I celebrate with Nigerians at home and in the diaspora on the occasion of our Great Nation’s fifty seventh (57th) independence anniversary. This day fifty seven (57) years ago, we received liberation from colonial rule, deciding like other Nations that self-governance is the way forward.
In the years since then, we have dabbled in military rule, unitary system and now, democratic governance. We have had seasons of plenty as marked by the oil boom, and we have experienced lean years. We have also been besieged with a civil war, ethnic conflicts, and rifts; and we have enjoyed relative peace as a nation.
Through it all and in spite of these, we have remained united and indivisible, pressing on to the Nigeria of our dreams. And for this, I must commend every Nigerian.
We must however continue in the path of oneness, putting national interests above ethnicity and self. We have set our hands on the plough; we cannot at this moment, give up. Thus, we must shun all attempts to cause disunity amongst us. Never again should we as a nation go through conflict like we did with the civil war. For us, the odds are too great.
Thus, I wish all the good people of Lagos Central Senatorial District, Lagos State and all Nigerians a happy celebration. For us as a nation, may this be the least of many.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu, OON
Lagos Central Senatorial District