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The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, on Wednesday called on Nigerians to stand firm and defend the unity of the country.

Tambuwal made the call at the 10th Daily Trust Dialogue entitled: ``Nation Building: Challenges and Reality’’, organised by the Media Trust Limited in Abuja.

He said the country may be facing numerous challenges but if Nigerians would stand together in unity, we would succeed.

``This nation is facing a lot of challenges, but we do not face a hopeless situation. The future is bright even though the horizon appears cloudy.

``More than ever before, this is a time for us to stand together, to count our blessing and guard our hard fought unity.

``The random act of violence, which some critic call sign of a failing state, are in reality clear indications that we still have work to do. The challenges of nation building are huge in a place like Nigeria.

``The diversity of culture and character, the difference in religion and tradition, the clear gap in values and orientation and the dubious legacy of our colonial history, made the prospect down.

``But if we resolve to work together, we can push them all,’’ Tambuwal said.

He said that the job of nation building is not done with yet, adding: ``we must continue to tolerate each other knowing that we are as well to others as they appear to us’’.

In his remark, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, stressed the need for all to defend the nation’s democracy and encourage politicians, rather than criticising most of the time.

``I am convinced that this nation will succeed. We need people to fix things right, we can’t continue to call the names of our founding fathers. We must learn to encourage our politicians.

``We must defend this democracy not because it is perfect but because of our future. We should concentrate on the achievement and build on it,’’ Kukah said.

According to him, we must be conscious that we are leaders in our respective fields and it is the aggregate of our responsibility that builds the nation.

The Director, Africa Research and Development Agency, Dr Sule Bello, in his speech said that the problem of nation building in Africa was not solely about bad leadership but the influence of foreign powers.

He said nation building was a major way through which political entities were created and it was on the basis of the same principle governing the creations of nation states that international relationships were organised.

Bello said Pan African leaders were constantly being opposed by the west and ``what we have in return are agents of the west.

``Africa is not independent of other nations and we must fight to be independent. This fight must not be based on ethnic or religious difference,’’ he said.

Bello said Africans should clearly define unity in the interest of the continent and follow it to a logical conclusion.

However, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, has also urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of tolerance as the country celebrates Eid-El- Maulud, the birth of Prophet Muhammad.

This is contained in a message issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Tambuwal enjoined Nigerians to eschew bitterness and primordial sentiments in their dealings with one another.

He said Prophet Muhammad's life was an example in forthrightness, diligence, hard work, and commitment to set objectives.

According to him, when imbibed, these virtues can help propel any nation toward rapid growth and development.

He said that on this occasion of the celebration of Eid- El-Maulud, Nigerians should collectively reflect on how the prophet's life and ideals could help the country to overcome its present challenges.

Prof. Emmanuel Dandaura, a Professor of Theatre Arts at the Nasarawa State University, said that the Nigerian film industry was not ideologically-driven.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday that the sector was presently driven by private entrepreneurs who only saw the industry as an avenue to make quick money.

The professor said there was the need for the Federal Government to make deliberate policy that would encourage professionals to come into the sector.

According to him, the industry is presently driven by private entrepreneurs, who want to make a living without basic knowledge of theatre.

``I agree that the Nollywood industry is not a true identity of who we are. It is an evolutional process, first you must recognise the fact that the people in the industry are private entrepreneurs, who want to curve a niche for themselves.

``The present crop of producers of films in the Nollywood are yet to come to terms with an ideologically-driven home video industry. We need to re-school ourselves so that our films will be ideologically driven.

``In this case, we can be talking about how we can use it as a vehicle to sale our very best. But at the moment, we are still at the level of trying to compete with hunger and other items that Nigerians spend their money on,’’ he said.

He noted that ``until the professionals are on the driver’s seat, it will be difficult for us to begin to talk about an ideologically-driven film culture''.

Dandaura said that Nigerians were not adequately exposed to theatre performance and stressed the need for national orientation ``so that we can have ideology at the back of our minds as we produce our films.’’

Enugu state Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime flanked by some members of the Governor's forum, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue state, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state (l) and their Rivers state counterpart, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi in London on Tuesday.

The Campaign for Democracy (CD), South-East region, has rated Governors Rochas Okorocha, Peter Obi and Sullivan Chime high in infrastructure and human capital development.

This is contained in a statement issued to newsmen by CD in Onitsha , Anambra on Tuesday.

The statement was signed by Mr Uzor Uzor and Dr. Jerry Chukwuokolo, chairman and secretary of the group respectively.

The statement said within two years of Gov. Okorocha administration he had tarred close to 500 kilometres of roads, most of which were in the rural areas of the three senatorial zones of the state.

