ADDRESS BY

THE CHIEF SERVANT, DR MU’AZU BABANGIDA ALIYU, OON (TALBAN MINNA), THE GOVERNOR OF NIGER STATE /CHAIRMAN NORTHERN GOVERNOR’S  FORUM ON THE OCCASION OF 2009 PRODUCTIVITY AND HONOURS AWARD AND MINNA CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS,  AT THE U.K BELLO ARTS THEATRE, MINNA; ON TUESDAY, 12^TH OCTOBER, 2010.

PROTOCOL:

2.    I am highly pleased to join others in welcoming you all to this historic event of the Niger state Productivity Awards and the Minna centenary celebrations, which is happening around the period of Nigeria’s golden jubilee anniversary. At today’s ceremony, we are recognizing the achievements of some great Nigerlites who have made us proud through their contributions to the development of our state and the nation, and at the same we are celebrating the phenomenal development of Minna in the last one hundred years of her existence as a modern city. The two major events symbolize giant strides and significant milestones in our historical development as a people and a State.

3.    I therefore seize this golden opportunity to express our deep and sincere appreciation to everyone that has found time to attend this ceremony. We are particularly appreciative of the show of love, solidarity and spirit of camaraderie exhibited by my brothers and colleagues, the Executive Governors of Sokoto and Ogun States, Your Excellencies Alhaji Aliyu Magatagarda Wamakko (Sarkin Yamma Sokoto), Otunba Gbenga Daniel (Lion of the West), neighbour Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (Turakin Ilorin) as well as the representatives of other State Governors here present.

4.    Nigerlites are also very grateful to all the traditional rulers who are here with us today to grace this occasion. Your Royal Highnesses, we continue to cherish your respectable roles and contributions to the preservation of our cultural heritage, norms and values, as well as the sanity which you bring to the polity whenever national peace and stability is threatened. We shall continue to add our voice to the call for constitutional role for you and the institution you represent in view of your time tested value addition to our socio-political development.

5. Permit me also to express the gratitude of Nigerlites to our Guest Speaker, His Lordship, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), a renowned jurist, a gentleman who has one of the most challenging responsibilities in Nigeria today – heading one of the nation’s anti-corruption agencies. Your Lordship, I believe that your job will be made easier and the anti-corruption war won easily if every Nigerian sees the anti-corruption war as his/her own personal fight, which must be fought to finish, if Nigerians treat corruption as an anathema and a plague and if Nigerians dissociate themselves from any one found to be corrupt. Indeed, it is time we got really very serious with the anti-corruption fight otherwise our developmental aspirations, as a nation will remain a mirage. Sir, we thank you for sparing your precious time to give us, what I am sure will be an erudite presentation.

6.    Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, to make a difference as leaders of this generation who are determined to take this nation to the next level of development in the 21^st century, we must create the opportunities for people to realize their full potentials; we must engage them, understand their challenges and assist them in finding lasting solution to those challenges. We must demystify power and redefine leadership as being the opportunity to serve humanity in the most humble, transparent and accountable manner; we must demonstrate that service to fellow human being is akin to worship of our creator. And we must recognize, reward and encourage outstanding performance, diligence, hard-work, integrity, strong character, commitment and honesty, so that the younger generations will learn the right values and virtues that the society needs for its progress.

7.    This is essentially what we intend to achieve by institutionalizing the Niger State Productivity and Honours Award since 2007. It is hoped that the Productivity and Honours Award will become a common feature in all State’s of the federation, so that a new culture of celebrating uprightness will evolve to the admiration and emulation of the present and future generations. Indeed, rather than competing with one another, all the States of this country should be seen to be sharing progress, best practices and complementing one another in the pursuit of development oriented policies for the improved well being of our citizens.

8.    We should all sign up to the provision of free education at all levels, graduate employment and youth empowerment, free health care services, provision of good roads, regular water supply and the regular supply of inputs and implements to boost agricultural production. We should intensify efforts to banish poverty, corruption, indolence and indiscipline in all our States, so that when one State takes steps to eradicate destitution, for instance, it does not create problems for the neighbouring states.

9.    Similarly, by celebrating the centenary of modern Minna we are appreciating the strength of our unity in diversity, our resilience in living together as a united, peace loving and progressive people for over one hundred years. We are also teaching our children to uphold those values and virtues of tolerance, accommodation, perseverance, and brotherliness that have kept some of our cities stable and progressive.

10.  Finally, let me salute all our awardees; I appeal to you to continue this good work. May Allah reward you accordingly and abundantly. Once again, I thank you and welcome you all.