Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has called on Nigerians to unite against retrogressive forces threatening the corporate existence of the country and its sustainable development.
Governor Oborevwori made the call in his Independence Day speech at the Cenotaph, Asaba, on Tuesday.
He said: “It is my prayer that we use the occasion of this anniversary to engage in sober reflection and think of how each one of us can contribute our quota to the growth and development of the country.
“We must stand resolute in contending with the forces of evil threatening to tear us apart through bigotry, inciting oratory, and insurgency.”
He paid tribute to the nation’s founding fathers who fought valiantly, often at the risk of their lives and those of their families, for the freedom of the nation and expressed optimism that the present challenges would soon pass away.
“While challenges in life are inevitable, hope gives us the energy and motivation to forge ahead with the firm belief that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. We must believe that the future will be better than the past in some way because every problem has a solution.
“I am confident that Nigeria will come out of its current predicament stronger and better poised to live up to its potential and promise as the giant of Africa”, he said.
Oborevwori said his administration was working hard to cushion the pains of the current hardship occasioned by the fiscal and monetary reforms, pointing out that his administration upscaled the beneficiaries of Delta Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (D-CARES) programme from 36,353 to 208,209) persons, representing an astronomical increase of 473 per cent.
He said: “Through the MORE Grant Scheme for traders, artisans, and female entrepreneurs, we have empowered over 5,000 persons with business support packages and grants.
“Just last week, we distributed farm inputs to over 6,000 farmers in the state to boost agricultural production and move us closer to achieving food security in the state. We are determined to create a vibrant agricultural sector, which is critical for inclusive economic growth, employment generation, import substitution, and sustainable development.
“Consequently, the State Government, in collaboration with the Africa Union Development Agency, New Partnership for African Development (AUDA NEPAD) in order to further strengthen MORE smallholder farmers, has approved and released N1 billion as counterpart fund to empower 2,000 farmers.”
He commended President Tinubu for constituting a National Youth Conference for the purpose of integrating youths into active nation building, assuring that the state would also key into the initiative to invest in policies and programmes that would inspire hope in the younger generation and facilitate access to resource for wealth creation.
Continuing, he said; “indeed, there has been considerable growth and renewal in the sixteen months of this administration in the form of rehabilitated and reconstructed roads, new roads, upgraded schools, critical housing projects, and an improved living environment.
“I dare say, we have made significant progress, and I will be the first to admit that we still have much to do. In the months and years ahead, I expect many of our projects to come to fruition as our policies and programmes begin to mature.”
Governor Oborevwori said; “this administration will not spare any effort to ensure that crime is reduced to the barest minimum by strengthening our partnership with the security agencies.
“Of equal significance is the need to actively enlist the participation of the private sector and all relevant stakeholders in our communities in the fight against crimes because security is a shared responsibility.
“Towards this end, plans are in place to revitalize the Delta State Security Trust Fund with a fund-raising event to be held within the shortest possible time and I earnestly solicit the full and unreserved cooperation of all of us to make our dream of a safe and secure Delta State a reality.
“I want to encourage us to continue to be our brothers’ keeper and maintain the peace we have in the state by shunning bigotry, baneful wranglings, and divisive tendencies. No meaningful development can take place in the absence of peace.
“So, it is my earnest hope and expectation that we will use the occasion of this anniversary celebration to rededicate ourselves to strengthening the ties that bind us together. Collectively, we can advance Delta through our MORE agenda.”
