2019 was not successful, says Atiku; Senate President, Speaker, Ekweremadu, Tinubu, Bello speak on New year

In apparent reference to comments by President Muhammadu Buhari that 2019 was a successful year, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said he does not share the “reductionist” sentiment adding that Nigerians are still suffering.
In his new year message reproduced beloe along with those of other prominent Nigerians, the main loser of the last Presidential election adds, “We must challenge the inadequacies that made us become the global headquarters of extreme poverty; much as we must work hard and fast enough to eliminate the scourge of out-of-school children in the country. These are the challenges that this new decade has thrown at us and we cannot afford to slumber and submit to defeat.”
Below is his message and those of the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, among others:
MY NEW YEAR MESSAGE TO NIGERIANS:
2020 is time to work for a better future – Atiku
The coming of the New Year 2020 is symbolic in many ways. First, it heralds a brand new decade. Secondly, and probably more important, is that this New Year will require us all to stay together more than ever before to take on, head front, the common enemy of insecurity that challenge our everyday lives as Nigerians.
I do not share the sentiment when some people claim that the outgone 2019 was a successful year for Nigerians. Such sentiments is reductionist and does the harm of making us have a false sense of victory.
The bitter truth is that Nigeria is still in the throes of economic instability, with more people losing jobs and the attendant outcome of more children being out of school and more families having hard time in accessing basic needs of life.
In this New Year, however, I will rather ask that Nigerians stand together with renewed vigour and determination to battle the hydra-headed demon of insecurity that has plagued us in the past decade.
We must challenge the inadequacies that made us become the global headquarters of extreme poverty; much as we must work hard and fast enough to eliminate the scourge of out-of-school children in the country. These are the challenges that this new decade has thrown at us and we cannot afford to slumber and submit to defeat.
The problems of extreme poverty and scant investments in education play huge roles in fueling the problems of violent extremism that we spent the past decade contending with. We cannot win the fight against terrorism if we do nothing to reduce or eliminate poverty and illiteracy.
The reality of this new decade requires of us to recalibrate our approaches and to pursue some tough choices. If failure is not an option, then we must let go of our egos and conveniences.
In this new decade, we must start to do things differently if we are honest about our desire for a better and prosperous future.  There must be a deliberate effort to improve the material wellbeing of the people, by lifting millions of Nigerians out of the extreme poverty belt at a start, and to prosperity. Government must rethink many of its policies that is sinking more people into the abyss of extreme poverty.
It is incumbent on government at all levels to pursue policies that will provide decent housing to the mass majority; put food on the table; provide healthcare and education. We cannot continue to do things the same way and expect a different outcome. It is therefore high time we caused a rejig of economic policies that will promote an expansion of the economy and create jobs opportunities aplenty.
At the individual level, this moment calls for more empathy and sacrifice. The New Year and a new decade come with the opportunity to make better impressions in our lives and in the lives of people around us.
I wish to restate that our collective call for rule of law and our history about the struggle for democratic rule did not envisage a situation where judicial pronouncements would be worth less than the paper upon which they are rendered.
It is a bad advertisement for the country and its democracy if declarations made by the court are not respected without the executive arm of government agreeing to same. Any democracy is not worth the appellation if the principle of separation of power is not ingrained in it. In the new year, government should not pretend to be democratic, but rather act according to the fundamentals of a democracy.
Above all, I expect that in the New Year there will be a better observance of rule of law and greater respect for citizens’ democratic rights.
While we anticipate a change of attitude across board in the new year and new decade, I wish every Nigerian a happy and prosperous 2020
Signed
Atiku Abubakar
Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007
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2020 will usher into Nigeria robust peace and economic growth – Lawan says in New Year message
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has said the year 2020 will usher in robust peace and economic growth for the benefit of all Nigerians.
In his New Year message, Lawan congratulates Nigerians on witnessing the end of 2019 and the beginning of the year 2020.
He hailed the resilience of Nigerians in their commitment to the unity and prosperity of the country and support for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“I have no doubt in my mind that with the timely passage of the budget, restoration of the January to December financial year and other amendments recently made to our laws by the ninth National Assembly, the economy will enjoy significant growth in the new year,” Lawan said.
The Senate President assured Nigerians that National Assembly will continue to do its best to make things better for the people through enactment of people-oriented legislations.
Lawan said the National Assembly will endeavour to sustain the harmonious working relationship with other arms of government for the smooth administration of the country and benefit of the people.
Lawan wishes every Nigerian at home or abroad a happy and prosperous 2020.
Signed:
Ola Awoniyi
Special Adviser (Media)to President of the Senate
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New Year: Gbajabiamila felicitates with Nigerians, wants united country
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has felicitated with Nigerians for witnessing the end of the year 2019 and marking the beginning of the New Year, 2020.
The Speaker, who noted that 2019 was remarkable in Nigeria’s history having witnessed the general elections peacefully, said he believes 2020 would be better for the citizens.
The Speaker in his New Year message through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, said God has been faithful to Nigerians in the outgoing year and called for more unity of purpose among the citizens.
“It’s just like yesterday that we ushered in the year 2019, and in a matter of hours, we will usher another year, 2020. In all, we should thank our Creator for seeing us through the outgoing year and allowing us to see the New Year.
“This New Year, let’s unite more against our challenges. Let’s be our brother’s keepers as always. Our resolve to remain together as a people should be unshakeable.
“We cannot relent in our prayers for continuous peaceful coexistence among us. Let this 2020 be a year of more prospects for the citizens.
“As an optimist, I have a strong belief that the year 2020 will be better for the country in all ramifications. Let’s not despair. Let’s keep hope alive, and God Almighty will see us through.
