Nigeria @57: Aregbesola Harps On Unity And Culture Of Productivity

The Governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, has congratulated Nigerians on the celebration of the country’s 57th Independence Anniversary on October 1.

Aregbesola conveyed the felicitation to Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mr.  Sola Fasure.

He tasked the people on the need to avoid violence, ethno-religious conflicts and any other behaviour capable of threatening the peace and unity of the country.

He said though the country had witnessed several challenges since independence, it has nevertheless made significant progress in its almost six decades of independence.

Aregbesola enjoined Nigerians to continue to tow the path of peace and always promote positive values that would move the country forward.

The Governor said Nigerians need to wake up to their responsibilities and take their destinies in their hands.

According to him, the era of over-dependency on rent economy foisted on the nation by oil is gradually winding down and, as such, Nigerians should imbibe the culture of hard work and gainful productive activities.

Ogbeni Aregbesola urged all governments at the federal, states and local governments to put 50 million Nigerians to work and where each earn at least N25,000 from real productive value, N1.25 trillion will be generated in the economy every month, a development capable of catapulting the country into a superpower within two decades.

“I congratulate Nigerians and the people of Osun on this year’s independence anniversary and I call on us all to continue to work for the unity of this country.

“Our strength lies in our unity.  We should therefore avoid anything that will destroy our unity and corporate existence.

“I urge Nigerians to cultivate the habit of hard work and high productivity in order to create wealth, stimulate national prosperity and the growth of the economy.

“We had experienced the best in crude oil dependency as we are currently living the worst of it. It is obvious now that a mono-economy based on crude oil can no longer sustain us and take us to where we should be as a country. Therefore, diversification and improved productivity should be the driving force to revamp our economy.

“It has become imperative, therefore, for all governments – federal, states and local governments – to fashion out strategies for the active participation of at least 50 million Nigerians in monthly productive activities that will create a new value of N25,000 each. This action alone will guarantee the generation of N1.25 trillion every month.

“If this is realised, Nigeria will certainly be a super power within next two decades. As the hope of the Black race, this is the least we must do now.

“If we move in this direction, I am optimistic that this country will get over its challenges and continue to maintain its place in the comity of nations,” Aregbesola said.

He added that the sacrifices of the country’s founding fathers and all those who brought the country to its present position would not be forgotten.

He concluded that in spite of the problems the country had gone through, there is still a silver lining in the sky, urging that all hands must be on deck in order to take the country to its destined position of greatness.