His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, has addressed his fellow Nigerians to honour the 54th anniversary of Nigerian independence as a sovereign nation.
We present you with main points of our nation’s leader’s speech.
1. Nigerian independence: Optimism
President Jonathan noted that today also marks “the tenth month of our journey into a new century, having marked the centenary of our nation in January this year.” He remarked how, over the course of those one hundred years Nigerians experienced “triumphs and tribulations, benefits and burdens, opportunities and challenges,” “made some far reaching advances in building a strong, united and prosperous nation,” “overcame the forces of disunity that culminated in a debilitating civil war,” and “renewed our faith in one another, and in our country.”
2. Nigerian independence: Fighting terrorism, Victims Support Fund
President Jonathan paid respect to the victims of multiple terrorist attacks and assured that “individuals who want to compel us to live our lives their way” will not be allowed to succeed.
President Jonathan announced that, “to assist the injured, the displaced and the bereaved,” his administration has launched the Victims Support Fund.
“This Administration is committed to making Nigeria safe for all Nigerians, irrespective of our places of birth, how we worship God and our political persuasion,” President Jonathan said.
He expressed gratitude to our patriotic and tireless security forces that continue to engage the terrorists in battle.
“As Commander-in-Chief, I will continue to do all it takes to enable them to keep on inflicting devastating blows at the heart of terror,” President Jonathan said and urged Nigerians to “avail our men and women in uniform of all the support they need to fight and win this war.”
“To all those waging war against our country, I ask that you lay down your arms and embrace peace. To those who have genuine grievances, I affirm that Nigeria will listen to you, if you bring your grievances to the table of dialogue.”
President Jonathan thanked “the international community, and especially our neighbours” for their “increased partnership and solidarity,” “offering assistance in confronting terrorism.”
3. Nigerian independence: Developing North East region
President Jonathan, addressing the nation on the occasion of the Nigerian independence day, said his administration is dedicated to “to fast-track the economic restoration of this region” “despite the machinations of the terrorists and their sponsors.”
4. Nigerian independence: National Dialogue
In his Nigerian independence speech, the President acknowledged that, despite the challenges members of the 2014 National Conference headed by Justice Legbo Kutigi faced, it was a success.
“I have started by setting up the Ministerial Committee headed by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to work out the modalities for implementing the Report,” the President said. He added that “a multi-ethnic country like ours … must learn to embrace painstaking dialogue until consensus is established.”
5. Nigerian independence: Elections 2015
President Jonathan emphasized that his administration is working to ensure “that we build and sustain a democratic infrastructure anchored on free and fair elections.”
“Election days must not be days of violence and death. We must remain vigilant to ensure that our electoral process is characterised by peace, security and transparency.
“I enjoin the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all security agencies, politicians and the electorate to work conscientiously and peacefully, together, to consolidate on the gains of the recent elections.”
In his Nigerian independence day address, President Jonathan warned political leaders against “overheating the polity” and “translating the contest for power to the destruction of the polity.”
“The love of country should rank higher than our individual ambitions.
“We must remain committed to a united and indivisible Nigeria within democratic parameters. The protection of individual rights, liberty, equality before the law, freedom of thought, and a progressive pursuit of a sound economy must be our goal.”
6. Nigerian independence: Sector Development
President Jonathan observed that today, Nigeria is acknowledged as the largest economy in Africa by “every international monitoring and ratings agency,” with a Gross Domestic Product of $510 billion. These numbers also place us as the 26th largest economy in the world.
He named a number of initiatives to “fast track inclusive growth, job creation, enterprise development and industrialisation”: Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) and the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP),a special support programme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and the Presidential Job Creation Board.
President Jonathan accounted for progresses and upgrades being made in Power, Agriculture, Infrastructure, Economic, Oil and Gas, Social, Housing and Education sectors.
He vowed to further encourage “indigenous asset ownership, utilisation of Nigerian-owned and built assets, indigenous participation in the provision of goods and services.”
7. Nigerian independence: Conquering Ebola Virus Disease
In the closing points of his Nigerian independence day speech, President Jonathan commended the Federal Ministry of Health for “swift, effective and comprehensive action” while conquering the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) brought to Nigeria recently.
He, however, adviced Nigerians to “adhere strictly to all the guidelines that have been given by our health officials to keep Ebola out of our country,” since “the Ebola battle is still raging elsewhere in our sub-region”.
Concluding his Nigerian independence day speech, Presdeint Jonathan expressed confidence that our tomorrow “will be better than our yesterday and today.” He prompted Nigerians to “stand together in love and unity, as one people under God,” reminding that we are “one family”.
No comments:
Post a Comment