Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf of Kano State, has paid tribute to the founding fathers of the Nigeria’s democracy for their selfless struggle and sacrifice to secure the country’s independence from the circle of colonial masters.
Reviewing the nation’s journey of 63rd years, amidst model stability and inherent challenges, Governor Yusuf however opined that the country ought to have gone beyond its present condition.
Governor Yusuf made the observation on Sunday shortly after review of a combined match pass parade mounted by men of the Nigerian Police Force and other sister security agencies on the occasion of the country’s independence at Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.
The Governor contended that at 63 years, Nigeria has recorded some progress as a corporate entity but insisted that the nation “ought to have done much better.”
He added that Nigeria was merely celebrating a sovereign nation experimenting liberal democracy.
According to him, “It is only rational to recognize that arising from some policy choices of some of our past leaders, our development and growth ought to have gone beyond where we are today. Our cohesion and unity ought to have been stronger than what it is today. Our security and stability ought to have been better than what it is today.”
Adding: “On this day 63 years ago, our heroes of the independence struggle brought joy and happiness to all Nigerians.
“It was the day when we achieved independence from the colonial rule of Great Britain. On occasion like this, we must salute the resilience, intelligence and doggedness of our founding fathers”, Gov. Yusuf emphasized.
Although Governor Yusuf was not specific, he insisted that “challenges of unemployment and youth restiveness must be given more attention; The challenges of insecurity and poverty must be attended to with sincerity; the challenges bedeviling education provisioning and healthcare services must be genuinely attended to; and the challenges of hunger and malnutrition must be tackled compassionately.”
Nevertheless, the Governor posited that since assumption of duty over 100 days ago, he has worked hard to break the circle of despair, poverty, insecurity and youth restiveness in the state.
“Fellow compatriots, in the four months since our assumption of office, our administration has taken some bold steps in ensuring security of lives and properties, the cases of phone snatching and street crimes have become a history in our State.
“We have taken decisive steps to overhaul our education and healthcare sectors. Schools are being renovated in batches. We are providing free uniforms, school bags and shoes at pilot stage; we are providing free exercise books and textbooks to primary and junior secondary school pupils”, Gov. Yusuf noted.
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