Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has urged Nigerians to desist from speeches capable of tearing the country apart.

Amosun who spoke while delivering his address at this year’s National Day Celebration held at the M.K.O Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, the State capital.

The governor said it was regrettable that the unity of Nigeria was being threatened by hate speeches which according to him are ‘capable of sending our country into a conflagration.’

According to the governor, all Nigerians must be involved in the task of nation building, saying: “If we want a better future for our nation, we cannot just wish it; we have to work towards it. As the saying goes: the surest way to predict the future is by creating it by oneself.”

Amosun further urged Nigerians to put the nation first ahead of individualism, urging Nigerians to use the Independent Day to rekindle the spirit of unity, peace and harmony in them.

“I charge all of us to lend our voices and our ideas to the cause of Nigeria’s unity by drowning out the voices of the few divisive elements among us whose stock-in-trade are belligerent posturing,” Amosun said.

The governor also expressed disappointment at those calling for the division of the country, insisting that Nigeria must remain one because the labour of the heroes that fought for the country’s independence must not be in vain.

“We must begin, as a matter of utmost importance, to keep at arm’s length ethnic jingoists and religious fundamentalists who would rather see our country break up than continue to flourish.”

“We must collectively look into the issues that affect us as a people in order to provide lasting solutions and strengthen our peaceful cohabitation as a nation and also offer prayers and remain more dedicated to the wholesome development of our nation, so that the labour of our heroes past shall not be in vain.”

“The truth is that the challenges will not just disappear by mere wishing. We cannot afford to continue to sit on the fence and act unconcerned; or else the challenges will fester.”

“Let me enjoin all of us to remain more supportive and to contribute our quota to the task of nation building. It is an undisputable fact that some of the greatest countries have had trying periods but the ability to surmount their challenges was a launch pad to their greatness,” Amosun affirmed.

– Wale Adewunmi, Ogun State Correspondent