The Challenge is Great; The Goal is Clear
By Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, 05.30.2007

This is a historic day for our nation, for it marks an important milestone in our march towards a maturing democracy. For the first time since we cast off the shackles of colonialism almost a half-century ago, we have at last managed an orderly transition from one elected government to another.

We acknowledge that our elections had some shortcomings. Thankfully, we have well-established legal avenues of redress, and I urge anyone aggrieved to pursue them. I also believe that our experiences represent an opportunity to learn from our mistakes. Accordingly, I will set up a panel to examine the entire electoral process with a view to ensuring that we raise the quality and standard of our general elections, and thereby deepen our democracy.

This occasion is historic also because it marks another kind of transitional generational shift when the children of independence assume the adult responsibility of running the country at the heart of Africa.

My fellow citizens, I am humbled and honored that you have elected me and Vice President Jonathan to represent that generation in the task of building a just and humane nation, where its people have a fair chance to attain their fullest potential.

Luckily we are not starting from scratch. We are fortunate to have been led the past eight years by one of our nation’s greatest patriots, President Obasanjo. On behalf of all our people, I salute you, Mr. President, for your vision, your courage and your boundless energy in creating the roadmap toward that united and economically thriving Nigeria that we seek.

Many of us may find it hard to believe now, but before you assumed the presidency eight years ago, the national conversation was about whether Nigeria deserved to remain one country at all. Today we are talking about Nigeria’s potential, to become one of the 20 largest economies in the world by the year2O2O. That isa measure of howfarwe have come. And we thank you.

The administration of President Obasanjo has laid the foundation upon which we can build our future prosperity. Over the past eight years Nigerians have reached a national consensus in at least four areas: to deepen democracy and the rule of law; build an economy driven primarily by the private sector, not government; display zero tolerance for corruption in all its forms, and, finally, restructure and staff our government to ensure efficiency and good governance. I commit myself to these tasks.

Our goal now is to build on the greatest accomplishments of the past few years. Relying on the 7-point agenda that formed the basis of our compact with voters during the recent campaigns, we will concentrate on rebuilding our physical infrastructure and human capital in order to take our country forward. We will focus on accelerating economic and other reforms in a way that makes a concrete and visible difference to ordinary people.

Our economy already has been set on the path of growth. Now we must continue to do the necessary work to create more jobs, lower interest rates, reduce inflation, and maintain a stable exchange rate. All this will increase our chances for rapid growth and development. Central to this is rebuilding our basic infrastructure. We already have comprehensive plans for mass transportation, especially railroad development. We will make these plans a reality.

Equally important, we must devote our best efforts to overcoming the energy challenge. Over the next four years we will see dramatic improvements in power generation, transmission and distribution. These plans will mean little if we do not respect the rule of law.

Our government is determined to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies, especially the police. The state must fulfill its constitutional responsibility of protecting life and property.

The crisis in the Niger Delta commands our urgent attention. Ending it is a matter of strategic importance to our country. I will use every resource available to me, with your help, to address this crisis in a spirit of fairness, justice, and cooperation.

We have a good starting point because our predecessor already launched a master plan that can serve as a basis for a comprehensive examination of all the issues. We will involve all stakeholders in working out a solution.

As part of this effort, we will move quickly to ensure security of life and property, and to make investments safe. In the meantime, I appeal to all aggrieved communities, groups and individuals to immediately suspend all violent activities, and respect the law. Let us allow the impending dialogue to take place in a conducive atmosphere. We are all in this together, and we will find a way to achieve peace and justice.

As we work to resolve the challenges of the Niger Delta, so must we also tackle poverty throughout the country. By fighting poverty, we fight disease. We will make advances in public health, to control the scourge of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases that hold back our population and limit our progress.

We are determined to intensify the war against corruption, more so because corruption is itself central to the spread of poverty. Its corrosive effect is all too visible in all aspects of our national life. This is an area where we have made significant progress in recent years, and we will maintain the momentum.

We also are committed to rebuilding our human capital, if we are to support a modern economy. We must revive education in order to create more equality, and citizens who can function more productively in today’s world.
To our larger African family, you have our commitment to the goal of African integration. We will continue to collaborate with fellow African states to reduce conflict and free our people from the leg chains of poverty. To all our friends in the international community, we pledge our continuing fidelity to the goals of progress in Africa and peace in the world.
Fellow citizens, I ask you all to march with me into the age of restoration. Let us work together to restore our time-honored values of honesty, decency, generosity, modesty, selflessness, transparency, and accountability. These fundamental values determine societies that succeed or fail. We must choose to succeed.

I will set a worthy personal example as your president.

No matter what obstacles confront us, I have confidence and faith in our ability to overcome them. After all, we are Nigerians! We are a resourceful and enterprising people, and we have it within us to make our country a better place. To that end I offer myself as a servant-leader. I will be a listener and doer, and serve with humility.

To fulfill our ambitions, all our leaders at all levels whether a local government councilor or state governor, senator or cabinet minister must change our style and our attitude. We must act at all times with humility, courage, and forthrightness. I ask you, fellow citizens, to join me in rebuilding our Nigerian family, one that defines the success of one by the happiness of many.

