Daily Trust

Atiku, Dogara, others hope for better Nigeria

- By Muideen Olaniyi, Ibrahim Kabiru Sule, JuddLeonar­d Okafor & Saawua Terzungwe

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has called for national unity, progress, peace and nation-building as Nigeria marks its 55th independen­ce anniversar­y tomorrow.

In a statement released by his Media Office in Abuja, the former Vice President said “Nigerians deserve a pat on the back for their success and perseveran­ce in preserving the country since independen­ce despite the stresses and strains of nationhood.”

Also, the Speaker of the House of Representa­tives, Yakubu Dogara in his independen­ce message said Nigeria has continue to record improvemen­ts in key areas, which gives hope of better days ahead.

The

speaker

said

in

a statement by his media aide, Turaki Hassan, that although Nigeria is facing multifario­us challenges, nonetheles­s the country has witnessed significan­t improvemen­t in some areas.

The Speaker said that when compared with other developing countries, Nigeria is far left behind in many areas and is ranked among the lowest in the human developmen­t index, but expresses hope that “happy times will be here again.”

Also, national leader of the All Progressiv­es Congress (APC) Ogbonnaya Onu yesterday said as Nigeria marks its Independen­ce anniversar­y, the country is well positioned to build a great nation in the future.

Onu, who spoke at the 2015 Igbo day celebratio­n of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, underpinne­d the country’s human and material resources as enough to see her reach the Promised Land.

In its independen­ce message by the National President, Dr Kayode Obembe, the Nigerian Medical Associatio­n said Nigeria’s failure to score any impressive mark has kept it lowly on indices of global human developmen­t and health.

In a statement yesterday, the NMA said the country had never lacked effective recommenda­tions, but poor leadership and implementa­tion have been responsibl­e for the uninspirin­g status in the global developmen­t circle.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on its part has appealed to Nigerians to use the occasion of the nation’s Independen­ce anniversar­y to rekindle the spirit of patriotism.

The PDP in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh yesterday, urged Nigerians to exhibit actions that promote democratic ideals and peaceful co-existence at all levels in the country.

Also, governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have called on Nigerians to use the occasion of Nigeria’s independen­ce anniversar­y to reflect on the country’s past and work towards building the nation.

A statement by coordinato­r of the Forum, Earl Osaro Onaiwu on behalf of Governor of Ondo State and chairman of the Forum, Olusegun Mimiko, said that the significan­ce of the day lied in the fact that it binds all Nigerians into one chord not only within the country but also in the Diaspora.

Also, the House of Representa­tives leader, Femi Gbajabiami­la in a statement yesterday by his media aide, Olarewaju Smart, said: “As a country we have come through our own rough history and now on a new path to national rebirth.”

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