2017: Aregbesola, others call for hard work, patience

Forum 7 years ago

2017: Aregbesola, others call for hard work, patience

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, on Sunday, called on Nigerians to embrace hard work to earn money and create wealth, as dependency on oil revenue was no longer visible.

He made the call in his 2017 New Year broadcast to people of the state in Osogbo.

He said “it is clear to us all that there is no free money again; no one should be under any illusion about this.

“Oil price doesn’t look like it will pike up very soon as we had in the past; even if it will, we may never find ourselves in a position of dependency again.

“If oil windfall should come, it should go into special projects and savings for the future. The way to go therefore is that we should work hard and earn our own money.

“We should develop the capacity to create wealth from which we provide jobs and generate revenue to take care of ourselves.’’

The governor said “2016 came with huge trials, travails and tests for the state.

“2016 was a year that Osun State became hardest hit financially due to falling oil price and eventually turned out as a year of great victory.’’

He, however, noted that “ 2017 is going to be a year of consolidation; we are going to consolidate on programmes, especially in education, agriculture and road infrastructure.

“We are not going to abandon any of our projects. It is going to be our busiest year so far.’’

Aregbesola then thanked the people of the state for the support and understanding and prayed that the New Year would be peaceful and successful.

In Bayelsa, Gov. Seriake d!ckson applauded the people of the state for their support and encouragement to his administration.

The governor, who gave the commendation in his New Year message, attributed his administration’s achievements to divine grace of God and love of the people.

He also expressed appreciation to the state’s workforce “for their extreme show of understanding, especially with dwindling resources.’’

d!ckson encouraged the organised labour and the entire people of the state to continue to work with the government in the New Year.

In Abeokuta, the Ogun capital, the Bishop of Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Peter Odetoyinbo

had urged Nigerian leaders to be alive to their responsibilities in addressing the prevailing hardships in the country.

Odetoyinbo gave the charge in his New year Message, made available to newsmen in Abeokuta on Sunday.

The bishop said Nigerians needed to pray for God’s intervention “and for the fear of God in leaders as we look into year 2017 with revitalised hope.’’