2023 presidency: Senator Boroffice declares, insists on unity, inter-ethnic cooperation

Senator representing Ondo North Senatorial district and the deputy majority leader of the 9th National Assembly on Saturday formally declared his ambition to contest the 2023 presidential election.

Addressing supporters in Abuja, he lamented the lack of inter-ethnic cooperation which he said, was responsible for non-development of the country since 1960, that Nigeria got her independence from the colonial masters.

Recalling how excited he was as a young man during the pre-colonial era when the independence was being negotiated, Boroffice explained that challenges at that time was still prevalent, noting that citizens need to come together.

“My dear fellow Nigerians, it is with great sense of conviction and high sense of responsibility that | address you in this epochal period of our beloved Nation’s history.

“It is quite unsettling to me, to you and indeed many Nigerians that 6l years after independence Nigeria is grappling with the basic problems that dogged the pre-independence era despite enormous human and natural resources.

“Myself and many Nigerians who were witnesses to Nigeria’s independence had high hopes and strong convictions that the Nigeria of our dreams would be actualised with the total transfer of leadership from colonial masters to indigenous leaders of our nation.

“As a young boy, I can still recall when I usually recite the beautiful lyrics of our National Anthem with utmost enthusiasm in 1960 and thereafter. | loved it and J lived it. Particularly, the line that says, “Though tribes and tongue may differ, In brotherhood we stand”.

“Furthermore, this lyrics: “O God of all creation, Grant this our one -« +s m+ » us to build a nation, Where no man is oppressed, And so with peace and unity, Nigeria shall be blessed.”, has remained a great inspiration.

“However, it is neither hazy nor nebulous that as a nation, we have not lived together an fostered inter-ethnic cooperation in line with the quoted line of the National Anthem that was adopted on October 1, 1960.

The lawmaker who was a pioneer Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NARSDA) lamented the military interregnum in politics, stating that it was a bad experience for the nation prior to 1999 when democracy was fully restored.

Nigeria’s journey was further derailed by unceasing Military interruption of democracy prior to the advent of Fourth Republic in 1999. The dual realities coupled with mind-boggling corruption are chiefly responsible for the state of development in Nigeria.

“I pay great tributes to the heroes and heroines (both departed and living) of our nationhood. I acknowledge the contributions of Nigeria’s past leaders and those alive, particularly, those who have had to navigate a united Nigeria through turbulences like civil war, economic recession, ethno-religious crisis and terrorism.

Commending President Muhammadu Buhari he said:

President Muhammadu Buhari has earned special spot in the annals of Nigeria for leading the nation into steady economic growth and huge construction site despite puliback factors and contemporary challenges (like global recession and COVID-19 pandemic).

“Some of the landmark achievements of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration are procurement of massive equipment for the Military, electoral reforms, Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), construction and completion of Abuja-Kaduna rail line, construction of Lagos – Ibadan rail line, construction of !.6km long Second Niger bridge from Asaba to Onitsha, robust National Social Investment Program and others too numerous to mention.

“Yes, tremendous progress has been made to close the gap of infrastructural deficit in the nation.

“Rather than treating the symptoms of problems as witnessed in the past, President Muhammadu Buhari has been treating the root cause.

Yes, Muhammadu Buhari has laid a very strong foundation for accelerated growth and rapid development.

“However, there are still many challenges confronting our dear nation. We are swimming against the tide of corruption, greed, indiscipline, religious bigotry and ethnic intolerance. Principally, insecurity issues and too numerous to mention.”