Senate President David Mark on Monday in Abuja urged Nigerians to reenact the indomitable spirit of the founding fathers who envisaged a united, peaceful and prosperous nation in 1960.
Mark made the appeal at a special church service to mark the 52nd Independence anniversary at St. Mulumba's catholic chaplaincy, Apo, adding that it would cause the nation to make progress.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Paul Mumeh, Mark said that the country's founding fathers craved a nation that would be economically and politically strong and a leading force in the continent.
“What went wrong along the line is akin to a deviation of the set goals because subsequent leaders did not toe the same path.
“It is time for Nigerians, both the leaders and the led to agree to reinvent the wheel and redirect our steps in the right path.’’
The Senate President situated the problems retarding the nation’s growth to the tendency to treat symptoms of the disease rather than the cause of the ailment.
Earlier in his homily, the Priest, Rev. Father Innocent Jooji called for peace, unity, love and reconciliation between and among ethnic and religious affiliations in the country.
Jooji noted that Nigeria was founded on the basis of peaceful coexistence.
“Our independence is unique because we got it through the unity and the resolve of the people without losing lives or shedding blood.
“It is ironic and shocking that most Nigerians have become hostile to each other.
“We must go back to the good old days and learn to live together without molestation of or hindrance to one another.
“Even our constitution recognises that Nigeria is a secular State where freedom of worship is upheld,’’ he said. (NAN)