AS Nigeria prepares to celebrate 52 years of nationhood, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), on Friday, said that the time had come for the nation to reclaim her pre-eminent status in Africa given the reality that the continent had become the next frontier of world development.
Governor Fashola, who fielded questions on the state of the nation from newsmen after the special Friday Jumat Service to commemorate the nation's 52nd independence anniversary, said in the context of the African continent being the next investment destination of the world, Nigeria should rise and take the lead in reaping the economic benefits of that reality.
"The rhetoric on Africa has changed. Ten years ago, I think it was an international magazine which published the screaming headline 'Africa, a hopeless continent'. But today, that rhetoric has changed. The magazine has eaten its words and people of the nations across the world have said that Africa is the next frontier", the governor said.
Noting that Africa was now experiencing six to seven per cent annual growth on a sustainable basis while countries such as Ethiopia and Somalia were experiencing development and holding elections, Governor Fashola declared: "In that context, where do we lie? That is why I started with Africa; we must reclaim our pre-eminent status."
The governor however, said this would not happen "if, as a people, we continue to put ourselves down" adding: "those who condemned us 10 years ago have said we are the new frontier. Must we continue as a people to put ourselves down?"
Governor Fashola expressed delight that in the past 48 hours, Nigerians had been askingvery honest questions as to whether we, as apeople, were the problem or the nation itself. He added: "Even the sermon today is a call to nationalism, a call to patriotism. Let us see our challenges as building blocks for greatness".
"This is not the worst place to live on earth and I can tell you that. Let us take the financial issues for instance, the Spanish government raised its taxes by 52 per cent, Italy has raised its tax by 60 per cent. Italians are leaving their country. That is not our position here. People are being struck by earthquakes, Tsunami, but we have arable land for farming here. There are challenges here alright but they should be seen as building blocks for us to aspire to greater things", the governor said.
The governor called on Nigerians to be sober,humble and listen more to those they had entrusted with authority, adding that if thosein authority failed to perform, Nigerians had the chance to throw them out during the next election.
"But we must end strikes. Breaking up the productive system only takes us back. The people we are chasing are ahead: the Chinese, the Indians, the Americans; they do not strike as often as we do. We are already behind, we really need to double up on our work. If they are working seven days a week,we should work eight days a week; if they are working 14 hours a day, we should work24 hours a day, and we would not even catchup in ten years. So, that is the work that lies ahead and which we must do", Fashola stated. Tribunenigeria
Good Fashola.As at now, we've lost all respect from Afrcian countries cos they see us as DIS-ORGANISED