ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has urged Nigerians to place the interest of the country above sectional considerations, saying national cohesion remains essential to overcoming the challenges confronting Nigeria.
The governor made the call on Thursday at the Cenotaph on High Court Road, Asaba, during the state’s ceremony to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
Oborevwori said Nigeria’s six-decade journey had not been without difficulties, pointing to the Civil War, economic challenges, political transitions and other periods of uncertainty as part of the experiences that had tested the country.
Despite those challenges, he said, Nigeria had continued to survive and move forward, describing the resilience of its people as a significant part of the country’s history.
He called on citizens to recognise the strength in Nigeria’s diversity and work towards a society where differences do not become barriers to cooperation and national development.
According to him, the country’s future depends not only on government action but also on the willingness of citizens to pursue peaceful engagement and give priority to the common good.
The governor said a prosperous Nigeria should be one in which citizens are able to live with dignity and fairness, while young people have the opportunity to develop their potential and build sustainable futures.
Turning to Delta State, Oborevwori said his administration would continue to support national development through programmes being implemented under the MORE Agenda.
He identified infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, youth and women empowerment, support for artisans and peace-building among the areas through which the state was contributing to broader development.
Oborevwori also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive development across Delta, saying communities in both the riverine and upland areas should have a stake in the state’s progress.
He maintained that the impact of development should be felt beyond selected communities or groups, stressing that inclusiveness remained central to his administration’s approach.
The governor also used the Independence Day occasion to appeal for greater sensitivity towards families affected by tragedy and hardship.
He urged Nigerians not to turn human suffering into an opportunity for division or personal advantage, but to respond to difficult circumstances with empathy and mutual support.
Oborevwori further advocated dialogue and mutual respect as means of managing disagreements, stressing that Nigerians, despite their differences, shared a common destiny.
He drew from Psalm 133:1 in emphasising the importance of peaceful coexistence and unity among citizens.
The governor congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government and Nigerians at home and abroad on the 66th Independence Anniversary and prayed for peace, wisdom, courage and prosperity for the country.
The Asaba ceremony featured a ceremonial match-past involving the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Youth Service Corps, Police Officers’ Wives Association, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria and representatives of local government councils in Delta State.
The programme also included the cutting of the 66th Independence Anniversary cake.
The ceremony came on the same day Oborevwori disclosed that he had directed Julius Berger Nigeria Plc to intervene on the washed-out section of the East-West Road at Agbarho in Ughelli North Local Government Area. The intervention followed the disruption caused by heavy rainfall and erosion along the federal highway.
