The Anambra State governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has said despite Nigeria’s challenges, her future is greater than today, urging Nigerians to see hope for a greater tomorrow.
Soludo made this known on Tuesday at the Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, the state capital, during a ceremony to commemorate Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day celebration.
The governor said Nigeria is destined as the largest black nation on earth in terms of population and also ranked as the largest economy in Africa.
He said, “For 64 years, we have been striving to build this perfect nation, with all the challenges – civil war, strife, and our triumphs. We have made progress and leaps in various ways, but we still live with our challenges.
“Today, my own message to Nigeria and ndị Anambra is that despite our challenges, our tomorrow will be greater than today. Our tomorrow will be brighter. I see hope. I see prosperity. I see the joy that the dream of our founding fathers – Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Saduana of Sokoto, Amadu Bello, and all the leaders who flew the flag at Independence indeed, as we pray in our national anthem, their labours will never be in vain.
‘Nigeria is destined as the largest black nation on earth in terms of population. Just a few years ago, we also ranked the largest economy in Africa.
“Yes! We have slipped; yes, we have challenges. And even on this occasion, we remember the victims of all the huge floods that just ravaged a few states. We are still waiting patiently and praying that it doesn’t come with the same kind of ravage on Anambra State, but we remember all the victims at this hour: all those who suffer all kinds of challenges- poverty, inequality, millions of children out of school, those suffering from malnutrition, even in the land of plenty.
“We remember all of you today and pray that those of us in public service and indeed all Nigerians will come together through collective action to build upon the foundations already laid by our founding fathers – that Nigeria, with peace and plenty, may be blessed.
“This is a moment that we recall all those dreams that these people had. Our prayer is that Nigeria will not only be the largest black nation on earth but will soon become one of the top five largest economies in the world. Nigeria can, if we all put our resources together, collectively aspire and work hard to make Nigeria greater than our founding fathers ever dreamt.”
Soludo also described Nigeria as a land blessed with abundant human and material resources and vibrant youths.
“Wherever we fail, our prayer is that these youths will take up from our failings and make Nigeria great. That’s why we must work very hard to make sure we give these children all the enablement that they require to be able to have a secured future because it is only when they have a secured future that they can secure Nigeria.
“On this particular occasion, I want to particularly thank the members of the armed forces, the federal forces, and the security agencies who are working extremely hard to secure our state and make our state safer. I will not also forget our own Anambra Vigilante service, which is also doing quite admirable jobs and other paramilitary institutions. We commend all of you for all your services.
“At this moment, we appreciate our past and celebrate our past triumphs while also dealing with the future. Just last week, here in Anambra, we made a few triumphs. By the way, I’ll never forget that last Saturday, we kept one of the cardinal promises we made to ndị Anambra, and that was to deepen the democratisation process at the grassroots.
“The last local government election was conducted in Anambra some ten years ago. We made a promise, which I affirmed during my swearing-in, that once we finished putting in the institutional and legal frameworks, we were going to organize local government elections. That promise was kept last Saturday with the conduct of what many have adjudged to be one of the most credible, free, fair, transparent local government elections in Nigeria,” he added.
