Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun has urged Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari in the crusade to eradicate corruption in the country.
He made the call at the 55th Independence Day Anniversary Celebration at the MKO Abiola stadium in Abeokuta on Thursday.
He also urged Nigerians to focus on things that would further bring about peaceful co-existence among the people, irrespective of tribe, religion and language.
The governor thanked the presidency for the bail-out given to the state to avert further economic and labour crisis, saying the country had every reason to celebrate the national day “because of immediate changes witnessed under the present administration.’’
He said that in spite of the financial challenges faced by the country due to dwindling oil revenue, the Nigeria project was still on course and achievable by the present administration.
He saluted the efforts of the country’s founding fathers who fought for the nation’s democracy and commended the military in the fight against insurgency in the North-East and other crimes.
He also praised Nigerians for standing together during the 2015 general elections.
He commiserated with Nigerians, state governments and families who lost their loved ones during the stampede in Saudi Arabia.
In Jos, Monsignor Cletus Gotan of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos, urged youths and Nigerians generally to shun nepotism, bigotry and engage in activities that would breed national unity and development.
Gotan made the call while addressing youths during a peaceful independence rally organised by the Catholic Youths Organisation of Nigeria (CYON) on Thursday.
The Cleric admonished the youths to remain united and peaceful in all their dealings, stressing that through these would Nigeria experience growth and development.
He said Nigerian youths could make the country great and viable if they focus on doing the right things.
He added that “Nigerian youths must rise and work toward uniting the country for the future.
“You have the potential to make this country attain higher heights in all ramifications, because you have the ability and wherewithal.
“if both Christian and Muslim youths will shun nepotism, religious extremism and parochialism, Nigeria will be very peaceful.’’
Gotan also urged Nigerians leaders to utilise God’s given natural and material resources that abound in the country to better the lives of the citizenry.
He said “Nigeria is a blesssed nation; we have all it takes to live better and peacefully with one another.
“I, therefore, urge all those in leadership position, especially Christains, to lead in a Godly way.
In Osogbo, an Islamic group called The Muslim Congress (TMC) had urged President Muhammadu Buhari to engage the captured Boko Haram members in getting the masterminds of insurgency in the country.
Dr Luqman AbdurRaheem, the Head of TMC, made the call in a lecture at a programme organised to mark this year’s independence day on Thursday.
He also expressed the Muslim group’s support for the president to probe treasury looters in the country.
He said “we want a far-reaching probe into the Boko Haram saga by unveiling the elements behind the calculated attempt to dismember this country by declaring a terrorist war on the North East.
“As we have always maintained, peace and stability can only be achieved in an atmosphere of justice and mutual respect for the values held dearly by the various members of our plural society.’’
He sympathised with Muslims worldwide on the tragedy which trailed this year’s Hajj exercise.
AbdurRaheem, however, frowned at the purported statements credited to Saudi authorities, blaming African pilgrims for the stampede, saying the remark had racist undertone.
“We support the call for thorough investigation into the stampede by the Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa’ad III.’’
He said that Sa’ad, the President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), had called for investigation into the tragedy in order to avert a recurrence.
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