Nigeria At 64: Group Expresses Belief In Nigeria’s March To Greatness
5 min read
Edith CHUKU
Amidst the economic challenges in the country, a Pan-Ibibio socio-cultural organization in Akwa Ibom State, the Ibibio Elders Forum, has expressed the belief that Nigeria is progressing towards greatness.
The forum stated this while felicitating with the federal government and the people of Nigeria on the occasion of the 64th independence anniversary of the country.
Describing the economic difficulties bewildering the country as temporary, the elders said that the present government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was steering the ship of the Nigerian State towards a better future.
Chairman of the forum, Dr. Emmanuel Akpanobong and secretary-general, Prof. Etok Ekanem, stated this in a release made available to TNN, on Tuesday.
It read “today, Tuesday, October 1, 2024, marks the 64th Anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence from British Colonial Rule on October 1, 1960. Despite all odds – setbacks and challenges – as a nation, our dear country and motherland, Nigeria, has, since 1960, made quite some remarkable and outstanding gains and progress.
“Over the decades, we have witnessed significant and phenomenal advancements and achievements in most areas of our national life. This progress, though not without its challenges, is a testament to the resilience and determination of the Nigerian people. While there are still gaps and deficits in our national development, we can take pride in how far we have come and remain optimistic about the future.”
“The firing inspiration is that work is constantly in progress, the challenges and constraints notwithstanding. The Nigerian people’s well-known resilience and indomitable spirit pointedly provide firm hope and point to a bright future for the country. We believe that Nigeria’s future is bright, with continued dedication and hard work.”
The forum added that, “as a pan-Ibibio socio-cultural organization with general concerns about Akwa Ibom matters/wellbeing and a strong faith in the Nigerian nation, Ibibio Elders Forum believes in Nigeria’s progressive march towards greatness. Notwithstanding the current temporary economic difficulties and other challenges confronting the people, the Forum believes that overall, the present Government of Nigeria, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is steering the ship of the Nigerian State towards a better future. Obviously, the prevailing economic hardship in the land is, to a large extent, the outcome of some cumulative actions and inactions of previous Administrations of the country.
“In consonance with its views and broad goodwill for Nigeria, Ibibio Elders Forum felicitates Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his Administration on the occasion of the 64th Anniversary of the nation’s Independence. The Forum also applauds and congratulates the good people of Nigeria on this Anniversary. Undoubtedly, it is the people’s toughness, resilience and strong faith in Nigeria, through thick and thin, that have held the country together these past 64 years. Ibibio Elders Forum, accordingly, heartily salutes all Nigerians as a people on this Anniversary.”
The forum commended the Nigerian National Assembly for supposedly playing many key roles in advancing the nation.
“On this note, Ibibio Elders Forum salutes and congratulates Distinguished Senator (Dr) Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, the President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, Rt Hon. (Dr) Tajudeen Abbas, CFR, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and all their colleagues in the National Assembly. While the Forum is fully conscious of the import of the Doctrine of Separation of Powers, as enshrined in Part II (Sections 4, 5 and 6) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), we believe that the principled mutual understanding and harmony the current First Citizen (President Bola Tinubu, the Head of the Executive Arm of Government), the current Third Citizen (Senator Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate and Head of the Legislative Arm of Government) and the current Fourth Citizen (Rt Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the House of Representatives) have consciously built between the two Arms of the present Nigerian Government, are in the best overall interest of the country. Ibibio Elders Forum salutes these three leaders for this mutual working relationship.
“In the spirit of the Anniversary, Ibibio Elders Forum also salutes the Nigerian Judiciary for its contributions to the peace and advancement of the country. The Forum particularly felicitates and congratulates Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, GCON, on her appointment and recent confirmation by the Senate as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.”
Ibibio Elders Forum further urged Nigerians to have faith in the country, stressing that better times lie ahead, “let us keep this spirit and constantly apply and engage it to enliven and renew our hope in our country, Nigeria, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of our National Leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which, in broad and exact terms, and for all intent and purposes, is designed and tailored to revitalize our economy, empower the people and lift the poorest of the poor. As the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio further noted at the September 29, 2024, Thanksgiving Service concerning the ways and manner of the people of Nigeria, let us continue to rise when faced with adversity and unite when confronted by challenges.
On the high cost of living, they appealed to the president to, “as a matter of utmost necessity and urgency, compassionately re-examine and tone down the impacts of these policies on the present living conditions of the citizens. Key policies requiring such close Presidential moderation and tinkering are the policies touching taxes, crude oil refining and costs of PMS/transportation, cost of power (electricity tariffs), food availability/prices and the value/exchange rate of the Nigerian currency, the Naira.
“On road infrastructure in our Region, as we appreciate and thank the Federal Government for the ongoing work on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Ibibio Elders Forum likes to respectfully remind Mr President of the very deplorable and near impassable condition of the Ikot Ekpene-Itu-Calabar Federal Highway as well as the Ikot Ekpene-Umuahia and Ikot Ekpene-Aba Federal Highways, both of which link the South-South Akwa Ibom State and the southern part of Cross River State with the South-East Region of Nigeria, through Abia State. These economically critical Highways have been abandoned for several years and require urgent attention, dear President.”
