We will build a stronger, abundant and prosperous Ondo State Together

News Adeboye October 1, 2024 0 Comments

Being an address by the Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, at the commemoration of the 65th Independence Day Anniversary of Nigeria held at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade, Akure, on Tuesday, October 1st, 2024.

I am greatly delighted to welcome you all to this auspicious occasion of the 64th anniversary celebration of our nationhood. It is an occasion to reminisce on our successes and challenges as a country.

Let us recall with a deep sense of history that, this day 64 years ago, the chain of colonization of Nigeria was destroyed and her glory restored as we gained independence to manage our economic and socio-political destiny. We all deserve to be celebrated because since then, we have successfully weathered the travails of the journey of nation-building. Without equivocation we can confidently say that we have reasons to celebrate as a people.
In the last 64 years, we have made remarkable progress in our nation building and socio-economic growth-path for a better Nigeria by deliberately tackling and overcoming serial challenges that had threatened our unity and peace.
Therefore, this day marks a high point in the sanctity and sacredness of our nationhood as it signposts a significant mileage in acknowledging the selfless sacrifices of our founding fathers, mothers and unyielding patriots who through activism, struggles and relentless agitations fought to secure our sovereignty and independence from the shackles of the colonialists who greedily scrambled for our commonwealth and enslaved us.
So far, we have demonstrated unwavering resolve to harness and sustain the benefits of our differences and diversity in the best interest of our togetherness and brotherhood. The benefits are making our country stronger, as we reshape and grow our socio-political economy.
In the light of the invaluable gains we have made, we shall remain steadfast, considerate, empathetic and continue to raise the bar of passionate leadership in our determination to assuage the impacts of the present economic hardship and bring comfort to our people. This we have demonstrated with the resuscitation of the Free Shuttle Buses as a social safety net for students, the groundbreaking infrastructural reengineering, the stable health sector reforms, the O’ Datiwa mass meter distribution to eliminate estimated billings and darkness, the investment in critical segment of our economy, relief packages to temper the impact of rising costs of food, social services, unabated inflation occasioned by the painful but necessary removal of fuel subsidy and strategic human capital development.
We are faithfully committed to these inalienable core values and creed as our irrevocable and irreducible minimum social contract with the people of Ondo State. For us as a government, we are committed to your socioeconomic well-being, so, there is no looking back. Our hands are firmly and steadily on the plough. With your unflinching support, we shall ensure that you enjoy abundant dividends of good governance in the State as we consciously unlock the fortunes of this State through policies and programmes for the good of all in line with the Renewed Hope Mantra of the President and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
As we raise the flag, singing our national anthem, we must continue to live with the consciousness that freedom comes with inevitable responsibility to sustain it in unity and progress. Today is presenting to us again another invaluable opportunity to reflect on our long walk to nationhood, do an objective assessment of our gains, pains, verifiable accomplishments and inspire a resurgent optimism and hope.
The reality of the harsh impacts of the transformative economic reforms and the attendant inevitable sacrifices must be acknowledged. We are however on the threshold of setting our socioeconomic prosperity on the upward drive, to banishing hunger, misery and wants from our land through robust economic policies and programmes that would engender significant growth that would resonate with our transformational agenda for the State.

1o. In line with our avowed commitment to equity and social justice, we shall continue to proactively respond to the prevailing socioeconomic volatility with profound and well-thought-out policies, programmes and constructive stakeholders’ engagement that would adequately address, mitigate the adverse effect and foster positive change.

Our administration is pragmatically dedicated to fostering sustainable development and prosperity. Progress and innovation are flourishing. We are deliberately diversifying the State economy from reliance on FAAC revenue by leveraging the State’s natural and strategic advantages in tourism and agriculture. The conception of the Diaspora Smart City in Akure aimed at attracting international investment and positioning Ondo State as a hub for global business and tourism is one of our cardinal programmes to advance the frontiers of economic prosperity and abundant life in our dear State. We are also hosting the Global Entrepreneurship Festival come November this year. This would further open up Ondo State to the world.
No matter our socio-political persuasions, let us with incurable optimism, be more tolerant and profoundly focused on the possibilities of our greatness as an emerging country, let us keep our eyes on the legacy of a greatly prosperous Nigeria that we hope to bequeath to upcoming generations.
It is imperative that we become more statesmanlike in our conduct both in public and private, let us embrace nobler passions, dialogues and productive engagements that unite rather than divide us as citizens of this great country. Let us inculcate virtues that project honour, sense of mission and purpose, national pride, sanctity and sacredness of our togetherness, pristine integrity, collective heroism and undying patriotism. We must refrain from escalating disruptive tendencies that portend hopelessness, despair and failure.
At this juncture, let me remind us of the need to be alive to our civic responsibility as we prepare for the November 16 Governorship Election in our dear State which is a defining moment in our political history. We must all play by the rules and recommit ourselves to a peaceful and credible election.
Let us be more bonded in our hope and desire to build a stronger and abundantly prosperous Ondo State. Together, let us continue to nurture our shared expectations, aspirations and hope of a glorious Ondo State. Once again, I rejoice with our great country, Nigeria, as she gracefully gains another prosperous year to her age. Happy independence celebration.
I thank you for listening.