By Eseoghene Emuke
As Nigeria marks its 59the Independence Day Anniversary, the immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, says the country is on the right path for self-discovery and socio-economic greatness.
The former governor, however, urged Nigerians to focus and work towards the country’s unity and progress.
In an Independence Day Message to felicitate with Nigerians, the Delta South Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections, said in spite of the challenges facing the country, there are a lot to celebrate.
Uduaghan, in a statement personally signed by him, assured that Nigeria would continue to remain one and indivisible country where the aspirations of the citizens will be meant.
He said, “Every nation has their manifest challenges. Every great nation we admire has undergone political and socioeconomic pruning to arrive at an enviable position.
“Nigeria, 59 years on, has been through a lot -beginning as a thriving economy between 1960-66, interrupted by a devastating civil war within the same decade of attaining full independence, then thirty years of military rule.
“This is the first time we are experiencing twenty years of democracy -the longest civilian rule in our 59-year history. All our challenges notwithstanding, Nigeria is still one big indivisible entity.”
While urging Nigerians to use the celebration to strengthen the country’s unity, the former governor added, “In the face of our challenges, there are still things to be thankful for as a nation. It is better to use this occasion to focus on the things that unite us, while moving away from issues that drag us backward in our quest to be a progressive nation.
“We are a nation blessed with diversity and young population. Harnessing them with a thriving private sector will set us on a path of prosperity and provide the right environment for more investments.”
“The task of making Nigeria great is a collective responsibility by all Nigerians. Various arms of Government have their responsibilities, while as citizens, we have ours.
“With a more understanding National Assembly, whose members are ready to work in harmony with the Executive, and the newly formed Economic Advisory Council, full of economic experts, there is hope that we are on the right path to economic recovery as a nation”, Uduaghan further stated.
