..say there’s hope despite current challenges

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

Some prominent Nigerians have drummed citizens’ support for the ongoing administration of President Bola Tinubu, insisting that despite the nation’s current multi-dimensional challenges, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Speaking variously on Thursday, while assessing the one year federal administration of President Tinubu at the first edition of Prof. Emeka Umerah Annual Public Lecture,held in Abuja, they unanimously agreed that a better Nigeria was on the way.

They, however, called on the nation’s leadership to carry out programmes and policies that tailored towards citizens’ needs.

Speaking at the event, tagged:”Nigeria Yesterday,Today and a Prosperous Future”,
former governor of Edo State and senator representing Edo North Senatorial District,Adams Oshiomhole, charged Nigerians to support the leadership to deliver on its mandate.

The politician,who frowned at the neglect of people serving in Correctional Centres, called for a change of attitudes towards them.

Oshiomhole ,noting that persons in the correctional facilities were victims of oppression, maintained that the facilities were not meant to kill people but to correct those whose actions were considered to be against the law.

The chieftain of the ruling APC regretted that powerful forces get away with threats of dealing with prisoners with the connivance of some corrupt security operatives.

““In our laws, you are presumed innocent until found guilty. Oppression is the name of the game. A person will tell you that I will teach you a lesson, and with the connection of the DPO, he can teach you more lesson that you can ever imagined,”he said.

While speaking further, he urged Nigeria to define its path, advising that they should not allow foreign profiling to soil the image of the country.

He said: “In Nigeria, our people will go to the World Bank and they will tell us who we are. We are supposed to define who we are and not foreigners. And until we go back to this home-grown policy and damn the consequences of the world, because they are going to fight us, we will have problems.

“For us to secure the future, we must interrogate the immediate pass. “

On his psrt, guest speaker at the occasion, Prof. Sam Amadi of Baze University, said Nigeria should not despair in the face of challenges, noting that the country can benefit from its existential problems.

According to Amadi, the Nigerian leadership should fasttract economic development through diversification and implementation of direct state principles.

He said:“The social contract we are proposing requires elected officials to fasttract economic development through diversification.

“Apart from being the biggest economy in the country, we were first but we are fourth after South Africa, Egypt and Algeria.

“We should be the fastest developing economy with tremendous untapped human resources.

“A nation is always a work in progress but how we do that work determines what the nation turns out to be. We must admit that we have not being doing a good job since 1960.

“We got some terrible results but we should not argue with the results. We must maximize opportunities. The good news is that Nigeria still has the resources to succeed, Nigeria can still succeed.

“Every crisis can be turned into an opportunity and invention but all depends on the honesty, patriotism, courage and intelligence of the ruling elites. It is left for us as leaders to make Nigeria great. It is possible and doable.”

Also speaking, Prof Emeka Umerah, lauded the achievements of President Bola Tinubu, for his visionary leadership.

He said:“In the spirit of boldness, courage and determination, I must commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a true visionary for his maverick style of leadership over the past year.

“Leading Nigeria requires navigating complex challenges and making decisions that may not yield immediate results, or compliments.

“Forgoing political expediency, President Tinubu has shown remarkable courage in confronting these challenges, steering our nation towards a brighter future. (Ad Lib) Reflecting on his first year in office, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the strides we’ve made.

“It’s akin to witnessing the biblical walls of Jericho crumble (Ad Lib)… (Dramatic Pause) each blow against corruption, each policy aimed at economic revitalization echoing like Joshua’s trumpets.

“President Tinubu’s tenure exemplifies the Jerichoan feat of overcoming obstacles that once seemed insurmountable. (Ad Lib) As we celebrate these achievements, let us not forget that our work is far from over.

“We must continue to embolden the bold, to encourage the courageous, and to unite in our efforts to build a nation where every citizen has a fair chance at success, and where prosperity reaches every corner of our land.

“So, my fellow Nigerians, let us rise to this challenge together. Let us shun division, but rather harness the spirit of unity and determination that defines us as a people.

“Together, we have the power to shape our destiny…. to tear down walls of division and despair,…and to build bridges of hope and prosperity.

“Let us build bridges that connect us to a future of shared prosperity and opportunity.

“Let us encourage the courageous, embolden the bold, and together, let us forge ahead towards a Nigeria we can all be proud of.”