Hope, Unity, And Progress: Jonathan’s Message To Nigerians

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians to remain hopeful and resilient in the face of the nation’s challenges, expressing belief in the country’s ability to overcome its difficulties.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking over the weekend in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Jonathan made these remarks during the commissioning of the Soybean Plant and Refinery of the CSS Group.

The event coincided with the birthday celebration of Prof. John Kennedy Opara, the former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC).

The former president highlighted the importance of collective efforts in nation-building and warned against the rising trend of emigration, popularly known as “Japa.”

The event was attended by several notable figures, including the former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma; Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri; former Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade; and former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen. Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, was represented by his deputy.

He stated, “You don’t need to Japa. Those countries you are running to were built by people. We must build this country together and invest in it so that the youths can secure jobs. We must not shy away from our responsibilities. This country belongs to all of us, and we must not abandon it.”

Similarly, Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri, affirmed, “There is hope in Nigeria. So those who want to Japa, please, don’t Japa. Nigeria is a blessed country. If we all support the private sector, no one will need to leave.”

In his address, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, highlighted, “The level of hunger in Nigeria is too high due to very high food price inflation.” He stressed that the federal government must take immediate steps to address the situation.

He emphasized, “Accelerated efforts are needed to boost food production, reduce the price of food commodities, eliminate food import dependency, and support local farmers in Nigeria to ensure food security.”

“There is no doubt that Nigerian farmers can feed Nigeria. They did so when I served as Minister of Agriculture under President Jonathan. Back then, the price of rice was ₦8,000 per bag; today it exceeds ₦100,000 per bag.”