Gov calls for a united Nigeria, says it's crucial to the advancement of black race

dimeji akinloye

August 11, 2017 12:52 PM

The Governor said Nigeria cannot afford to fail in order to fulfill the roles and responsibilities history reserved for it as the champion of the black race.

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni

He said the country cannot afford to fail in order to fulfill the roles and responsibilities history reserved for it as the champion of the black race.

Aregbesola stated this on Thursday, August 10 while receiving representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), who paid him a courtesy visit.

The delegate led by CAN National President, Rev. Dr Samson Ayokunle, visited the Government House to pray for the repose of the soul of Aregbesola's mother, who passed away recently.

The Governor called on other religious bodies like CAN to support and pray for the country, adding that the progress of the black man in the world is largely dependent on Nigeria's success.

He said, "We need to begin to realise as a nation that we are the only black nation that can assist the black man to make a name in the world.

"Nigeria must not fail, if we must achieve this task and play this big role on behalf of all black race, we should all begin to work towards supporting Nigeria to achieve it.

"I want to call on all well meaning groups and bodies in Nigeria to believe in the Nigerian dream and work towards realising it.

"We need to believe in ourselves as a nation for others to believe in us because this is the only way the black man from any part of the world can have a face.

"We need to begin to see Nigeria as project which must not fail and must never fail. Failure of Nigeria will be a disaster for the black man anywhere in the world."

While expressing gratitude to CAN for the visit, Aregbesola said he is happy that his mother died at a good time.

"For my mother to have had the privilege of giving birth to me, I can say that she died a very good death and am grateful for that", he added.

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In his condolence message, CAN President, Rev. Ayokunle, said the Governor's late mother indeed spent a quality life while on earth.

Ayokunle said the quality of the life she lived is portrayed through the achievements of Aregbesola as a governor.

"We at the CAN Headquarters received the news of the death of Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola with a great shock," he said.

"We are grateful to God that she led a quality life, which is made manifest in the lives of her offspring of which you are one of them.

"It is my prayer that God strengthen you, the Aregbesola family and the entire state to overcome the loss.

"He will strengthen you so as to continue to impact on your generation positively."

Mrs. Saratu Aregbesola, 84, died in the early hours of Tuesday, August 1, in Ilesha, Osun State, and was buried later that day according to Islamic rites.

dimeji akinloye