Abuja—Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva has felicitated Nigeria on the nation’s 62nd Independence Anniversary.
The former Bayelsa State governor also congratulated Bayelsa at 26, praying for continuous blessings for the state.
In an independence message signed by his spokesman, Julius Bokoru, the minister noted that this year’s anniversary is special because it is the last of the Buhari administration, which he said he is proud to be part of.
Sylva noted that although the country’s journey after independence in 1960 has not been smooth, Nigerians can be proud of how far the country has come.
The message reads, “This anniversary is a very special one on many fundamental fronts.
“It sees out President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, one that I am very much proud to serve under and offer myself to the divine task of nation-building, and it also leads to the electoral choices ahead.
“This day beckons on us to browse through our souls, to evaluate the roads we have taken, the progress we have made and the doors yet to be opened.
“Its been a journey of ups and downs, from that emotional night in 1960 when the Greens and Whites of the National Flag replaced The Union Jack, to the declaration of a Republic three years after, to the war, to the frantic steps toward unity, a nervous democracy, Atlanta 96, a reworked democracy to this very point we are; a stable democracy at the verge of another national elections.
“It’s been a collage of varying fortunes, but we can ultimately pat ourselves on the back and be proud of how far we have come, for this nation has been spurred on by the positivity and unyielding support of Nigerians.
“It is that strength, that vision, that collective belief that we all are stakeholders and we all can get to the zenith, to the full capacity of Nigeria, that is celebrated today.
“There are still more roads to tread and with this spirit, we can only remain on the right path and live up to our trajectory.”
