As we celebrate the dawn of a New Year, I extend my best wishes to the people of Edo State and Nigeria.
The Year 2011 was challenging for us in Edo State and Nigeria. In Edo State, we have collectively attained greater heights in our efforts to improve the quality of life and to lay the infrastructural foundations for enhanced human development, general public welfare and the pursuit of economic prosperity by our people. We have cause to be grateful to God that under His guidance, we have built on our collective strengths and enhanced our resolve to deal with our challenges.
In the Year 2012, we can confidently look forward to a brighter future, because we have all the ingredients that engender socio-economic and political progress; namely, an enterprising people and a government that works.
For our beloved country, the times are certainly hard across all spheres of governance. In particular, the deficits in the security of lives and property and the management of our diversity have attained levels that give renewed cause for grave anxiety. At this juncture, the Nigerian nation, not one particular religion or ethnic group, is under attack. We must respond as Nigerians and rise as a people to face the challenge, united by a common resolve to defend our collective security and the integrity of the polity.
I believe strongly that Nigeria is all that we have and we have a duty to make it work. I urge that we continue to extend support to Mr President in his efforts to respond to the multifaceted problems he inherited.
Many nations have passed through the dangers and travails unleashed by secular and sectarian violence.
Certainly, several are going through such difficulties even now. Solutions come by dint of faith in God; conscious efforts to nurture unity and consensus, as well as a firm resolve to defend the integrity of the polity.
Therefore, we must not surrender to fear, mutual hatred or a desperation to repartition the polity.
At this point, our thoughts go out particularly to those who lost their loved ones in the recent violent attacks on innocent Nigerians. While we share in their grief, we cannot afford to give up the common Pan-Nigeria aspiration of the vast majority of our people.
We in Edo State re-affirm our unflinching support to President Goodluck Jonathan as he leads the nation to find the right mix of solutions to the multifaceted problems and seek to put the nation on a sound development footing.
I assure Edo people that everything will be done to apply the machinery of the state to make life better for us and our children.
I wish Mr President and all Nigerians a happy and fulfilling 2012, with a prayer that God should bless our efforts to fix Nigeria.
Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, mni
Governor, Edo State