Independence anniversary: APC, IBB, CAN, Atiku, Dickson, Daniel preach peace, tolerance

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on Nigerians to use the occasion of the country´s 57th independence anniversary to reflect on its challenges over the years.
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party´s National Publicity Secretary made the call in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
He also urged Nigerians to strengthen their resolve to build a strong, virile and united country in the interest of all.
He noted that Nigeria’s journey since independence  had been eventful in many respects, adding that the fact that the country had remained united was enough reason to celebrate.
According to Abdullahi, one of the great achievements of the country, was the 2015 presidential election which proved to the world that Nigeria’s democracy has come of age.
He said the election also provided opportunity for Nigerians ”to press the reset buttons in the governance of our country”.
Abdullahi further noted that while there was still so much work to be done to achieve the desired Nigeria the APC was delighted with the enormous strides under President Muhammadu Buhari.
He added that the Buhari-led administration had brought the nation back to the path of rectitude and sanity, ”away from the wanton profligacy and impunity of recent years”.
He said that the party was confident that with the support of Nigerians ”we can reach our economic development goals sooner than skeptics believe is possible´´.
The APC spokesman expressed confidence that the hidden potential of the nation would come to full bloom sooner than later.
This, he said, was especially so with the diversification of the country´s economy by the current administration, with special focus on agriculture, the creative industry, solid minerals and other viable sectors.
Abdullahi said that the ongoing implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), must be supported by all as a basis for realising social inclusion objectives, such as employment generation and eradication of poverty and inequality.
´´Such safety net initiatives as the Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer and N-Power will guarantee that the poor and vulnerable directly benefit from economic development.
´´Happily, the economy has started responding to these policy initiatives of the government as evidenced in the improvement and stability of the naira exchange rate and the increase in the country’s foreign reserves,´´ he said.
He reiterated that it was in our collective interest to support and remain steadfast to the cause of a united Nigeria in the face of current agitations.
Abdullahi added that our strength as a nation, remained in our diversity.
He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to restructuring, saying that it believed that ongoing efforts in that direction, would address some of the underlying concerns that had emerged. 
´´As we celebrate our 57th independence anniversary, we must sustain the hope that brighter days are ahead of us.
´´Let us join in the effort to build a more vibrant nation that every Nigerian will be proud of. The future holds great dividends,” Abdullahi stressed.
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), also urged Nigerians to embrace dialogue in resolving the country’s challenges in order to ensure peace and development.
Babangida made the remark on Saturday in Minna to mark Nigeria’s 57th Independence anniversary on October 1.
He said even though the nation was witnessing agitations and conflicts, there was need for careful appraisal of our journey to nationhood.
“The resilience of armed forces of Nigeria to curtail secessionist agitation throughout our nation’s post independence era has reduced tensions and unnecessary destruction of lives and property.
“Dialogue remains the best option in resolving conflicts and agitations in the country.
“Recent conflicts and agitations, chanting slogan of war and hate speeches are derailing the nation’s development and unity.
“As an active participant during the civil war and as a retired military officer, with the hard lesson learnt, I will never be tired of calling for the oneness and unity of our great nation.
“We will forever be ready to sacrifice for a united and prosperous Nigeria when called again.”
The former Military President known as IBB said that during his administration deliberate policies, programmes and projects were formulated to weaken agitations for secession.
“We even created states to promote mutual and peaceful coexistence devoid of ethnic, religious and regional discrimination,’’ he said.
He enjoined the three tiers of government to continue to encourage mutual tolerance and protect the life of every Nigerian who should feel at home anywhere he found themselves in the country.
Babangida urged Nigerians to pray and work towards peace and progress of the country.
He advised those beating war drums through hate speeches to desist and support the government in resolving security and economic challenges of the country.
Babangida was the eighth Head of State of Nigeria who ruled from August 27, 1985 to August 26, 1993.
Also, the Christian Association (CAN), Northern chapter on Saturday appealed to Nigerians not to lose faith in the country.
The Public Relations Officer of CAN, Rev. John Hayab, made the appeal in a statement in Kaduna.
Hayab said that in spite of the pains and failures being  experienced in some sectors, there were still many reasons to celebrate and be grateful.
“Our children must be made to see hope for a brighter future, our leaders and elders must strive to keep a good legacy.
“We should all work to ensure a peaceful society.
“Those who specialise in speaking evil and instigating others against their fellow citizens should have a rethink.
“Our government should learn to listen to the advice of citizens while the citizens should be patient with government and render honest support.
“We all should be patriotic and give our honest contributions to making this nation greater than what and where we are now,” he said.
Hayab said that the country had mourned and cried enough and called on the citizens to always look for reasons to celebrate the country’s greatness rather than being negative all the time.
“God bless our great country Nigeria and we wish all a happy 57th independence anniversary,’’ the clergy said.
In a goodwill message by his media office, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar disagreed with those who said Nigerians have little to celebrate.
