Nigeria's former vice president, Atiku Abubakar has declared that the year 2017 is a year of new hope for Nigeria and Nigerians.
Atiku in a statement released to mark the New Year celebrations, described the outgoing 2016 as a year in which our nation faced a multitude of challenges, but which ended on a high note, giving us hope and confidence in what we as a nation can achieve when we stand to work together.
He said: “Our military has recorded an important victory over Boko Haram and we should be grateful for the sacrifice our men and women in uniform are prepared to make to keep us safe. To honour them, we should also remember that it is our collective responsibility to make peace, and not just in the North East.)
“I believe we can and will work around our differences, because we know that our strength lies in our diversity. And when we make our New Year’s resolutions, I hope my countrymen and countrywomen will join me in aspiring to be tolerant and to listen with an open mind and heart to those who do not share our views. We should respect each other’s views and traditions, and we should remember that our humanity shows in how we treat the most vulnerable.”
The chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) also addressed the economic challenges Nigeria is facing, saying: “On the economic front, the federal government has given assurances of a speedy recovery. I am confident that we will see investments in key sectors, and that steps will be taken to restore business confidence. We’ve been dealt a cruel hand, but things are looking up, and I’m confident we will emerge stronger: we’re learning to be more efficient and effective, and we’re learning to evaluate what we really need and what we can afford. We’re suffering, but we’ll become more innovative and competitive.”
Atiku said hope was important to all as we aim to achieve in 2017, as that hope and perseverance will guide us through the darkness that announces the break of dawn.
He thanked God for seeing Nigeria through a tough year, noting that the rest of Nigeria’s journey could only be made possible with God’s help.
The former vice-president recently described the defeat of the Boko Haram as the best Christmas and New Year present to Nigeria.
Atiku, in a statement by his Media Office in Abuja on Tuesday, December 27, noted that the sacrifice of the Armed Forces was a gift to the nation that had been under tremendous stress on account of the deadly activities of the insurgents.
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