“At this moment of celebrations, I join millions of Nigerians to wish my compatriots a prosperous New Year,” Gbajabiamila said.
Signed:
Lanre Lasisi
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, House of Representatives,
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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New Year: Ekweremadu Harps on Electoral Reforms
Former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has stressed the need to prioritise the reform of the nation’s electoral processes in the year 2020.
Ekweremadu, who also harped on justice and fairness for national unity and development, reasoned that concluding the process early would minimise partisanship in the reforms, unlike what is obtainable when the elections are close.
He made the call in his New Year Message to Nigerians on Tuesday, regretting that the nation had failed to consolidate on the gains of electoral reforms carried out in 2010 and before the 2015 elections.
“As we step into 2020, it is important that we see early conclusion of further electoral reforms as a major priority for the country.
“The quality and public confidence in our elections have seriously deteriorated post-2015 as the nation has failed to build on the gains of the electoral reforms that produced the international acclaims that trailed the 2011 and 2015 general elections.
“The failure to sign into law the Electoral Act Amendment ahead of the 2019 general elections to mainstream the Smart Card Reader, electronic voter accreditation, electronic transmission of voter accreditation, electronic voting, video inspection of electoral materials, among others, into our electoral system was particularly a huge setback for the country.
“However, I believe that there would be less partisan interference and considerations if the current reforms are concluded long before the elections to restore public confidence in our electoral process, once again, and improve our democracy and governance”.
Regretting the widening divisions in the country, he called for justice and equity build national unity.
“Going into 2020, there should be conscious steps and political will to build peace and national unity through justice, rapprochement, and galvanisation of the nation’s human and material resources for speedy national development”.
Senator Ekweremadu wished the nation a hitch-free New Year celebration and a prosperous year 2020.
Signed
Uche Anichukwu
Media Aide to Sen. Ike Ekweremadu
Former Deputy President of the Senate
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“SUPPORT GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES AND POLICIES”
…FCT MINISTER CHARGES RESIDENTS IN NEW YEAR MESSAGE
The Honourable Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has asked residents of the Territory to support all government programmes and policies which he said are designed primarily for the benefit and wellbeing of the people.
Malam Bello said this in his New Year message to the residents of the Territory.
He said that no government policy is ever designed to inflict hardship on the populace but are formulated and implemented for the benefit of the greater populace. He said that support for government policies will ensure the success of such policies which ultimately will be enjoyed by majority of the citizenry.
Describing the outgoing year as very important and significant in the socio-political development of Nigeria primarily because of the general elections and its accompanying events, Malam Bello thanked residents for their cooperation and peaceful conduct during the elections and those accompanying events.
In his words “2019 was a very important year in the socio-political development of Nigeria because of the 2019 general elections which culminated into an unforgettable Democracy Day celebrations. I wish to thank residents for their peaceful conduct and for being exemplary hosts to the foreign dignitaries who were in the FCT for this event”
He reminded them that this form of benevolence should be maintained if the FCT is to consolidate on its rising profile as the conference tourism hub of the continent. He reminded residents that the FCT was poised to play host to several international events in the year 2020 and FCT residents and businesses stand to gain a lot if they maintain the warm and friendly attitude for which they have become known. An accommodating attitude, he said is essential to build and nurture the budding tourism industry.
Malam Bello also reiterated the need for residents to obey all extant rules and regulations guiding living and doing business in the FCT. He mentioned the unfortunate incidences of flooding in some parts of the city in 2019 which were caused primarily by developers who illegally erected structures on flood plains and river courses despite repeated warnings not to do so.
He therefore urged residents especially developers to follow all development control and land use regulations to avoid unpleasant consequences.
The FCT Minister also said that the Administration in 2020 will intensify efforts alongside relevant security agencies to ensure that lives and property in the FCT are secured. He however said that security was the responsibility of all and that residents should imbibe the habit of reporting suspicious events or individuals to the relevant security authorities.
Malam Muhammad Musa Bello once more wished all residents of the FCT a very prosperous 2020.
Signed
ANTHONY OGUNLEYE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
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Tinubu’s New Year Message to Nigerians: Past Difficulties Should not Deter us from Benefits of Greater Future
“As we look back on the past year and decade, we thank God for his kindness and mercy in keeping and sustaining us. As we enter the new year and this new decade, we look to God to carry us forward that our nation continue to advance as is our good and proper destiny. For each and every Nigerian no matter your region, religion or ethnicity, may this year be a year of peace, prosperity and progress. May all share in the dream that is Nigeria and may that dream come ever closer to becoming our daily reality.
Throughout the years of our existence, we have had days of celebration. We have also suffered through nights of turmoil. Through it all, we have always maintained that if we stay united and work hard our nation will become a better home. This has not always been an easy thing to do.
But we are a resilient and strong people. The difficulties of the past cannot deter us from the benefits of a greater future.
No matter the odds, we strive. No matter how much others say we cannot, we still achieve. No matter how long the road, we shall walk it.
“We have come far in many ways. I thank all patriotic Nigerians for the progress thus far made. I commend President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration for establishing the foundation for greater things this new year and for future years to come. There are things we must continue do to perfect this nation.
For this new year, let us all take heart and commit ourselves to do better as individuals and as citizens of a Nigeria joined in purpose and in the belief that this nation is the best hope not only for us but for Africa and the black race.
Let us pledge to act toward each other with the strength of unity and compassion. Let us do away with the weaknesses of fear and and division. As long as we have the courage to be our better selves we shall make Nigeria a greater nation.
I wish every Nigerian a peaceful and prosperous new year and even better years to come.”
SIGNED
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu