A philanthropist, Dr Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo had urged Nigerians to embrace unity in order to overcome the challenges threatening the country’s unity.
The renowned engineer popularly known as ‘Funmi Ayinke’, said it is disheartening that Nigeria is celebrating this year Democracy anniversary amidst serious national challenges.
She noted that no nation is free from challenges, stressing that great people use challenges to drive the wheel of national progress.
She urged Nigerians to remain more committed to the unity of the the country.
She said, “This Day has a tremendous significance for Nigerians who struggled so hard to establish and sustain Democracy in our beloved country and have vigilantly nurtured it with their tireless participation in the democratic process.
“It saddens my heart that we are celebrating this year Democracy anniversary amidst serious national challenges on the security and socio-political and economic fronts. This sad situation has given vent to violent verbal and physical expressions that constitute a serious threat not just to our democracy but to the unity of our nation.
“However, clouds always make way for a bright sky so we should not let the current situation to shake our faith in democracy and in our nation. No nation is free from challenges but great people use challenges to drive the wheel of national progress.
“We are not where we want to be yet in our democratic journey but we are also not where we started. There will always remain much work to be done in democratic consolidation and nation-building. We should therefore never to a have a thought of going back to the undemocratically led government because of the Labour of our heroes that has pass on.
“As we march ahead on the journey, let us respect our diversity and use it to produce the harmony that makes democracy the best form of government yet invented by man.
“Let us use the democratic mechanisms available to us such as the periodic review of the constitution to pursue the Nigeria of our dreams.
“The Youths of any society are instrumental to the growth and development of such society, our youth should endeavor to abstain from any form of social vices that can take the nation to retrogression. The best is yet to come, we can make the change we want by keeping the hope alive, believe in Nigeria and yourself and most importantly always pray to God.”
“Finally let us all remain more committed to the democracy journey, our unity can achieve more.”