President Goodluck Jonathan |
Below is the full text of president Goodluck Jonathan's 2014
Independence Day broadcast, sent to SHOWBIZPLUSng by presidential spokesman, Dr.
Reuben Abati.
Fellow Nigerians:
1.
Today marks the 54th anniversary of our country’s independence as a sovereign
nation. This is also the tenth month of
our journey into a new century, having marked the centenary of our nation in
January this year.
2.
The first one hundred years were marked by triumphs and tribulations,
benefits and burdens, opportunities and challenges. We made some far reaching advances in
building a strong, united and prosperous nation. We also overcame the forces of disunity that
culminated in a debilitating civil war.
We have also renewed our faith in one another, and in our country. We
have proven that we are truly a resilient nation.
3.
In my address to the nation last year, I did emphasize that we were in a
sober moment in our country. We are still in that mood in spite of the many
accomplishments of our administration. Our sombreness has to do with the crises
of nationhood occasioned by the activities of terrorist elements who have done
the unimaginable to challenge our unity as a people.
4.
On an occasion like this, it is important that we remember all the
precious souls that have been lost in the unprecedented war of terror unleashed
on some parts of our country by these individuals who want to compel us to live
our lives their way. They will not
succeed!
5.
In their mission, they have maimed and raped. They have killed men,
women and children, rendering many children orphans and several women widows.
6.
They have made violence their ideology and are bent on destroying our
country. Dear countrymen and women, we
will not allow them.
7.
Night after night, day after day, our security forces continue to engage
the terrorists in battle. My gratitude goes out to our armed forces whose will
has been greatly challenged by this insurgency more than any other time, since the
civil war.
8.
Yet, they have remained undaunted and unwearied in the face of constant
challenge and mortal danger. Driven by patriotic zeal, they are turning the
tide by their prowess and determination. As Commander-in-Chief, I will continue
to do all it takes to enable them to keep on inflicting devastating blows at
the heart of terror. Fellow Nigerians, it is our collective duty as patriots to
avail our men and women in uniform of all the support they need to fight and
win this war.
9.
This Administration is committed to making Nigeria safe for all
Nigerians, irrespective of our places of birth, how we worship God and our
political persuasion. To all those waging war against our country, I ask that you
lay down your arms and embrace peace.
10.
To those who have genuine grievances, I affirm that Nigeria will listen
to you, if you bring your grievances to the table of dialogue. To the good
people of Nigeria, let me restate that our task of building a better and
greater country must not waver.
11.
While we continue to deploy
our resources in the fight against the terrorists, we do recognize the great
toll the conflict is taking on our people.
12.
This is why, to assist the
afflicted, we have launched the Victims
Support Fund, an independent multi-sectoral charity, which will
aggressively solicit resources to augment Government’s statutory intervention,
in bringing succour to the injured, the displaced and the bereaved.
13.
In partnership with Nigerian
business leaders and international partners, we have also introduced the Safe
Schools Initiative which is aimed at promoting safe environments for
education nationwide, starting with the North East region.
14.
The Presidential
Initiative for the North East, a
comprehensive programme to fast-track the economic restoration of this region,
which has been the epicentre of terrorist activity, has been set up.
15.
Our overall objective is
to do all we possibly can, to sustain in the North-East, the momentum of
economic advancement, which is on-going in other parts of the country, despite
the machinations of the terrorists and their sponsors.
16.
It should now be clear to
anyone who was ever in doubt that these terrorists do not mean well for anyone,
of whatever religion or dispensation. Their persistent choice of the weakest
and most vulnerable in society, for gruesome attack, provides an insight into
their abnormal mind-set.
17.
I urge every Nigerian to
put aside political, sectional or other parochial considerations, and support
whole-heartedly the efforts of the government and the military, in checking
this evil.
18.
We are grateful to the
international community, and especially our neighbours who are working closely
with us in confronting this challenge, for their increased partnership and
solidarity. Our steady progress in weakening the insurgency has certainly justified
our cooperation.
19.
Fellow Nigerians, in my independence anniversary address last year, I
informed you that we had taken cognizance of the suggestion over the years by
well-meaning Nigerians on the need to focus attention on rebuilding and
strengthening the ligaments of our union. It was in that regard that we
announced the convening of a National Dialogue on the future of our beloved
country.
20.
