VP’s Remarks At March Past & Cultural Displays Marking The 30th Anniversary Of Akwa Ibom

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THERE IS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND AKWA IBOM STATE SAYS OSINBAJO

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, VICE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, AT THE MARCH PAST AND CULTURAL DISPLAY CELEBRATIONS MARKING THE 30^TH ANNIVERSARY OF AKWA IBOM AT THE GODSWILL AKPABIO INTERNATIONAL STADIUM, UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2017.

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I am honoured to be here to celebrate this special day with you, the government and people of this state.

I also bring you very warm congratulatory greetings from his Excellency, the President and Commander in- Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

I must thank my dear friend and brother, his Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel, for inviting me specially to attend this event, as the Land of Promise attains its 30th year.

I also thank his Excellency for the visionary leadership that he continues to provide for the state since his inauguration about two years ago. God will continue to reward your efforts to improve the fortunes of the good people of Akwa Ibom state.

This is a state with a great history of progressive political activism. It was on this soil that the Ibibio Union was formed which fought from 1953 for the creation first, of the core states and in 1987 Akwa Ibom state.

You have carried on this great tradition of patriotism and development by ensuring progress has been made. We are in this spectacular stadium, the vision of the immediate past Governor Godswill Akpabio.

Building on that, today I have commissioned three projects; a syringe factory, a meter production factory and a state-of-the-art general hospital built by his Excellency Governor, Udom Emmanuel. The latter must be greater than the former and I pray for you all in this state, that your latter days will be greater than the former, and that you will see progress daily.

President Buhari has consistently emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership for development between the Federal Government and Akwa Ibom state. And this is the reason the Federal Government has awarded the contract for the dualization of Odukpani – Itu (Spur Ididep Itam) – Ikot Ekpene Federal highway covering parts of Cross River and Akwa Ibom states in the sum of N54 Billion Naira.  Also, provision has been made in the budget of the Nigerian Ports Authority to support the state in the development of the Ibom deep seaport at Ibaka. This I believe is an important innovation of the present government and the Federal Government will support financially and any other way

We must not, however, take for granted the steady progress of our economic growth and social stability.  Peace is the foundation of enduring prosperity, and for peace to reign everywhere in Nigeria, we must all, government and people, make the necessary sacrifices.

We are in a situation where we must take seriously the admonition to “love our neighbours” as ourselves. Whatever complaints we might have, must not be an excuse for subverting the social order.

The Buhari government is prepared to engage and listen patiently to all sections of the country and act in the best interests of our nation and its people. But you and I, as individuals also have a major role to play.

Citizens everywhere should never sit idly when misguided elements in our midst recklessly destroy, the common bonds and relationships built across tribe and tongues for decades! It is our duty to speak up and convey the message of peace and reconciliation – a message which is common to all cultures and religions in Nigeria.

Finally, I would like to implore you, your Excellency, not to relent on the good work you are doing in this state. With firm and dedicated leadership, I am confident that, for the present and the future, Akwa Ibom will continue to shine as a model for infrastructure development, peaceful coexistence and economic growth and prosperity. God bless the good people of Akwa Ibom State. God bless Nigeria.