Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday expressed hope that Nigeria will work again in 2018. In his new year message to Nigerians, the former Vice President said
“through increased job opportunities, Nigeria will be working again.”
Abubakar, in the message which he posted on his Facebook page, said 2018 would “bring out the empowerment of Nigerians.”
He urged Nigerians to believe that 2018 would be the “beginning of renaissance of Nigeria.”
Abubakar wrote: “As we step into the new year, my hope for Nigeria is
that all Nigerians will be united. It is my hope that this year will
bring out the empowerment of Nigerians and that through increased job
opportunities, Nigeria will be working again.
“It is my hope that all Nigerians will live in a safe and secure
country. It is my hope that all Nigerians will live in an economy that
provides them the quality of life they deserve and our youth have the
opportunity to receive an education that sets the standard for all of
Africa and the world.
“My commitment in this new year is to help ensure that Nigeria will
rise again and that the hopes of all Nigerians become a reality.
“Tell your friends, tell your family and tell your neighbours that 2018 will be the beginning of the renaissance of Nigeria.
“I wish you all a very Happy New Year.
“God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Similarly, the immediate past President of the Senate, Senator David
Mark has urged the governments and citizens alike to brace up to the
challenges of nationhood and work harmoniously to make 2018 a year of
fulfillment.
He said that 2017 was challenging but expressed optimism that 2018
would be fulfilling if governments at all levels make the people the
centre point of its policies and programme.
In a goodwill message to Nigerians marking the new year, Mark
reminded the present Federal Government that the period of buck-passing
should be over for a more purposeful governance in order to deliver the
dividends of democracy to the people.
Mark acknowledged the resilience and perseverance of Nigerians midst of socio-economic and political difficulties in 2017.
He urged Nigerians to reignite their undying spirit and enter 2018 with vigor and hope.
He said, “I think the period of blame-game should be over by now. It
is time this administration give Nigerians purposeful leadership and
deliver the dividends of Democracy to the Nigerian people”.
The former Senate President noted that the present administration has
had enough gestation period to deliver on its mandate, Pointing out
that dissipating energy trading blames is needless.
Senator Mark also expressed worries over the unabating insecurity
situation in the land , a development he feared may have defied orthodox
methods of combating crimes.
To this end, he advocated for an urgent review of the security
arrangement in the country in order to curtail the multi-faceted
security challenges ravaging the nation.
Security, he explained, should be given utmost priority “because no
meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of crime or
insecurity”.
Senator Mark urged security operatives to rise up to the challenge.
According to him, “I believe that Nigerians deserve to live in peace,
in any part of the country without fear of intimidation or molestation.
We need to cooperate with each other to make progress. We can work
together to make our nation great again”.