Sunday Ejike Benjamin
2 October 2008
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja Wednesday played host to over 300 Nigerian professionals in various fields of endeavor who came urging all Nigerians to contribute their quota to the development of the country blessed with abundant resources that can take it to greater heights.
The Group, under the aegis of 'The Land is Good' initiative, in a walk within the city center of Abuja in commemoration of the nation's 48th anniversary, called on Nigerians to exhibit true spirit of patriotism.
The Land is Good project, it was gathered, has empowered over 140 widows to boost their economic fortunes especially those of them in Mpape, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the group: "It is high time Nigerians from all parts of the country begin to believe and live Nigeria in all their personal and collective endeavours.
It is by so doing that the quest for a greater and better Nigeria can be achieved".
Speaking to newsmen at Merit House, Abuja, one of the Trustees of the Non Governmental Organisation, Barrister Uche Anyanwu, observed that the challenge for a better Nigeria should not be narrowed down to the leaders alone, adding that, "the working class, businessmen and women, artisans and indeed, all professionals have a role to play towards the realization of the dream for a better Nigerian".
He however, conceded that most Nigerians would prefer to blame the nation's woes on the leadership and also stressed the need for people to contribute to the development of the nation.
He condemned the attitude of some civil servants who frustrate other people by not passing their files to the appropriate quarters unless they are bribed; a situation he lamented, puts a clog in the wheel of development. The Group which comprises medical doctors, lawyers, bankers, civil servants, journalists, and businessmen told newsmen that they would be organiaing a walk in all the geo-political zones of the country come October, 2009, anniversary to further encourage Nigerians to be peace loving, patriotic and loving of one another.
Similarly, another trustee of the organization, Ikenna Okeke, said that the Nigerian spirit is robust and unquenchable, recalling that the nation has passed through serious political crisis, hunger and poverty yet remains resilient to survive as a great nation.
He called on Nigerians not to lose hope following recent happenings in the polity, saying that, "we must continue to emerge stronger and better if we keep on working hard as a nation and believing in ourselves and in what we can do".
He said that poverty and hunger cannot kill an individual or a nation but absence of hope can kill and urged Nigerian youths to always resort to peacemaking instead of violence saying that "only peace and mutual understanding can keep our hope alive till we get to the promised land".
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