Former Nigeria Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has said that the past mistakes by the nation’s leaders can only be corrected through collective efforts of all Nigerians and not continuous lamentation.
In a message of solidarity to Nigerians on the 56th Independence of the country today, Saturday, Atiku described the situation the country is going through at the moment as turbulence, which he said “may cause some citizens of our country to feel that all hope is lost, that there is nothing worth celebrating.”
He admitted that the leaders might have made some mistakes in not being frugal at the time of surplus and that our policy makers kept on living in denial when this recession could have been nipped in the bud, but that the mistake made should not give the citizens erroneous belief that the antidote to resolve the crisis lies with any one man/woman or the government alone.
“We all must come together as patriots to fight back this ugly situation.”
Atiku said that the current economic crisis is not a time for grief, regret or recrimination, saying that it is an opportunity “for all of us to roll up our sleeves and support the government in the arduous task of revitalizing the core elements of our national economy.”
He noted that Nigeria is witnessing an increasing loss of foreign confidence in the ability of Nigerians to resolve the economic downturn amidst the slowing down of badly needed foreign investment, which has decelerated economic development that is so essential to the well-being of the ordinary Nigerian.
“The average Nigerian is worried about the state of things and yearning for a vibrant economy within a peaceful and stable environment so that he/she can carry on with daily endeavours to make ends meet.
“This time demands that we cut our coat according to our cloth, but more than anything else it demands that we lend a helping hand to one another and form a formidable coalition to push back the recession. We didn’t come to this state by our own choice.”
Atiku expressed confidence that the Nigeria of today is faced with great opportunities, immediately and in the near future, saying: “we are making significant headway in our fight against the scourge of corruption. We are at the zenith of producing our own food and aggressively diversifying our economy. We are in the process of empowering our youths and adequately subsidizing our small business owners. We are ensuring massive harvesting and full utilization of all of our natural resources. These are lofty goals and great challenges, but I am confident that, together, we can accomplish them with ease. No problem is insurmountable if we embrace peace and eschew those views that divide us as a nation.
“Governments, corporations and private businesses must do all they can to ensure that people keep their jobs. Despicable as this moment may be, it must call to task the creativity of our young people to innovate and create unique opportunities. We must fight back at this recession on our own terms. We must never allow it to defeat our creative prowess or set us back on terms that we are not prepared for.
“Fifty-six years ago when our heroes negotiated our independence from colonial authorities, the immediate threat before us as a budding country was how to establish a political order that would be enduring and serve the needs of our people. Several years down the line and in spite of the very many upsets along the way, we have been able to establish a democratic political order that has made our governments predictably periodic and more accountable.
“I have spent a lifetime fighting for our citizens inside and outside the government, and I stand on this day of pride to assure all Nigerians that we shall all face the challenges together. This I know is not a job for one man/woman but a job for all of us.
“I stand with our President in his quest to right the turbulent ship of Nigeria. I call on all Nigerians to join hands and unite behind the common goal of making Nigeria a great nation in our lifetime.
“My belief in Nigeria is unflinching and my optimism is boundless. We must get our country on the right path to greatness. Failure is not an option!
Right now, the challenge before us is to create an enduring economic order that will not only accommodate and reward the entrepreneurial instinct of Nigerians, but one that will guarantee prosperity for us all.
“And this moment, as ugly and despicable as it may seem, is our best take off opportunity for a long marathon to a new and brighter economic dawn.”
In his Independence Anniversary statement too, the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, described the independence anniversary of the nation as 56 years of challenges and triumphs, which he said Nigerians should be thankful to God for.
Ikpeazu called on Nigerians to continue in prayers for the country and her leaders, especially now that the nation is undergoing serious socio-economic challenges.
“The Federal Government has declared that our economy is in recession and it is obvious to all that we are experiencing serious economic challenges. From shortfall in the revenue accruing to the component states of the federation to other macro-economic challenges, the truth remains that these are tough times for citizens of our great nation. However, we are confident that it will not last long. This too shall pass.
“In Abia State, the economic challenges has affected our finances and by extension, our ability to meet some of our pressing needs but we are not despairing. We are supremely confident, as a people, that we have the means and the enablement to overcome the most serious of our challenges. We will look inwards, dig deep and leverage on our comparative advantages to overcome our trials.”
