Nigeria: the agenda for growth; Peter Odili: my mission.

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Nigeria: the agenda for growth; Peter Odili: my mission.

Governor Odili: My mission

"My mission is to steward the building of a truly united Nigerian nation through providing the requisite leadership by action, example and sacrifice. Our policy focus shall be the welfare and the wellbeing of the Nigerian citizen, improvement in his standard of living, security, protection of rights, freedoms and putting the people first."

On 27 November 2006, Governor Dr Peter Odili, presidential aspirant for the 2007 elections, proclaimed his mission for Nigeria through a major speech in which he set out his vision and action agenda anchored on the principle of "putting Nigeria and Nigerians first" through a programme for the rapid development of the country and improving the quality of life of all. Below is the full speech:

"Citizens of our great country Nigeria, I address you today on why I seek your mandate to serve our nation as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Our country is blessed by the Almighty God with an abundance of human, agricultural and mineral resources.

Indeed, Nigeria is one of the very few countries in Africa where conditions exist for spectacular economic growth and human development.

As Nigeria continues to take giant strides in the new millennium, striving hard to favourably compete on the global stage, more and more Nigerians will look up to their leaders for solutions to the problems, challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing world.

This imposes on the leadership the obligation to have a clear vision, hold firm beliefs and principles, enunciate appropriate policies, show the way forward and mobilise the people for the attainment of steady national growth.

Without doubt the journey to our nationhood has been tough and tasking, both for the citizenry as well as for the leadership. As a people, we have argued, disagreed, quarreled and fought each other all for the sake of the nation. But we have also dialogued amongst ourselves, reasoned together, forgiven one another and agreed to forge ahead as one people in one nation with one destiny.

I would therefore like to seize this opportunity to salute all Nigerians for their sacrifices and commitment to our nation-building process; and to particularly commend our past leaders for their courage, faith and contributions to our national progress.

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Given the complexities of the Nigerian state, we must appreciate ...

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