As we welcome the year 2015, I have shared a message to Nigerians in general, but I find it crucial to send another message directly to Nigeria’s youth, who are the major stakeholders of this enterprise.
The year 2014 was a challenging one for most citizens of our dear country.
We remember our compatriots who were brutishly killed
or maimed by evil terrorists in 2014. I remember with a still broken heart that
219 of our children from Chibok are yet missing, let down by a country that
should protect them. I remember that, even as I speak, some of our towns and
villages are yet under the occupation of Boko Haram.
Yes, it is enough for you to despair. It is enough for
you to wonder if your country cares about you and can protect you. But do not
despair.
2015 has arrived at a time of great discomfort; but the
beauty of the New Year is that we can look forward with renewed hope and the knowledge
that things can and will change.
In Nigeria’s case, we can truly look forward to the
change that the elections can, and will, bring. Our country will be secure
again. Our country will prosper again.
I have faith that 2015 is the year we shall begin to
write a new story - a story of our youth creating jobs and expanding the
frontiers of innovation and creativity everywhere from Mavin Records to the
Co-Creation Hub; a story of genuine investment in our children and students be
they in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka or in the Delta State University,
Abraka; a country that finally makes a permanent shift from our debilitating dependence
on the free-falling price of crude oil.
I have unshakeable faith that 2015 will be the year of
change.
Now some of you have asked me: what exactly does
‘change’ mean?
I have taken time to explain this at different
opportunities, but on this special day, let me remind you in five short
statements.
Change means:
1.
A country that you can be proud of at
anytime and anywhere: where corruption is tackled, where your leaders are
disciplined and lead with vision and clarity; where the stories that emerge to
the world from us are full of hope and progress.
2.
A Nigeria in which neither yourselves, nor
your parents, families or friends will have to fear for your safety, or for theirs.
3.
A Nigeria where citizens get the basics
that any country should provide: infrastructure that works, healthcare that is
affordable, even free; respect for the environment and sustainable development,
education that is competitive and outcome-oriented in a knowledge-economy.
4.
A country that provides jobs for its young
people, reducing unemployment to the lowest of single digits and providing
safety nets so that no one is left behind.
5.
A Nigeria where entrepreneurship thrives,
enterprise flourishes and the government gets out of your way so that you can
create value, build the economy and aggressively expand wealth.
Are
these things truly possible? Of course. That is the essence and outcome of
leadership, and that is what my party and I promise you as we get into 2015.
My dear friends, this New Year, more than ever before,
I am hopeful about Nigeria.
Yes,
you are disappointed and you are angry, as you are entitled to, but you must never
give in to the temptation to feel so weighed down by those who have failed you
that you lose your hope and your energy and your passion to see change. You must
never give up on Nigeria.
Together,
we can build a nation that is secure, prosperous and gives everyone a fair
chance.
This
is the promise that 2015 holds. That is the promise that change will bring. That
is the promise that I bring to you.
Once again, I wish everyone a happy and prosperous New
Year.
Thank you and God bless Nigeria.
209 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 209 of 209@Oba, I wish you do think about Nigeria and leave these tribalistic views alone. Nigeria desperately need change only a fool keeps doing the same thing and expecting different result. Stop propagating hate and pls let's talk reality, hope, and New direction for Nigeria. If nothing else at least let this man clear all these cronies and thieves in govt. This is our chance, the opportunity for Nigerian youths to have a stake in their own country and future. Our youths must come home and stop being slaves in foreign countries. We can't miss this. Think before spewing hate and false claims.
No tribe, no religion, just Nigeria!
It is very painful when I see some youth that support bad govt that we can all see, even the blind can attest to it. A govt that does not care about us. It is either these guys are gaining directly from the govt or they are just being sentimental. Come 2015, vote for personality that have delivered in the past. I can not wait to do this and I wish every true nigerian should do the same.
fynboy said; people shld be realistic.Buhari or wat is he called does not know wat is called ECONOMY of a country.For 4yrs now atleast motorists dont need to sleep in filling stations to get a liter of PMS,GEJ and his technocrats shld be allowed to keep Naija focused; Vote Goodluck the best President so far in Naija.
God bless you anonymous poster. Most people who are anti Buhari are people currently benefitting or hoping to benefit from the corrupt practices of government officials in high and low places. They are scared that the jig will soon be up for their fathers, mothers, uncles, aunties, brothers and sisters that are milking the country dry of its resources for their various selfish interests. ..The party would soon be over for a lot of you thieves chopping public funds alone with your families.
@lord, you are really dull. Gold and diamond ko, when your geography teacher was talking in class, you were playing, Oh, sorry my bad, you didn't even go to school.
Propaganda is the political tool ALL politicians use to launder their image & ridicule their opponents! Sadly, that is what most of us rely on to certify our preferred candidate. Let's just be wise when we choose; God will help us!
me pity for youths where de support all these criminal
@ OBA Were you a teenager or grown man in the 80s. It doesn't seem like that. 40 somethings and above will tell you that there was massive looting in the Shagari era. Though not to the scale of what was to come in Abacha, Yardua and the present govt. The stuff you wrote is very inaccurate.
Nigerians were jubilant at the time for the buhari govt. They just didn't anticipate that they would be dictated to as with all military rule.
If you were around in the 80s like you perpetrating to be. You would know that not all the governors were fit to be ruling their state. There were ones who thought mineral resources were COCA COLA , FANTA whilst others escaped with the country's loot to England and had to be bundled into suitcases for repatriation.
HOW MANY OF TODAYS POLITICIANS ARE GETTING AWAY WITH CORRUPTION? Endless. Dont mean to rain on your parade but tell the elder who told you what you just posted to re-tell the story. You got it wrong
Buhari will never rule Nigeria.
He is the Political Sponsor of Boko Haram.
Thesame Man that ordered his supporters to kill Youth corpers from the SW, SS and SE will never rule Nigeria. The blood of the slain due to Buharis ambition is still crying for vengeance.
Buhari is a religious bigot that is been packaged as a Saviour. APC can never deceive Nigerians.
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