omeri, who gave the charge in a chat with newsmen, said the time had come for Nigerians to develop such strong love that could stand any challenge, inspiring them to selfless service for the nation and propelling them, if need be, to pay the supreme sacrifice for the peace, prosperity and stability of the nation.

The NOA boss said Nigeria had come a long way as one strong, united and indivisible nation under God, adding that it was too late for anybody to give up on Nigeria. 

He implored Nigerians to look beyond the daunting challenges confronting the nation and believed in the future and collective destiny of Nigeria because, with all hands on deck, the present challenges would be surmounted.

While wishing the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria a happy anniversary celebration, Omeri urged Nigerians to fly the national colours proudly but respectfully in their homes, vehicles, offices and other places. 

He also cautioned citizens against engaging in any activity capable of making the National Day anything other than joyful and remarkable for fellow Nigerians.

Comments (2)

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PLEASE TELL ORJI UZOR KALU TO STOP TALKING ABOUT LEADERSHIP
written by Uwem Essia, October 01, 2012

Am always disturbed each time it comes around that Orji Uzor Kalu who failed woefully in leadership criticizes the leadership style of others. This is a common feature with past failed leaders from South East, Nigeria. It is sad that among the 3 Southern geopolitical zones of Nigeria, States in the South East have remained the least developed and sadly former Governors like Orji Uzor Kalu are to blame.
The state of Aba, which is undisputedly one of Nigeria’s privately driven commercial hops, makes it very difficult to forgive Orji Kalu’s 8 year misrule of Abia State. There was absolutely no strategic effort to re-position Aba even when it is obvious that a well-developed Aba can provide all the IGR that Abia State needs. It is sad that while Orji Kalu’s personal (global) businesses in banking, publishing, education, etc., thrived and are flourishing Abia State sank into an abyss of leadership failures, thanks to his misrule; its towns have remained dirty, difficult to access, and filled with refuse dump hills, all because Orji Kalu and his infamous team of short sighted politicians serviced their pockets instead of building infrastructures and institutions that would outlive them.
Now that he is out of government and perhaps desiring to return to political relevance, an angelic melody of self-deceit is flowing out of his lips. Nigerians need to identify crooks like Orji Kalu wherever they are and pursue them out of the public space. Orji Uzor Kalu is bad news.

Uwem Essia

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Nigeria: The Way Forward
written by Nigerian4sure, October 01, 2012

Those who truly love Nigeria should make sure that no politician emerges as the next President of the country. Fashola of Lagos State is a reference point. As evident right now, no politician as the necessary courage to what is necessary for Nigeria. We need an a courageos human rightist, a civil and widely exposed intelectual, like Prof. Wole Soyinka, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Prof. Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, etc. Nigerians and civil societies must demand and organize public demonstration as the ROAD to true FISCAL DEMOCRACY will not be easy but achievable if most Nigerians work together for this GOAL. The present political class cannot bring this goal to pass as they are first and foremost self-centered, but not people-centered.
We need a NATIONAL DIALOGUE where the way forward can be discussed and agreed upon without dividing the country. COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP WITH SOUND MIND IS NEEDED FOR THIS COUNTRY TO MOVE FORWARD. God bless Nigeria

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