TheCable

Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, says there is a need to build a united and peaceful Nigeria to re-energise the country’s economy.

In a statement on Sunday marking the 63rd independence anniversary of the country, Sani said despite 23 years of uninterrupted civilian rule, Nigeria is still battling with development challenges.

Sani said Nigerian leaders need to reflect on the lapses in governance that are holding the country’s prosperity backwards.

“It is with mixed feelings that I address the good people of Kaduna State on the occasion of our country’s 63rd Independence Anniversary,” the governor said.

“At independence in 1960, our people had great expectations of a prosperous future. Our founding fathers envisioned a country that will become the Leading Black Nation on Earth.

“They committed to building a nation where no man or woman will feel oppressed. Sixty-three years after, it is important for us to reflect on how far we have come as a nation.

“Have we met the expectations of our people? What challenges of nation-building have we been grappling with? Is there a pathway to a greater future for our country?

“There is no doubt that we have made progress as a nation and as a people. In all facets, there are some success stories.

“That we have successfully defended the independence which we mark today is no mean achievement. We have also transited from military dictatorial rule to uninterrupted civil democratic rule for twenty-three years. But we are not where we ought to be. 

“We are yet to succeed in forging a truly Nigerian Spirit. Our ethnic and religious differences are still been exploited in furtherance of personal or collective interests.

“We are still struggling to address developmental challenges, especially in the areas of infrastructure, education, health, agriculture, and security.

“The increasing poverty level is a major source of worry for political leaders. Addressing the issue of poverty is critical to restoring the people’s faith in our democracy.

“At the international level, how can we reinvent our foreign policy to put Nigeria back on the global map.”

Sani said the elites need to build a census on “where we want Nigeria to be in the scheme of world affairs”.

He said the only means to re-energise the nation’s economy is by building a united and peaceful Nigeria.

“We must also frontally address our challenges of insecurity. When we effectively address our internal security challenges, we can then resume peacekeeping and enforcement roles in West Africa and Africa.

“Let us therefore come together and support our security agencies in the fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and other forms of criminality.”