Guardian

GOVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State and the Acting Governor of Enugu State, Sunday Onyebuchi, have urged Nigerians to embrace the spirit of patriotism, patience and co-operation to facilitate the needed development in the state.

Amaechi made the appeal yesterday at an inter-denominational church service to mark the country’s 52nd Independence anniversary at The Christ Church in Port Harcourt.

He noted that the achievements recorded in his administration were by the grace of God as well as the support and understanding of the citizens.

The governor reiterated the determination of the state government to meet the people’s demands, stressing that government had the responsibility to ensure that children were properly trained.

The governor pointed that due to the increase in registration of new pupils in the model primary schools, government had moved to build additional one-storey buildings to assist government achieve the target of education for all.

The governor listed education, health, road and power as priority projects in the state, adding that some roads in the state were built 30 and 50 years ago, and his administration had concluded plans to fix the roads during the dry season.

Onyebuchi, who made this call in his anniversary message, said that contemporary events and circumstances in the country currently, were enough to compel all Nigerians to pursue ideals and visions that could only foster greater national integration and advancement.

He noted that the nature of the challenges facing the nation, especially those concerning security, unemployment and frequent natural and unnatural tragedies, was enough to foist on all Nigerians a new sense of solidarity and comradeship that would enable them pool their resources together and pull the nation of out of her current woes.

He lamented that years of unbridled corruption and political maladministration had disillusioned many Nigerians and caused some to embark on courses that were inimical and detrimental to the unity and progress of the country.

Onyebuchi however expressed satisfaction that the current generation of Nigerian leaders was showing a visible resolve to restore the nation to the path of glory and rapid advancement, pointing out that this new direction was complemented by the rising level of awareness and sensitivity among the Nigerian masses to issues concerning the general well being of the nation.