We have successfully delivered on that promise as we established the
2014 National Conference headed by Justice Legbo Kutigi. After months of
deliberations, which did not come without its challenges, the conference
concluded its assignment and has handed its Report to me.
21.
I have made a firm commitment that we would act on the recommendations
of the conference. This, I have started by setting up the Ministerial Committee
headed by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to work out the
modalities for implementing the Report. Every promise I make, God willing, I
will see to its fulfilment. I assure you, we
shall implement the report.
22.
One major lesson which the 2014 National Conference has taught us as a
country is that, a multi-ethnic country like ours, must learn to embrace
painstaking dialogue until consensus is established.
23.
To me, the National Conference is the greatest centenary gift to our
country that we must cherish and sustain.
24.
Fellow Nigerians, our 54 year-journey as a nation has not been easy. There
have been tough periods, but the Nigerian spirit and the unflagging resilience
of our people have seen us through. We will continue to march forward to
greater heights.
25.
We have been able to sustain a big, strong and influential country with
a robust economy. We are currently in our sixteenth year of uninterrupted
democratic rule, daily improving on the consolidation of our democratic process.
26.
Our Administration has made a commitment to ensure that we build and
sustain a democratic infrastructure anchored on free and fair elections.
International and local observers have attested to the positive evolution of
electoral credibility and we cannot afford to relent.
27.
We will continue to ensure that the will of the electorate prevails so
that political leaders would be reminded at all times that there is a day of
reckoning when they have to go back to the people at the polls. Election days
must not be days of violence and death. We must remain vigilant to ensure that
our electoral process is characterised by peace, security and transparency.
28.
I enjoin the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC), all security agencies, politicians and
the electorate to work conscientiously and peacefully, together, to consolidate
on the gains of the recent elections. Free
and fair elections have come to stay; nothing else will be acceptable to our
people.
29.
My dear countrymen and
women, occasions such as this present an opportunity to thank God for our
country and to report to you, on our journey so far.
30.
Our power sector reform is on course with the ultimate objective of
generating enough electricity to power our homes, industries and businesses. We
are making giant strides in the Agricultural Sector which we are re-positioning
to diversify our economy. We will continue to upgrade our infrastructure to
make life easier for all and create an enabling environment for enterprise to
flourish.
31.
Over the last four years,
the implementation of the Nigerian Content Act in the Oil and Gas Sector has ensured
major increase in the participation of indigenous Oil and Gas companies in the
industry. Several critical infrastructure projects have been commissioned and
commenced. The level of indigenous asset ownership has greatly increased and
utilisation of Nigerian-owned and built assets such as marine vessels and rigs
is being progressively enforced.
32.
There has been maximised
local value addition by encouraging the manufacture of equipment components and
parts within the country. There has also
been massive growth in indigenous participation in the provision of goods and
services to the upstream sector from 10% to 60% within the last four years.
33.
Today, following the
rebasing of our economy, every international monitoring and ratings agency now
acknowledges Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa, with a Gross Domestic
Product of five hundred and ten billion dollars ($510
billion) which also places us as the 26th largest economy in the world. This is progress.
34.
Earlier in the year, we
launched the Nigeria Industrial
Revolution Plan (NIRP) and the National
Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) with the stated objective of fast
tracking inclusive growth, job creation, enterprise development and
industrialisation.
35.
The success of these
policies is already evident in the increased value addition in the agricultural
and manufacturing sectors.
36.
In line with our objective
of encouraging the production of made-in-Nigeria vehicles and making Nigeria a
regional hub for the automobile industry, a number of foreign auto
manufacturers have established plants in Nigeria, complementing the laudable
efforts of our local vehicle manufacturers who have also demonstrated great
innovation and competitiveness.
37.
We have also launched a
special support programme for Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises with an initial intervention fund of two
hundred and twenty billion naira (N220 b).
This is in addition to the Presidential
Job Creation Board which I inaugurated recently with the charge to create
three million jobs annually.
38.
In demonstration of our
Administration’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit, we have
commenced the new mortgage re-finance programme with the establishment of the Nigerian Mortgage Re-finance Company. It
is expected that, in addition to creating additional housing units across the
country, this initiative also represents a huge job creation opportunity.
39. We have recorded notable success in the
social sector. Nigeria has been globally acknowledged for reducing extreme
hunger by more than half, with the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) formally presenting the country with an award
for achieving the Millennium Development Goal on Hunger three years ahead of
the 2015 target date set for the Millennium Development Goals.
40.
