Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha, has urged Nigerians to pray that God should begin to raise national leaders who could be celebrated by other world leaders like the late South African leader, Nelson Mandela.

Okorocha in his New Year Message said that until leaders that would be respected and celebrated by leaders of other nations begin to emerge in the country, the nation won’t move as fast as expected in terms of development and growth. He further told Nigerians to be committed to the wordings of the National Anthem and the National Pledge, noting that living up to the letters of both the National anthem and National Pledge would arouse national consciousness in every patriotic Nigerian.

Okorocha, who is also Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, urged Nigerians to remain faithful, loyal and honest, to the nation. He appealed to the leaders to serve the nation with all their strength, heart, might and defend the unity of the country, and also work to build a nation where peace and justice reign as demanded by the National Pledge and National Anthem.

The Imo State Governor regretted that 53 years after Nigeria gained independence, ethnic consciousness has been allowed to over-ride national consciousness and political power sought on the basis of which area one comes from, and which religion one practices instead of emphasising on those factors that would make the unity of the country strong.

He appealed to Nigerians, especially the leaders, to ensure that all hands are on deck towards building a united nation, adding that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would provide the needed roadmap to achieve national greatness, and that Nigeria as a nation is due to move to the next level of advancement with the APC as the torchbearer.

Okorocha also hinted that the APC is a party with deep love for democratic ideals and would like to take over power through the ballot box and not keen in the impeachment of anybody, noting that power goes with dignity when the person holding it has the mandate of the masses to do so.

He assured the people of Imo State on the commitment of his government in the state to ensure that the state remains on the fast lane of transformation and development. According to him, the emphasis now on the side of his administration would be on “Mission’ having justified the “Rescue” aspect of the Rescue Mission Agenda of the administration in the past two and half years.

The governor assured that the people-oriented policies of the government would continue to be pursued with vigor, while urging all Imo indigenes both at home and in Diaspora to join hands with his government in its effort to make the state a place every Imo man, or woman could be proud of, in all ramifications.

•Photo shows Governor Okorocha.

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