A Lagos governorship aspirant in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has said that post-Independence Nigeria’s survival for 54 years demonstrated more than anything else that the country was worth celebrating.

In his words: “Nigeria has so much going for her and her people, and if only we can open our hearts objectively, then we shall see that we have baskets and baskets of blessings to be grateful for.”

Agbaje expressed his views in a statement released in Lagos yesterday through his campaign organisation’s Director of Media and Publicity, Felix Oboagwina, in commemoration of the country’s Independence anniversary.

“Those who have given up on the country fail to consider the fact she is endowed with abundant human and natural resources. Therefore, we should celebrate her people. We should celebrate Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa. And we should celebrate the fact that, nowhere are we pushovers in regional and world sports, military engagements, politics, diplomacy and population,” he enthused.

Congratulating President Goodluck Jonathan on the country’s independence day celebration, Agbaje prayed for God to grant him the wisdom and the courage to consolidate on his Transformation Agenda as the foundation for building Nigeria into the country of its people’s dreams.

As far as the PDP governorship aspirant could see, the current security challenges were incapable of dividing Nigeria.

He encouraged Nigerians to remain optimistic, reminding them that theirs was a country that had in the past, against all odds, survived military coups, a Civil War, the June 12 crisis and lately the Ebola Viral Disease scourge; therefore, it would also defy the present incursion of insurgency and terrorism.

“The amalgamation of Nigeria and the joint Independence struggle demonstrate loud and clear that Nigerians are quite capable of forging a united front against their common problems,” he said, adding that: “Every country has its own challenges. And we have our own. Our unwavering can-do spirit shows that we have everything it takes to surmount our micro and macro distresses.”