Aregbesola congratulates Nigerians, harps on unity and culture of productivity

Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has congratulated Nigerians on the country’s 57th independence anniversary
and tasked citizens to avoid violence, ethno-religious conflicts and any other behaviour that could threaten Nigeria’s peace and unity o.
Aregbesola’s message to Nigerians, at home and in Diaspora, was contained in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mr.  Sola Fasure, yesterday.
The governor said although the country has witnessed several challenges in 57 years, it has equally made significant progress worth celebrating.
He enjoined Nigerians to continue to tow the path of peace and always promote positive values that would move the country forward, and added that Nigerians should wake up to their responsibilities and take their destinies in their hands.
Aregbesola said the era of over-dependency on a rent economy, foisted on the country by oil, is gradually winding down and, as such, Nigerians should imbibe the culture of hardwork and gainful productive activities.
He said if government, at all levels, put 50 million Nigerians to work, in real productive value and they each contributed at least N25, 000 to the economy, N1. 25 trillion would be contributed to the economy every month, a development he said is capable of catapulting the country into a superpower, within two decades.
“I congratulate Nigerians and the people of Osun on this year’s independence anniversary and I call on us all to continue to work for the unity of this country.
“Our strength lies in our unity.  We should, therefore, avoid anything that will destroy our unity and corporate existence.
“I urge Nigerians to cultivate the habit of hardwork and high productivity in order to create wealth, stimulate national prosperity and the growth of the economy.
“We have experienced the best in crude oil dependency as we are currently living the worst of it. It is obvious now that a mono-economy, based on crude oil, can no longer sustain us and take us to where we should be as a country. Therefore, diversification and improved productivity should be the driving force to revamp our economy.
“It has become imperative, therefore, for all governments – federal, states and local governments – to fashion out strategies for the active participation of, at least, 50 million Nigerians in monthly productive activities that will create a new value of N25,000 each.”