(NIGERIA) Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on Thursday urged Nigerians to work together in 2015 with the single purpose of changing the country’s ugly picture and reclaiming her lost glory among the comity of nations.
The governor also tasked his countrymen across all geopolitical zones to embrace the unity of purpose in the effort to deliver a free and fair election in 2015 as a means of restoring the country once again to global reckoning.
Fashola made the call in his New Year message to Lagosians, wherein he noted that Nigeria has an innate greatness.
“This is the time for Nigerians to tap into that strength to change those things which, over the years, have made the country lose face in the comity of nations,” he said.
He stated that 2015 “is a year of destiny for Nigeria. It is a year when we must redraw the picture of failure and perceived inability to govern ourselves which we have, hitherto presented to the outside world. It is a year when we must endeavour to reclaim our glory.
“Our future greatness lies in our ability to move beyond rhetoric and practically rebrand our country and change the ugly picture that has unfortunately been presented to the world through the acts of very few of our countrymen who are in the minority.”
He, therefore, called for vigilance and resistance against deceitful politicians, noting that the way the electorate exercised their voting rights would determine the nature and character of leadership Nigerians truly wanted.
He said: “It will also demonstrate our ability and willingness to extricate ourselves from exploitation and servitude. But most of all, our rightful use of our votes will demonstrate to the whole world that Nigeria has finally arrived to take her rightful place in the global community. We must not miss this chance. It may be our last.”
The governor observed that as a country, Nigeria had made her mark globally, especially, in her contribution to global peace, saying she had sacrificed men and materials “to keep other countries stable. Nigeria has led mostly from the front to bring political and economic stability to some nations, particularly in Africa.”
Fashola pointed out that the eyes of the whole world would be upon the country “to prove that she is ready for greatness. One important way the country could return to global reckoning is through free and fair elections this year.”
He noted that individual Nigerians “have also continued to make their mark in all spheres of human development including science, medicine, the arts and music, thereby building wealth and prestige for other nations.”
“What is missing here is the orderliness which obedience to the tenets of the rule of law engenders in those countries. This begins with the ability of citizens of those climes to choose leaders of their choice,” the governor explained. (THISDAY)
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