This
progress is as a result of the deliberate policy of government to increase
capacity in our agricultural sector of which the first step was to address and
eliminate the graft in our fertilizer procurement system and ensure that the
product gets directly to the farmer. We are expanding our irrigation infrastructure to ensure that our
farmers have sufficient water supply for dry season farming.
41.
A benefit of these
combined actions is that our national food import bill has declined from 1.1
trillion naira (6.9 billion dollars) in 2009 to 684.7 billion naira (4.35
billion dollars) by December 2013, and continues to decline.
42. Modern hybrid schools are being provided for less privileged children across
the country, resulting in significant increase in the national school enrolment
figure.
43. In order to further enhance access to education at the tertiary level,
fourteen new Federal Universities have been established; and, to encourage
persons of exceptional abilities, our Administration has also introduced a
Presidential Scholarship Scheme based strictly on excellence and merit.
44.
On infrastructure, we are
building roads, bridges, and new rail lines to make it easier to traverse
Nigeria and increase the integration of our people and our ability to do
business with each other. In this regard, we have commenced the process of
building the Second Niger Bridge. The Loko-Oweto Bridge over River Benue in Nasarawa and Benue States, will significantly reduce travel time by road between Northern and
Southern Nigeria. The on-going dredging of the River Niger up to Baro in Niger
State is opening up large parts of the Nigerian hinterland to maritime
activity.
45.
The Zungeru and Mambilla
Hydro-electric power projects are on course, and the Kashimbilla dam which we
started a few years ago, is nearing completion. The successful privatisation of
our power sector will in the long run enhance industrial growth. Policies such
as this and others have raised Nigeria to the enviable status of being the
number one recipient of Foreign Direct Investment in Africa in the past year.
46.
The result of this
infrastructure drive is that two and a half million jobs have been created over
the past two years. This is a record, which we are committed to improve upon to
continue to provide jobs for our youth.
47.
An unprecedented number of
Airports across the country, are not only being reconstructed at the same time,
but being re-equipped and reassessed with emphasis on maintaining global
standards.
48.
Fellow Nigerians, the goals we set to achieve for our country involve
expanding the frontiers of economic freedom. Let us therefore unite with one
heart and one mind. All our people must have access to the good things of life.
All our people must be empowered to pursue the gift of life with happiness. This is our country; we must build it for our common posterity.
49.
As we move into an election year, desperate moves to overheat the polity
are becoming a regular occurrence. Our
political leaders in particular must know that the contest for power should not
translate to the destruction of the polity.
50.
The contest for the leadership of our country must yield good
governance, and not ungovernable spaces. The love of country should rank higher
than our individual ambitions.
51.
We must remain committed to a united and indivisible Nigeria within
democratic parameters. The protection of individual rights, liberty, equality
before the law, freedom of thought, and a progressive pursuit of a sound
economy must be our goal.
52.
I cannot end this address without commenting on the deadly Ebola Virus
Disease (EVD) which was sadly brought into our country recently. My directives
to the Federal Ministry of Health saw the ministry leading the charge in
curtailing the spread of this deadly scourge and managing its impact. This is
how it should be: swift, effective and
comprehensive action in defence of citizens.
53.
It must be pointed out that the Ebola battle is still raging elsewhere in
our sub-region. I therefore enjoin all our citizens to continue to adhere
strictly to all the guidelines that have been given by our health officials to
keep Ebola out of our country.
54.
I appreciate and welcome the spirit of collaboration, unity and
partnership with which we confronted the threat of the Ebola Virus Disease. I thank all Nigerians for working together to
prevent what could have become a major epidemic. I particularly thank the medical personnel,
some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice.
55.
This is the spirit which we must demonstrate at all times as we face up
to our challenges as a nation: one people, united by a common resolve, in the
pursuit of one common national interest.
56.
As we look forward to another year in our national life, I am more than
confident that our tomorrow will be better than our yesterday and today.
Nigeria has got the human and material resources to excel and we shall lead the
way in that journey to our manifest destiny.
57.
Fellow countrymen,
brothers and sisters, in all our plans, and in all our words and our actions,
we must stand together in love and unity, as one people under God.
58.
We are one people from the
womb of one Nigeria. We are brothers and sisters. We are one family. We are Nigerians.
59.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
1 comment:
my Presido,
i salute you.
please do what Obj could not do, in the name God, fix our light.
gbagam!!!!
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