VP Osinbajo and President Buhari
‘We are still here’ – VP Osinbajo
Outgoing Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has stated that despite the myriad of challenges, which according to him, ‘would have torn many nations apart, yet we are still here, growing and thriving.’
The Muhammadu Buhari/Prof Osinbajo government in Nigeria officially ends on May 29 after eight years in office since 2015.
VP Osinbajo who was speaking at a ceremony, Saturday, during a ceremony to grant a total of 385 foreign nationals Nigerian citizenship, however, acknowledged that the country ‘cannot and do not ignore or downplay our challenges and they are many.’
The foreign nationals became Nigerian citizens by Registration and Naturalization at a ceremony held at the Nigerian Correctional Service Headquarters in Abuja.
Among the 385 recipients of the 2023 Nigerian Citizenship are British national, Prof. David Jowitt and several Americans, including; Mrs. Janice Okpanachi, all of whom have made their marks in different spheres of the Nigerian society, impacting many lives.
According to VP Osinbajo, the event that Nigeria’s cultural diversity, hard work, innovation and infectious optimism of its people are some of the attributes that make it a great country, one that welcomes all classes of people from all over the world, adding further that Nigeria’s greatness can be partly attributed to its diversity.
“Nigeria is a nation brimming with cultural diversity. We have a rich history of immigration from all over, Africa and beyond. The greatness of our nation can be partly attributed to this. Numerous contributions have been made by immigrants to the Nigerian society throughout our history.
“A lot of our current traditions, music, food and art have been richly influenced by people and cultures beyond our borders. We are diverse but we remain bound and united by a shared history, undergirded by constitutional guarantees of liberty and equality. We celebrate our diversities believing from knowledge, history and experience that we are strengthened by these differences.
“I welcome you all into the Nigerian family with great pride. Irrespective of your country of descent or origin or your mother tongue, Nigeria is now your country, our history and traditions are now yours.”
“By earning an honest living, paying taxes and dues, volunteering for national and local causes, and making positive and useful contributions to the advancement, progress and well-being of the communities you reside in, you can live up to the words of our anthem…to serve our Fatherland with love and strength and faith.
“So much has happened in this country that would have torn other nations apart, yet we are still here, growing and thriving. But let us be clear, we cannot and do not ignore or downplay our challenges and they are many. And we have said many times that in order to forge ahead and succeed as a nation, we must constantly reinvigorate the social contract with our people and deepen the meaning of our Nigerian citizenship,” the VP said.
Welcoming the 385 newest citizens of the country, on behalf of the President, the VP also disclosed that he has directed the Nigerian Immigration Service to expedite the process of issuance of Nigerian Passports to the new citizens of Nigeria.
Remarking, Minister, Rauf Aregbesola commended the beneficiaries of the 2023 Nigerian Citizenship for believing in the country in spite of the challenges, noting that the Buhari Administration had laid the foundation for making it easier for more foreigners to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country as citizens.
He said that due to improvements in the processes of awarding citizenship to non-Nigerians, more foreigners have received citizenship under the Buhari Administration than any government in the history of the country.
