From Owen Akenzua, Asaba
As Nigeria prepares to celebrate her 64th independence anniversary, Delta State governor, Sheriff Oborevwori has called on the citizenry to continue to pray for sustainable peace and unity of the country.
Governor Oborevwori made the call at a special Jumat service held on Friday at the Central Mosque, Asaba, where Muslims gathered in large numbers to pray for the country.
Represented by the Chairman, Delta State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Auwal Tukur, the governor noted that Nigerians are passing through difficult times, expressing optimism that with prayers, the nation could overcome its current challenging situation.
Governor Oborevwori disclosed that his administration is doing its best to mitigate the hardship faced by residents through the faithful implementation of its people-oriented policies and programmes in line with his ‘MORE’ agenda for Deltans.
While underscoring the importance of peace, he enjoined residents to continue to promote peaceful coexistence in order to create an ambience that would stimulate sustainable growth and development of the state.
“So, I am using this opportunity to call on all Nigerians to pray for our dear country. Everybody knows that we are in a bad situation, but I believe that with prayers, we can overcome this hardship.
“We should continue to live together as one Nigeria that we truly are by promoting peaceful coexistence among different ethnic nationalities in the state and the country at large so as to fast track socio-economic growth and development of the state,” the governor added.
During the Jumat service, the Chief Imam of Asaba, Alhaji Umaru Katsina, who spoke through an interpreter, Bawa Abdullahi, harped on the importance of peace, even as he prayed Almighty Allah to give the nation enduring peace and a robust economy that would bring succour to Nigerians.