As Nigeria marks her 60th Independence Day celebration on 1st October, 2020, the National Coordinator and Chairman of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, Chief Sheriff Mulade, has decried the level of infrastructural decay in the country.
Speaking with newsmen on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on the country’s Independence Day, Mulade urged the Federal and State governments to mark every 1st October with foundation laying and commissioning of landmark infrastructural projects that are of benefits of Nigerians.
The CEPEJ boss noted that as Nigeria celebrates this year’s Independence Day to mark her freedom from her colonial masters as a sovereign nation, the Federal and State governments should come up with laudable landmark projects and programmes that Nigerians can be proud of instead of presenting only papers and making political speeches to Nigerians every year without tangible results.
Chief Mulade who is also the Ibe-soremowei of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State, congratulated Nigerians for their individual and collective efforts towards uniting the country, and for being an independent nation despite some critical challenges confronting the country which range from insecurity, dwindling economy, degraded environment and bad leadership.
He stressed that Nigeria’s independence day celebration should be dedicated to the harvest of completed projects that would add value to the lives of the masses.
The coordinator of the civil society organisation urged the present administration to use the nation’s huge financial resources to transform the country into an entity that all Nigerians can be proud of and also fight against all forms of nepotism, godfatherism and favouritism.
While commending President Muhammadu Buhari and his cabinet for ensuring unity, peace, good governance and prudent management of the nation’s resources in the face of COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Mulade appealed to the Presidency to beef up security in the country, especially to stem the killings in Southern Kaduna, indiscriminate attacks, adoption and killing of armless Nigerians by armed bandits and headsmen.
On the current state of coronavirus in Nigeria, Chief Mulade appreciated the NCDC on the manner the agency has managed pandemic despite the economic hiccups experienced by the country in the past years.
Chief Mulade further expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the just concluded Edo State governorship election, adding that freedom to choose a leader is the right of all citizens, and should not be seen as a favour.
He urged all Nigerians irrespective of political, ethnic and religious affiliations, to always seek good governance and leadership at all levels of government for a better and well-developed nation.
He urged all Nigerians to be peaceful, tolerant and express love for one another so that the change being sort by all can be achieved.
According to him, this would draw everyone closer to achieve a common development goal and the re-branding of the country.
He said the Independence Day has a great importance in every citizen’s life as it reminds each one that freedom is sacred and that citizens must do everything to ensure that it is not endangered.
