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The Nigerian Spirit Cannot be Broken,says President
Jonathan
Newdiaryonline Sat Oct 1,2011
ADDRESS TO
THE NATION BY PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR, ON THE
OCCASION OF NIGERIA'S 51STINDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY
1ST
OCTOBER 2011
Fellow
Compatriots,
1.
On this day 51 years ago, the
British Union Jack was lowered and replaced by our national
Green-White-Green flag, heralding the independence of our
nation. The 1st of October remains a special day for
us, for Africa, and indeed the world.
2.
As we celebrate today, we
remember with pride, the nationalism and patriotism that
inspired our founding fathers and the Nigerian people. They set
aside their differences, to secure the unity and independence of
our great country.
3.
That is the Nigerian spirit!
For the Nigerian spirit cannot be broken. We are a resilient
nation, determined to chart a course, through the turbulent
waters of nation building. The Nigerian spirit is vibrant today
in the world.
4.
Our citizens at home and
abroad, are making their mark in all fields of human endeavour.
These hard-working and committed Nigerians, remain a source of
pride to us and a beacon of what is achievable, if we remain
focused and determined.
5.
I know that
a great number of you are joining hands with me and the
Administration, in the great task ahead.
6.
I value all
Nigerians. I see our youth who are looking for jobs and yet
remain hopeful. I see the farmer, and fisherman, toiling
everyday to earn a living. I see the teacher, working hard, to
train our future generations, with much sacrifice. I see the
market women whose entrepreneurial spirit helps to generate
income for their children and families. I see our sportsmen and
women training hard to bring glory to our nation.
I see our resilience and
commitment, as a nation, to defend our democracy and secure our
future.
7.
I see every
single profession and vocation, making positive contributions to
national progress. I value you all!
8.
Together, we
shall work for a Nigeria in which democracy and the rule of law
are sacrosanct.
A country where corruption and its attendant
vices, are banished. A country where human life is sacred and
respected, and where the rights of the individual are protected.
9.
Nigeria is a
young entity in the comity of nations and yet in her 51 years,
she has made significant strides in making her presence felt all
over the world. Our diplomatic and peacekeeping efforts, in
various parts of the continent, have helped to end conflict and
avert crises. In sustaining global security, our intervention
has been crucial to peace, progress and democracy for the
citizens of the affected countries.
10.
The journey
to nationhood always has its own challenges. Nigeria has had her
own share. Our growing pains as a nation have included the civil
war, the June 12 election crisis and restlessness in the Niger
Delta. But Nigeria has always overcome each of these challenges.
We overcame before. We will overcome yet again.
11.
Today, as a
nation, there is much for us to celebrate. We celebrate our
diversity. We celebrate our entrepreneurial spirit.
12.
We celebrate
our resilience and ability to turn adversity into hope. We
celebrate our culture. For the labours of our heroes past, shall
never be in vain.
13.
As your President, let me
reassure all Nigerians that I remain resolutely committed to the
ideals and dreams of our founding fathers. Let me also reassure
Nigerians that I will strongly defend the peace and stability of
our nation.
14.
My administration will spare
no effort in fighting crime, building peace, and securing our
homeland against internal threats and infiltration by violent
groups, from outside our borders.
15.
We condemn all acts of
violence and declare that such acts of mindless savagery shall
not be allowed to define our country. We will not be deterred.
Our resolve is strong.
16.
I have put
in place a new and reinvigorated national security strategy, to
combat the threat to our safety. Yet, no matter what I do as
your President and no matter what we do as your elected leaders,
at all levels, the peace and security of our nation rest also on
our collective efforts as citizens, in our various communities.
17.
All leaders and citizens, in
every community, must therefore make peace the number one
priority of their daily routine.
This is because, without peace, no community can realize
its objectives or achieve a happy and productive life for its
members.
18.
The current incidents of
violence and terror, in parts of the country, will surely be
overcome. We will secure the safety of our citizens for only
when we do this, will we be able to build the needed peace and
tranquility in all parts of the federation.
19.
Securing our peace and
stability will ensure economic growth and prosperity for all.
20.
Since I
assumed office, as the President of our great country, I have
continued to focus my attention on the
economy.
I have taken several measures to address structural
weaknesses which stand between us and economic growth and
prosperity for all.
21.
We are growing our
economy, to generate
employment opportunities for our teeming youth and enhanced
prosperity for every citizen. This remains the main focus of my
administration.
22.
