The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has saluted Nigerians on the occasion of the 59th Independence anniversary of the country.
The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja on Monday commended the citizens for their resilience in standing up for the unity and survival of the nation despite the daunting challenges.
PDP urged Nigerians to keep hope alive and not surrender to despondency in the face of the excesses, impunity and recklessness of retrogressive forces in high places seeking to undermine the national cohesion, freedom of the citizens as guaranteed by the constitution as well as emasculate the will and aspiration of Nigerians as a people.
It noted that the October 1 date remained an undying signpost of the freedom and unity as a nation adding that it reminded of the roots of the national cohesiveness; the sacrifices of the nation’s heroes and the citizens’ determination to live harmoniously and succeed as one people, in all spheres of human endeavours; a national distinctiveness for which Nigerians were known and respected all over the world.
The party equally celebrated the resilience and industry of Nigerians in various fields within and outside the shores of the country as well as the fortitude displayed by the citizens to remain united despite the odds.
It however noted that it was indeed depressing that after 59 years of independence and efforts by patriotic Nigerians in nurturing democratic practice and tenets, the last four years had experienced a complete retrogression to primordial division, impunity, constitutional and human rights violations, assault on institutions of democracy, disobedience to court orders, electoral malpractices and governance by a cabal.
“In the same vein, in the last four years, our nation has been faced with the challenge of falling from being one of the fastest growing economies and home to world’s happiest people to become world’s poverty capital with a citizenry confronted by misery, insecurity, escalated violence, bloodletting, kidnapping, banditry and worsened insurgency”, it said.
The party however expressed optimism that the nation would eventually come out of the woods and urged Nigerians to use the occasion of the independence anniversary to rekindle their commitment towards the unity, stability and development of their fatherland, especially as they collectively await the retrieval of the stolen Presidential mandate at the Supreme Court.
The party also urged leaders at all levels to be committed and sacrificial in the discharge of their duties and desist from empty promises, rhetoric and propaganda, as Nigerians look up to them for solutions.
“The PDP prays for the stability of our nation and wishes Nigerians happy independence celebrations”, it concluded.
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