Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has urged Nigerians to remain hopeful and united for a new phase of prosperity, peace, unity and progress that will soon envelop the country.
Governor Oborevwori made the call at an interdenominational thanksgiving service held on Sunday, at the Cathedral Church of St. Peters, Asaba, to mark the country’s 64th Independence Anniversary.
According to him, Nigerians should remain optimistic and not be overwhelmed by the present economic challenges bedevilling the nation.
Rather, he urged them to remain positive, noting that tough times don’t last, but tough people do by effectively surmounting challenges facing them.
The Governor, who paid glowing tributes to the founding fathers of the country said: “It goes without saying that there is hunger and despair in the land because of the high cost of living caused by inflation.
“There are not enough words to describe the pain and suffering many people are going through because of the ongoing fiscal and economic reforms.
“However, I want to say that these, too, shall come to pass. Every problem has an expiry date and this will not be an exception.
“So, I urge Deltans and residents in the state to refuse to give up. Tough times never last but tough people do.
“The situation we are in calls for creativity, innovation, determination, patience, and resilience on the part of everybody – the leaders and the governed. These are the qualities we need to stay afloat in a turbulent economy and overcome the challenges facing us.
“We should never stop praying for Nigeria, no matter the situation, because God’s will is for us to pray and we must also match our prayers with the right confession. We can pray right but if we speak wrongly, we nullify our prayers.
“We should, therefore, stop speaking negatively about our country. We should use our mouths to pray for the peace, unity and development of our country. Decision determines destiny. Once we make up our minds to speak positively about our country, we will be surprised by the results.”
Earlier, the Bishop of Asaba, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev’d Kingsley Obuh, had, in a sermon titled “In all things, give thanks”, said it was difficult to give thanks in the current situation of the country but urged Nigerians not to be discouraged, and instead, give thanks to God because “it is the will of God for all men.”
Nigeria at 64: Gov Oborevwori urges citizens to remain hopeful