The Mayor of Urhoboland, Eshanakpe Israel a.k.a Akpodoro, has called on the organisers of the October 1 protest to respect the nation’s Independence Day and shelve the planned protest in the spirit of national solidarity and patriotism.
Akpodoro said the Independence Day mark the birth of the “our nationhood’ and should be respected by all Nigerians at home and abroad.
The Mayor, who is also a notable ex-militant leader in the Niger Delta region, stated this at a well attended stakeholders meeting held in Abuja, Monday to commemorate the nation’s independence from British rule 64 years ago.
The independence Day anniversary according to the Mayor is a national ceremony that requires all well-meaning citizens to join hands in making the day memorable.
He noted that at 64, Nigeria has a lot to be celebrated particularly for the fact that irrespective of challenges, the nation stands as one indivisible entity and this he said is enough to celebrate “our nationhood.”
He said: “There’s no nation without challenges and none is insurmountable, Mayor Akpodoro said, adding that the best thing that happen to Nigeria since independence is the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Commander-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
He said President Tinubu has been doing his best to reposition the national economy, thus breathing life into its socio-economic tissues that were hitherto dead.
The President, he said, has set the nation on the path of national renaissance and that, all the citizens should do is to be patient with the current administration.
The former warlord noted that Nigeria is better and stronger than most economies of the world stressing that the citizens should learn to celebrate and not demarket their country.
He said that the level of patriotism among Nigerians is too low as he strongly called for citizens’ loyalty and national solidarity.
He noted that most youths find it easier to cast aspersions on the country’s leaders whereas a people deserve their leaders.
This administration, he added, will lead Nigeria to its desired destination of national glory, saying all hands should be on deck to support the government at all levels.
In same vein, the Mayor called on President Tinubu to sack all ministers with low productivity and lacking in proficiency to handle their ministerial assignments.
He said, most ministers do not know their official duties as they flock around the presidency aimlessly without any record of progress.
Such appointees, Mayor Akpodoro added, are round pegs in square holes who should not be appointed in the first place.
The president, Akpodoro said, should be swift in his cabinet reshuffle to inject new blood in his government who will galvanise change in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the All Progressives Congress, APC-led administration.
He said Nigerians are actually suffering hardship and that mere palliatives cannot solve the current austerity in the land.
He sought the sack of all ministers appointed by the current administration except the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, saying he is the only functional appointee in the Renewed Hope administration of President Tinubu while the rest pay lip service to their duty.
He acknowledged the fact that national reformation comes with its peculiar challenges but was quick to remind the President of the need to accelerate change and development adding that the citizens have implicit confidence in his leadership andvhe should justify their patience and understanding.
Mayor Akpodoro called on the opposition elements in the country to join hands with the President to build a virile nation saying at 64, the nation has survived all criminal antics and manipulations of opposing forces.
Akpodoro said: “The time has come for opposition elements to stop swimming against tide and join hands to build the Nigeria of our dream.
“The time has come when opposition elements should stop inciting crisis in the country for peace to reign.
“If you lose election, queue behind the winner and move your country forward rather than instigating civil strife, protests and unrests.”
The vociferous Mayor congratulated the nation on her 64th anniversary.
