Nigeria@65: Leaders Call for National Unity

Governors Urge Unity and Resilience as Nigeria Marks 65th Independence Anniversary

Governors across Nigeria have called on citizens to uphold unity, peaceful coexistence, and resilience as the nation celebrates its 65th Independence Anniversary. Their messages highlight the importance of collective effort in overcoming challenges and building a prosperous future.

Kaduna State Governor: Emphasizing Unity and Development

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, delivered a heartfelt address during the Independence Day celebrations, urging Nigerians to strengthen unity. He emphasized that unity is the foundation of peace and prosperity, encouraging people from all faiths, ethnicities, and backgrounds to work together for the country’s betterment.

“Their legacy was not forged in ease, but in unity, faith, and an unwavering belief in the greatness of Nigeria. It is this same legacy that should inspire us to continue building a nation where peace, justice, and opportunity prevail,” he said.

The governor described Nigeria at 65 as a story of hope, endurance, and togetherness, despite decades of political, social, and economic challenges. He highlighted Kaduna’s contributions to national development, including achievements in infrastructure, agriculture, education, healthcare, and peacebuilding.

On infrastructure, he disclosed that 85 urban and rural road projects, spanning 785 kilometers, had been launched, with nearly half completed. These roads are easing trade, reducing travel time, and improving access to markets for farmers and entrepreneurs.

In education, reforms have returned over 10,728 children to school under the Reaching Out-of-School Children Project, while 535 schools previously shut due to insecurity have been reopened. In agriculture, over 500,000 hectares of abandoned farmland have been reclaimed, and major markets in Birnin Gwari and Giwa have been reopened, boosting rural commerce and food security.

Healthcare improvements include the upgrading of 255 Primary Health Care Centres across the state. The governor also emphasized that peace remains the bedrock of Kaduna’s progress, pointing to his administration’s investments in community policing, reconciliation, and dialogue.

Gombe State Governor: Celebrating Achievements and Looking Ahead

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, described unity and peaceful coexistence as the bedrock of development and prosperity. In a goodwill message to mark the 29th anniversary of Gombe State alongside Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day, he noted that while challenges remain, Gombe has recorded remarkable achievements under his administration.

Reflecting on the state’s journey since its creation in 1996, Governor Yahaya paid tribute to past leaders who laid the foundation for its growth. He pointed out milestones in education, healthcare, security, infrastructure, agriculture, industrialization, environmental sustainability, public service reforms, ease of doing business, youth and women empowerment, and regional water projects.

According to him, Gombe has bolstered healthcare and education, expanded infrastructure with the completion of rural and township roads, addressed long-standing environmental issues, and opened new economic frontiers through agro-livestock, agribusiness, and industrialization.

Governor Yahaya disclosed that his administration has constructed over 900 kilometers of roads across all local government areas, most of them adorned with solar streetlights, expanded healthcare facilities, and improved access to education through the construction of new classrooms and recruitment of teachers. He also revealed that over the past six years, his administration has disbursed over N25 billion in gratuities to state and local government retirees across the 11 LGAs, successfully clearing liabilities left by previous administrations.

Looking ahead, Governor Yahaya pledged to intensify efforts in empowering youth, supporting farmers, and improving the quality of life for families across the state. He urged citizens to remain patient and united amid ongoing economic reforms, assuring that these measures would ultimately yield a stronger, more resilient, and prosperous future.

Borno State Governor: Peacebuilding and Recovery Efforts

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other Nigerians on the 65th Independence Day Celebration. He acknowledged the challenges the country has faced over the past 65 years but emphasized that Nigeria has consistently emerged stronger. The governor called for continued unity, mutual understanding, and peaceful coexistence amongst its citizens.

He commended President Tinubu for his leadership and continued support to the armed forces and other security agencies involved in counter-insurgency operations in the North East, particularly in Borno State. Zulum expressed commitment to providing peace and development to Borno, stating that “our administration’s peacebuilding and recovery efforts are greatly succeeding.”

Bauchi State Governor: Foundation of Progress

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed urged Nigerians to remain united and committed to the ideals of peace, democracy, and nation-building during the 65th Independence Anniversary. He implored them to continue to live harmoniously with one another and help make the State and country great.

In his goodwill message, the governor described independence as a milestone that ended colonial domination, granting Nigeria self-determination, political freedom, and opportunities for socio-economic and democratic growth. The governor highlighted his administration’s multi-sectoral agenda on infrastructure, security, and empowerment, disclosing plans for the Bauchi State Investment Summit in October to attract investors and unlock economic potentials.

Sokoto State Governor: Combating Insecurity

Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State called for a renewed commitment towards ending banditry and other forms of criminality hindering the nation’s march to greatness. He stressed the need for collective efforts to end the menace, saying, “Governments at all levels, traditional rulers, religious leaders, as well as community leaders must work together if we are to end the activities of bandits in our rural areas.”

Kebbi State Governor: Youth Empowerment

Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, prioritized strengthening youth empowerment and development through education. He highlighted his efforts by stating, “That’s why I lifted the embargo on employment, and employed more than 4,000 workers into the Kebbi civil service.” His administration has also employed 2,000 new teachers and absorbed 2,148 health professionals as permanent and pensionable appointments.

Lagos State Governor: Collaboration for Breakthroughs

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, emphasized the importance of genuine collaboration between government and citizens in achieving breakthroughs. Speaking at the 65th Independence Day celebration, he noted that the anniversary theme, “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” underscores the need for unity and collective effort.

Ekiti State Governor: Peaceful Political Conduct

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, appealed to political parties, leaders, and supporters to conduct themselves peacefully ahead of upcoming elections. He emphasized the need for harmony and stability in the state.

Peter Obi: Hope for the Future

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi called on Nigerians not to despair despite current challenges. He urged them to keep hope alive, stating, “With the right leadership, we can defeat terrorism, restore security, and guarantee Nigerians safe communities where enterprise and social life can thrive.”

Yakubu Dogara: Unity and Patriotism

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, urged Nigerians to rise above divisive politics and narrow interests. He stressed that the nation’s survival and progress depend on unity and patriotism.

Dogara commended President Tinubu for his bold and transformative reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, efforts to stabilize the Naira, and renewed focus on investment and enterprise. According to him, the policies, though painful in the short term, are laying the foundation for lasting economic recovery.