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FG Committed to Re-inventing Nigeria, Says Atiku
From Kola Ologbondiyan, Chuks Okocha and Iyefu Adoba in Abuja, 12.08.2004
Vice President Abubakar Atiku yesterday expressed the determination of the Federal Government to continue with its developmental projects with a view to re-inventing the nation. Atiku, who stated this at the presentation of the book "This Is Where I Stand" (collection of selected speeches made by Senate President Adolphus Wabara), said development is imperative "because whether we like it or not development would come." Represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Olusola Akanmode, the Vice President applauded the performance of the National Assembly under the leadership of Wabara, adding that the main thrust of the book presentation is human development which must be supported. In his opening remarks, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, noted that Wabara and his colleagues have a difficult task in the National Assembly "because Nigerians are expecting a lot and they (Nigerians) are not known for patience. "Be patient in doing your work, do not lose your patience because democracy is a learning game. My prayer is for our democracy to get better so that Nigerians would understand better your roles as lawmakers," Abdusalami said. Wabara, in his welcome remarks, described public office as "a rare privilege" said "our country will benefit from a great infusion of ideas, so that our country can live her manifest destiny and our long-suffering people can benefit from the rich endowments that God in his infinite mercies and wisdom has granted this land. "This book you are about holding in your hands is my humble contribution to the task of rethinking and re-inventing our country, a token of appreciation and a veritable challenge to others that our task will not be done until we have achieved the Nigeria of the dream of our founding fathers and a country that generations yet unborn will be proud of," Wabara said. Calling on distinguished Nigerians to "join me in the task of using our positions and fortunes to complement the activities of government in this very important area," Wabara explained that "it is clear that government alone cannot do it. For us to redeem and reinvent our country, all hands must be on deck." At another book presentation also yesterday Atiku said that Nigeria's foreign policy is based on the overall national interest of the country, stating that it is a task conferred on Nigeria by its size and population. Atiku said, "The approach of this administration has been to engage in foreign policy as a tool of promoting our national interest as well as contributing to the fraternity of the human race." "This approach has started yielding fruits as our drive for direct foreign investment as a component of our foreign policy initiatives has witnessed tremendous gains. This success is one indication of the symbiotic relationship between domestic politics and foreign policy," he said. Atiku stated that the duty of providing leadership for Africa and the black race has been a historic role that Nigeria has strived to meet irrespective of the government in Africa. In this regard, he said, "this responsibility has played out our active participation in finding lasting solution to emerging crisis across Africa." "This commitment has seen Nigeria playing leading role in the resolution of the crisis in the Congo, Chad, Liberia and Sierra Leone over the years," the Vice President said, while explaining that Nigeria is at the moment at the forefront of finding solution in Dafur Sudan and in Cote d' Ivoire. He said Nigeria's involvement in Sudan and Cote dí Ivoire is a continuation of the country's role in finding lasting peace in the African continent. as Nigeria has been involved in peacekeeping operations around the world. He explained that the Obasanjo's administration made no mistake in continuing with the policy inherited, as it is a close connection between internal politics and foreign politics. The Vice President who was represented by the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, commended the author of the book, Dr Abubakar Sulaimon who is also a lecturer in the University of Abuja.
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