I ask you to set aside negative attitudes, and concentrate all our energies on getting to our common destination. All hands must be on deck.

Let us join together to ease the pains of today while working for the gains of tomorrow. Let us set aside cynicism and strive for the good society that we know is within our reach. Let us discard the habit of low expectations of ourselves as well as of our leaders.

Let us stop justifying every shortcoming with that unacceptable phrase 'the Nigerian Factor' as if to be a Nigerian is to settle for less. Let us recapture the mood of optimism that defined us at the dawn of independence, that legendary can-do spirit that marked our Nigerianess. Let us join together, now, to build a society worthy of our children. We have the talent. We have the intelligence. We have the ability.

The challenge is great. The goal is clear. The time is now.

•Inaugural Address of Umaru Musa Yar’adua, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-In-Chief of The Armed Forces, May 29, 2007.

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I Thank God for a smooth transition.No matter how flawed the election which produced him as president,in my opinion,we should pray for Alhaji Umaru Yar'Adua. From the foregoing, I am optimistic that this administation will succeed.

Criticising him or trying to vilify him cannot make any change,but rather worsen an already bad situation.Afterall his success is our success and Nigerians success.

God bless Nigeria.

I have implicite confidence that Yaradua will be far better than Obasanjo. I have looked at his achievements as a state governor. What i pray is that he will pick good SPA and cabinet members. He has started well by putting Ehindero out of office immediately after swearing in. I pray that his agricultural and other programmes will be fruitful.
May God save us through him in Jesus Name.

I agree with you 'Idealsico' . His success is our success.

God bless you, God bless me and God bless Nigeria, amen.

One love

His speech was lovely, he had a whole lot of confidence, we all are happy for the smooth transition that went on yesterday.

Base on what eye can see and what ear can hear, yaradua will do better than baba

Yaradua can do far better than OBJ. After all he performed fine as the Governor of his state.

Now i believe we have a focused leader, am not judging him from his well written speech but from his performance as the former governor of katsina state May he deliver us from the claws of poverty and death

dat one na true but guy is like we don yarn b4 oh

It was written by somebody else of course!!!

ok

Ur views can't change the plan of The 'papa deceive pikin' party. I just hope that someday nigeria would change for the better.

Lets just hope that he keeps to his words cos this is not the first time we have heard such statements.As the famous saying goes 'E don tey wey Nyash don dey for back".

"I will set a worthy example as your president"
time will tell.Time will tell

"I will set a worthy personal example as your president"
Brave words.sounds sincere but we have been lied to, deceived and played for fools for so long that i am tempted not give him the benefit of the doubt.
However like it's said in the judiciary world, INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.
I'll wait (not like I have much of a choice anyway)

did he write it by himself?

100 days and counting , Day 1 ,

i think the speech writer did a good job. Was he the same one who wrote abachanjo's speech in 1999? their works look ominously similar.

I don't think the speeches are similar, Obj made a long and winding speech about a new dawn and so on, sounding like a democrat/peacemaker when we all knew his true belligerent nature would emerge eventually This speech does not differ from what I have heard Yar'Adua say in the few interviews I've watched. It may not be so long or so full of promises, it sounds like a brief but focused statement of intent from someone who thinks a lot and speaks little.

I have great hope that we have turned a corner with Obj's departure, maybe true democracy can now begin to flourish.

I guess we all have to wait and see. however, i guess there is alot more to our present president than meets the eye. And can bet you he'll outperform the ex OBJ. at least i expect him to, being a graduate and spending some quality time in the academia, his vice too. lets keep our fingers crossed, and support the new administration, Long live Nigeria.

I think Umaru Musa Yar'adua was little bit confused on his inaugural Speech,

How can him? After receiving the mantle of leadership, in his right sense still address, Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, "My President' and His Excellency Chief Olusegun Obasanjo" that was simply nonsense to my best of view, it show that Obasanjo is Still the president,

Imagine, the normal procedure is for him to start his speech by addressing His VICE first, Senate and Attorney General of the federation before any other person, instead he started by addressing Obasajo as Mr President,

He actually started by adressing the vice president and so on. But just like you, i found it weird that he was still calling Obasanjo President.
@topic
Very concise speech. I hope he does welll for this country.

I strongly believe he will perform
Afterall, he did well as a Governor
But it's most likely he would disappoint many people,I mean the likes of those who put him there

I pray he is the outstanding guy that keep to his words,i mean his promise.And not listen to any formal or past presidents.MAN DO UR TIN

"e be like say dem want to tell us anoda story again oh,
e be like say dem want to do anoda decieving again oh,
e be like say. . . . ." (sorry i couldn't resist singing dat song)

next time, while typing his speech, spell them the way they were pronounced

@ Koolking: THAT'S TRUE!!!! BECAUSE IT ALL WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS TO COME, BUT LET'S SEE WE HAVE TO SEE THIS NEW PERSON.

Koolking:

Nigerians have lose faith in Papa Deceive Pickin (PDP).

Really? So why is the PDP still the largest party in Nigeria?

to me the newly elected presido is too dull for my liking, know on can say i hope he will do things that will benefit we the mass and i also pray dat God make him more Active