Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has described Nigeria’s greatness as unstoppable, urging Nigerians not to despair, but have renewed hope in the Nigerian project.
Governor Aregbesola made this remark in an independence message sent to Nigerians on the 58th independence anniversary of the country and made available to the media by his Media Adviser, Mr Sola Fasure. He reflected that if Nigeria can withstand all the shocks it went through in 58 years of nationhood, then her greatness is unstoppable.
He urged the political class to put country above personal and sectional interest, maintaining that true patriotism entails making sacrifice in the greater interest of the nation and the Nigerian people.
The statement reads in part: “I felicitate with all Nigerians on our 58th independence anniversary. I congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari and every person in position of leadership in the country for being at the helm of affairs at this interesting time and for the great leadership they are providing for the country.
“In the long and tortuous 58 years of nationhood, we have had the good times and the challenging times. We went through democratic abortion thrice, then military regimes, oil booms, a civil war and the scourge of insurgency. We still managed to produce a Nobel Laureate in Literature. The greatness of Nigerians in all walks of life is established all over the world, wherever Nigerians can find themselves.
“That we can withstand all these blows and shocks and still be in one piece is an indication that our greatness is unstoppable, and our best is yet to come.
“Nigerians should therefore not despair or be discouraged. You should have renewed hope in Nigeria’s sustainability and the emergence of a secure, prosperous and self-reliant nation.
“The political class should always strive to put the nation before personal or section interest. It is incumbent on us to make sacrifice for the greater good of the country and our people.
“We should all work hard and productively, putting an end to the culture of dependence and parasitism for the nation to be prosperous”, the statement concluded.
Packaged by Rahman Salami