The statement reads: “On this October 1st, 2017, I congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari and all Nigerians on the occasion of Nigeria’s 57th Independence anniversary.
There are those that may say we have very little to celebrate and I will respectfully disagree with them. In 57 years, Nigeria has faced many challenges, but we have overcome many of those challenges and made progress in multiple spheres of human endeavor.
“On October 1, 1960 when we gained independence, there were many nations in existence alongside Nigeria in the committee of nations.
“A number of those nations have ceased to exist as a single entity, but 57 years after the fact, we are still one and waxing stronger. That is a cause to celebrate.
“In 1960, South Africa and Egypt had a larger economy than Nigeria, yet today our economy is the largest in Africa. That is a cause to celebrate.
“And finally, average life expectancy in Nigeria in 1960 was just 37.18 years but today, the average Nigerian has a life expectancy of 53.1 years.
“A lot of work still has to be done to overcome the many challenges we still face as a nation including terrorism, the national question, sluggish economic growth, youth unemployment and a huge out of school population amongst our youth.
“However these challenges are not insurmountable. Thankfully, the prevailing sentiment is that we as Nigerians would rather remain together even as we make positive efforts to build a more perfect union along the lines of the vision of our founding fathers.
“We may not be where we ought to be as a nation, yet, we must be thankful that we are not where we used to be.
“Happy Independence Day to you and your family from my family and I”.
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State advised the people of the South-South state to be hopeful and optimistic and not to despair in spite the challenges of the present time.
Dickson spoke in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Francis Agbo, to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the creation of State and the 57th Independence anniversary of the country.
He urged the people of Bayelsa to rekindle their hopes in the greatness of the state and the country.
He paid tribute to the founding fathers of Bayelsa and  acknowledged their immeasurable sacrifice that resulted in State becoming a reality.
“But for the sacrifice, zeal, commitment and dedication of our founding fathers, Bayelsa would have remained a mere dream.
“As I reflect on their role today, I can only but rededicate myself and the Restoration Government I lead to the development ideals of the Bayelsa founding fathers.
“This inspires a renewed commitment to uphold, meet and even surpass the expectations of those who laid the foundation on which we are building on.
“My administration will never disappoint the founding fathers and the people of the state who gave us this mandate, which to us is sacred,’’ he said.
According to the Dickson, the 21st anniversary of the creation of the state that fell on Sunday is special because among other things, it coincides with the 57th Independence of Nigeria on October 1.
The governor therefore called on Bayelsa people and all Nigerians to take advantage of the double celebrations to reflect on “where we were, where we are now and where we ought to be as a nation’’.
“I, therefore, urge all Bayelsa people and indeed Nigerians to rekindle hope in the state and in our country.
“ We may not have attained the height we expect but it is also true that we are not where we were.
“Progress and development is block upon block. Gradually but steadily, we are making good progress. Our vision and commitment to a better Bayelsa and stronger Ijaw nation remain unwavering,” he said.
The governor solicited the cooperation and support of all Bayelsa people and the Ijaw nation irrespective of political differences, noting that building a great state required the support of everyone.
Dickson appreciated the goodwill of the people and promised to consolidate on the enviable gains of the Restoration Government in the last five years.
He assured that he would continue to run an all-inclusive and open government for the overall benefit of all Bayelsa people.
He called on leaders who had served and were still serving the state in different capacities not to wage unnecessary battles of division that had stopped the state from attaining its full potential.
“But to use their time and resources to support development in the state.’’
Dickson equally congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians on the country’s independence anniversary.
While reiterating his call on Nigerians not to give up on the country, the governor said the challenges confronting Nigeria were surmountable.
“If we all work together with faith in God as a people, irrespective of religion, tribe, creed, social – cultural and political affiliations, the problems are surmountable,’’ he sais.
Dickson said that he remained confident that if Nigerians worked together as a people, Nigerawould rise again and “if Nigeria rises again, Africa will as well, rise again”
Also, a leading national chairmanship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged Nigerians to build “a nation of our collective dream where freedom, peace and unity reign”.
The immediate past Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, stated this in his Independence Day message to Nigerians on the occasion of the nation’s 57th independence celebration.
According to the former governor, peaceful co-existence is key to a nation’s prosperity as nothing functions in an unstable democracy.
Thanking God for preserving the country through the trying periods experienced in recent past, he said Nigeria is destined for greatness and so “we have every reason to celebrate considering our inbuilt capacity to surmount challenges”.
While appealing to the rich to invest more in the local economy as one of the ways to tackle the recession syndrome headlong, he also urged government at various levels to provide conducive environment for industries and businesses to operate. By so doing, the acute problems of unemployment, insecurity, unrest and poverty ravaging the land will reduce as more jobs will be created for the citizenry, he stressed.
The former governor also urged Nigerians to be committed to the promotion of democracy and good governance by choosing the right leaders to make the country prosper in every sector of nationhood.