In a few days time, I shall
launch an innovative competition for our young entrepreneurs to
come up with ways to expand their businesses, create more jobs,
and sharpen their business skills.
23.
Now, it is very clear that
without fundamental reforms in the key sectors of our
economy, we will not
be able to fully unlock our potential as a nation. We must
manage our resources more prudently and efficiently. We must
provide stable electricity to our citizens to help drive
economic activity.
24.
I call on our political
leaders to put aside partisan politics, for united action
towards the advancement of our nation. We must build together.
25.
Because of the measures we
have taken on the
economy, our GDP is today one of the fastest growing in
Africa. We are
currently growing the
economy at 7.8%. We expect to sustain an 8% growth rate and
a better GDP in the medium term, on our journey towards
realizing our Vision 20:2020 goal.
We shall
strive to make this growth, job creating and inclusive.
26.
Growth in agriculture and
other non-oil sectors are crucial, to help diversify the economy
and to generate much needed jobs. Agriculture remains one of the
highest priorities in my government’s Agenda for National
Transformation. We have set out clear, agricultural,
transformation action plans and policy measures, to achieve
self-sufficiency in the production of rice, cassava, maize,
sorghum and other staple foods.
27.
Self-sufficiency in rice alone
will save us the 356 Billion Naira that we currently spend
annually importing rice. We will revamp the way we distribute
fertilizers, taking government out of distribution of
fertilizers.
28.
We plan to reach 20 million
farmers with private-sector distributed fertilizers over the
next four years. We will improve the investment environment and
incentives for the private sector across the agricultural value
chains. Our agricultural transformation plan will generate 3.5
million jobs and an additional 20 million metric tons of food.
29.
But we must all show pride in
our farmers. We should eat what we produce. The increasing
popularity of local products, like
‘Ofada Rice’,
‘Badegi rice’, and ‘Abakaliki
Rice’, attest to the fact, that the populace will readily
embrace locally grown produce.
30.
We must also take pride in our
scientists. This week, Nigeria released 8 new high yielding
cocoa varieties. This will help to transform cocoa production,
across the 14 cocoa producing states in the nation.
31.
We have put in place
implementable programmes to transform our Nation from an
importer of petroleum products, to the regional
hub for exportation of value-added petroleum and
petrochemical products. We are revamping existing refineries and
building three new ones.
32.
We are effectively supporting
the private-sector led construction of world scale petrochemical
and fertilizer plants. This will for the first time in our
history, result in effective monetization of our abundant
natural gas resources while at the same time, creating over a
million jobs.
33.
Our potential is huge.
We have
the requisite market volume.
We have a
youthful, energetic, and hardworking population.
The
structural and managerial bottlenecks, that have obstructed our
economic growth, are being addressed, to unleash the energy and
potentials of this nation.
To
achieve this, I am determined to ensure that Nigerians have
reliable electricity. Our economy will grow faster, and our hard
working small businesses will thrive, when we finally fix the
power challenges we face. We are fast tracking power reforms, to
improve the generation and distribution of electricity.
34.
Already, we are beginning to
do things differently. I believe that integrity, honour,
patriotism, selfless service and fear of God, must be the
hallmarks of leadership at all levels.
35.
A nation is sustained by its
institutions and systems. I have taken strong measures to
improve on governance.
It is in this regard, that I signed into law, the Freedom
of Information Act. I will further strengthen all institutions,
to ensure greater transparency, probity, and accountability at
all levels.
36.
Last year, I promised to
restore confidence in our electoral system and pledged to
deliver free and fair elections. To achieve that, we initiated
some electoral reforms and strengthened INEC and other related
agencies.
37.
As
a result, our April 2011 general elections was adjudged by
Nigerians and the international community as the most
transparent and credible elections, ever conducted in our
country. Indeed, post-election petitions reduced by over 50%.
38.
Let me assure all Nigerians of
my resolve to lead our nation into a safer, more peaceful, and
prosperous future for our children.
39.
For the time has come, to rise
above ethnic and religious divisions;
The time
has come, to unite against violence, in all its ramifications;
The time
has come, to secure our peace, and unite against suffering, and
deprivation;
40.
I see a new Nigeria rising. A
Nigeria, that is economically strong. A Nigeria, that takes its
rightful place of leadership in the world. A Nigeria, that uses
its diversity to reinforce its strength. A Nigeria, we all can
be proud of.
41.
This is the Nigeria we need
and this is the Nigeria, we all must build.
42.
As we celebrate today, let us
resolve to build the Nigeria of our future.
43.
I
thank you.
God
bless you all.
And
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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