A Canadian-based Nigerian priest, Reverend Patrick Ampani, has called on President Bola Tinubu to take concrete actions to alleviate the hardship Nigerians are facing.
“I am personally grateful that you are aware of what the common citizens are experiencing under your watch.
“I am happy that you are giving the nation some hope and I hope you will follow your words with actions. I strongly advise and encourage you to do more to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians,” Ampani said in reaction to President Tinubu’s 64th Independence Anniversary speech.
Ampani also advised President Tinubu to follow the legacy of Nigeria’s founding fathers.
He said, “We commemorate the legacy of the founding fathers, which you generously alluded to in your eloquent speech, as we celebrate our freedom, our history, our heroes, our heritage and our prospect.”
In his Independence Day speech, President Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s progress since gaining independence 64 years ago.
President Tinubu said, “The founding fathers chose democracy as a form of government and launched the dream of a great country that would lead the rest of Africa out of poverty, ignorance, and underdevelopment, a beacon of hope to the rest of Africa and the world.”
“Over six decades later, we can look back, and Nigerians worldwide can see how well we have succeeded in realising the lofty dreams of our founding fathers.
“The world is witnessing and benefiting from the can-do spirit of the Nigerian people, our massive intellectual capacity, and our enterprise and industry in all vocations, from arts to science, technology to infrastructure. The dreams that our founding fathers envisaged are still a work in progress. Every day, we put our hands on the plough, determined to do a better job of it.”
As a chaplain with the Canadian Armed Forces, Ampani emphasized the importance of collective effort in national development.
The cleric stated, “National development is a generational endeavour. Every generation engages in collective cooperation and collaboration in nation-building. Everyone should get involved and meaningfully busy in contributing to the socioeconomic development of the nation.”
He further stressed, “This is critically important because much of the future of Nigeria will depend upon our individual and collective selfless commitment to nation-building and stability.”