``Apart from road, the Okorocha's administration had erected monumental buildings and also erected a central gate-way in each of the senatorial districts of Imo.

``As well as the current building of the ultra-modern general hospitals in the 27 council areas of the state and running a functional free education system from the primary school level to tertiary institution in the state.

``However, apart from the recent N500 million given to security agencies as a motivational measure; the governor had not done so well in terms of security.

``Imo is still fraught with a lot of criminality and making the state unfavourable for investors,’’ it said.

CD said Anambra scored second in ranking in the zone; adding that Gov. Obi had tarred over 500 kilometres of roads within his six years in office.

``Obi renovated and revitalised secretariat complexes of 21 council areas of the state; built new civil servants’ secretariat headquarters, new teaching hospital, ultra-modern electronic library and built two stadia in Onitsha .

``Constructed over 50 bridges across communities in Anambra especially those at the grassroots; gave security agencies over 400 operational and equipped vehicles; and paid salaries, pension and entitlement of its workers promptly.

”But Obi had failed to provide water for the teeming population in Onitsha and its environs; non conduct of local council elections.

``No investment in job creation, which had led to high incidences of commercial motorcycle riding as well as high crime rate,’’ it said.

The statement also noted that Enugu State Government was another administration that had shown commitment to the development of its people.

``Gov. Chime embarked on massive development of urban areas and through this uplifted the status of Enugu from a colonial city to a modern mega city with first class amenities.

``The governor had also conducted local council election, which had eluded other states and restored grassroots political participation and economic development.

``However, chime had failed to provide social amenities to rural dwellers in the state, especially at the boundary communities between the state and its neighbouring states,’’ the release added.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has not been served with the court order on the removal of Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as the National Secretary of PDP. Mr Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, said in Ab...

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) said it would confer Citizens Responsibility Recognition (CRR) award on Gov. Idris Wada of Kogi for declining to be flown abroad for medical treatment.

The Director-General of the agency, Mr Mike Omeri, stated this in Abuja on Tuesday in a statement.

Omeri said that the award was sequel to the governor’s refusal to be treated abroad following his involvement in a car crash.

He said that this was in line with the agency's campaign to encourage Nigerians to patronise the country’s local health facilities.

Omeri called on all Nigerians to imbibe the culture of receiving treatments locally, and said that Wada’s action was a vote of confidence on the capability of the country’s medical sector.

The director-genaral said that the governor’s action was, therefore, worthy of emulation by Nigerians.

In a letter to Wada, Omeri said, ``We are delighted by your action, which will encourage more Nigerians to patronise our local health facilities.''

The NOA boss asked all Nigerians to pray for the governor’s quick recovery after his surgery.

He, however, condoled with the families of those who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate accident.

NAN recalls that Wada was involved in a car crash on Dec. 30, 2012 while returning to Lokoja from Ayangba and was still being treated at a private hospital in Abuja.

NOA has been consistent in recognsing what it describes as the nationalistic disposition of citizens by presenting them with its “Citizens Responsibility Recognition Award” with a token sum of N30,000.

Former Governor of Anambra, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has described the amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria as God’s plan for the country to develop into a world power.

Ezeife told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday that Nigeria was endowed with human and natural resources capable of making it a rallying point for other countries.

He said, ``The colonial masters were only implementing the desires of God. God wants us to be together,’’ the former governor said, referring to the 1914 unification of the two protectorates by the British colonialist to form Nigeria.

The former governor also said, ``Black men need a rallying point and a big brother.

``They need someone to develop into a super power to raise the prestige and respect of black people anywhere they are, and that is the role of Nigeria.

``That is Nigeria’s destiny which we are running away from.’’

He called on Nigerians to harness their potentials towards developing the country, adding that the clamour for the country to divide would not be in the interest of peace and harmony.

``We have competed with whites in several ways and we have proved beyond reasonable doubt that Nigeria is richly blessed, but how do we show the world what we are made of if we keep developing backward.

``There is the need for us to harness our potentials so that the country can compete favourably with other countries of the world,’’ he said.

The former governor called on politicians to emulate the American election to enhance development.

He described Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s acceptance of defeat in the U.S. Presidential election as a wakeup call for Nigerian politicians to avoid unnecessary bickering in the interest of the country.

``We should give peace a chance in Nigeria.

``There were lots of problem between Romney and Obama but they had to tolerate each other.

``At the end it was what they could do for America that mattered,'' he said. (NAN)

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Olugbenga Ashiru, on Tuesday stressed the need for training on global best practices for officials at the nation’s port of entry. Ashiru said this at a two-day workshop on ``Global Best Practices’’ ...