By Festus Ahon
THE Re-Build Nigeria Initiative Network, a political pressure group, has decried the slow pace of development in Nigeria, 50 years after independence.

The group in a statement by its state Coordinator, Mr Jimmy Ojeh and state Secretary, Mr Obaro Unuafe, said “50 years after independence, Nigeria cannot be said to be truly on the path of progress.

“The democratic culture has not yet permeated into the heart of our society and corruption, insecurity of lives and property remains an inevitable aspect of our national life.

“Massive unemployment stares us in the face just as our educational values continue to nosedive. We believe that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is endowed by God to reposition Nigeria on the path of honour and national rebirth.

“So far, his activities in stabilizing the polity and creating the right audience for genuine enterprise to thrive are signs of a new dawn. We have established a chapter in Delta State with structures in every local government area of the state.

“We welcomed our focused leader, Dr. Jonathan, as he visited  Delta State and commissioned the DELSU Teaching Hospital and the Naval Logistics Headquarters, Oghara. We laud these gigantic projects by the  state government, which complement the efforts of the Federal Government at improving the quality of lives of our people,” the group added.

“While we praise these efforts at bringing the dividends of democracy to our doorsteps, we also wish to remind the handlers of these projects to imbibe a maintenance culture and keep the projects alive so that when Nigeria will be celebrating its 100 years of independence,  these edifices will remain as good as new.