*Ganduje tasks Nigerians on peace, unity
*As Masari sees bright future
*Pray Nigeria’s peace, unity – el-Rufai task Christians
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
As Nigeria clocks 58 of independence from the colonial masters this Monday October 1, 2018, President of the country, Muhammadu Buhari, Governors of Kano, Katsina and Kaduna, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari and Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, respectively, among others have charged the peoples of the country to work for peace that Nigeria may find her easy path to longed anticipated development.
These eminent citizens and leaders made the various charges in their respective Independence anniversary broadcast statement, copies of which were made available to The DEFENDER on Monday.
In his own statement read on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and broadcast nationwide on Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari, who returned to the country in the wee hour of Sunday after attending the just concluded United Nations’ General Assembly meeting in New York, United States of America, acknowledged the differences among the diverse backgrounds of Nigerian people but posited that those differences count far less than the values they offer.
“As we celebrate the 58th Anniversary of our independence, we know we are on the right path. Although we have our differences, they count for far less than the values, virtues and common aspirations that unite us as a nation. We have so much for which we should be grateful, and in which we should rightly take pride. Our journey is not finished but we have come a long way.
“I want to assure you that as President, I will continue to work tirelessly to promote, protect and preserve what really matters: a united, peaceful, prosperous and secure Nigeria, where all, irrespective of background, can aspire to succeed.”
Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, in his own statement called on Nigerians to selflessly contribute towards the unity, peaceful coexistence, socio-economic and political development of the nation.
The Governor also urged Nigerians to support the patriotic fight against corruption, shun violence, criminal activities and other negative tendencies that perpetually retard the progress and development of our dear country.
This is contained In a goodwill message on the occasion of Nigeria’s 58th Independence Anniversary, signed by the commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba.
Governor Ganduje urged Nigerians to borrow a leaf from their nationalists forefathers who selflessly fought for Nigeria’s independence and unity and enjoined them not to allow those sacrifices to go in vain.
He also urged Nigerians to be patriotic, peace- loving especially as the 2019 election year fast approaches.
“Responsible and peaceful politicking, tolerance, maturity, fairness and justice are key to the success of the forthcoming general elections in 2019 which are enjoined all to embrace, ” it added.
While congratulating Nigerians on the National Day , the Governor further appealed to all to be peace-loving and live peacefully with one another irrespective of ethnic, religious and political differences for the general development of the country.
Also the Governor of President Buhari’s home state of Katsina, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, also called on Nigerians to keep faith with the APC administration, assuring them that with President Muhammadu Buhari in charge, things would get better for the country.
In an independence day message issued by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media,Malam Abdu Labaran Malumfashi said the Governor stressed that,
Nigerians would do well to give President Buhari another four-year mandate to consolidate on the foundation he has laid to place Nigeria on the path of total recovery.
He said since the President’s sterling performance had shamed and proved the doubters wrong, Nigerians should close ranks and re-elect him in 2019 for him to consolidate on his achievements, evidenced in so many meaningful interventions across the length and breadth of the country.
Governor Masari said at 58, Nigeria had come along way to allow unpatriotic elements who have zero electoral value to polarise the nation along ethnic, religious and regional devives in order to achieve interests that are opposed to the nation’s.
He said those opposed to President Buhari were only doing so because he has exposed and stopped their rent collecting activities, which had hitherto been the bane of the nation’s development. The Governor then urged Nigerians to always put Nigeria and its leaders in their prayers so that the nation may continue to prosper in leaps and bounds.
In the same manner, Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, on Sunday called on all Christian leaders and the entire Christendom to continue to pray for the peace and unity of the country.
Governor el-Rufai made this charge at the Nigeria’s Independence Thanksgiving Service held at ECWA Church, Gwari Road in Kaduna, where he was represented by his deputy, Architect Barnabas Bala Bantex.
The Governor said, “as we enter an electioneering period, I wish to urge us all not to allow those seeking power to divide us.
“No person can claim to be wiser than Almighty God who gave us the blessing of diversity by creating human beings with many races, languages and religions, he said.
El-Rufai said, the author of creation, God omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, has signalled His wishes by the work of His Almighty hand.
He called on all, at the Nigeria’s Independence Thanksgiving Service, let us embrace and uphold each other, living in peace and harmony, to build a better society.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC), State Chairman, Air Cmdr Emmanuel Jekada, the Deputy Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly, Honourable Nuhu Goro, Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and other top Government Officials, accompanied the state Deputy’s Governor, Architect Barnabas Bala Bantex to the Nigeria’s Independence Thanksgiving Service.
