THE PRESIDENT ADDRESS.

This generation of Nigerians has been tested by crisis that steeled our resolve and proved our resilience. Decades of war that is seemingly unending. An economy whose recovery does not look feasible, yet we know that Nigeria's possibilities are limitless, for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands : Youth and drive; diversity and openness; and endless capacity for risk and a gift of reinvention. My fellow Nigerians, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it - so long as we seize it together.

For we, the people understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it. We believe that Nigeria's prosperity must react upon the broad shoulders of a rising middle class. We know that Nigeria thrives when every person can find independence and pride in their work; when the wages of honest labor liberate families from the brink of hardship. We are true to our founding principle when a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed as anybody else, because she is Nigerian; she is free, and she is equal, not just in the eyes of God but also in our own.

We understand that outworn programs are inadequate to the needs of our time. So we must harness new ideas and technology to remake our government, revamp our tax code, reform our schools, and empower our citizens with the skills they need to work harder, learn more, reach higher. But while the means will change, our purposes endures: a nation that rewards the effort and determination of every single Nigerian. That is what this moment requires. That is what will give real meaning to our founding principles.

We, the people, still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security and diginity. We must make the hard choices. But we reject the belief that Nigeria must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build it's future.

We do not believe that in this country freedom is reserved for the lucky or happiness for the few. We recognize that no matter how responsibly we live our lives, any one of us at any time may face job loss, or a sudden illness or atrocities caused by insurgency but we're committed to ourselves, these things do not sap our initiative, they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risk that make this country great.

We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Nigerians are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity. We will respond to the threat of fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram, knowing that failure to do so would betray our children and the future generations.

The path towards a new and sustainable Nigeria will be long and sometimes difficult. But Nigeria cannot resist this global transition we must lead it. We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries, That's how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure. That is how we will preserve our nation commanded to our care by God. That's what will lend meaning to the labor's of our heroes pasts.

We, the people, still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war. Our brave men and women in uniform, tempered by the flames of battle, are unmatched in skill and courage. Our citizens, seared by the memory of those we have lost know too well the price thatvus paid for liberty. The knowledge of sacrifice will keep us forever vigilant against those who would do us harm. But we are also heirs to those who won the peace and not just war, who turn sworn enemies into surest of friends and we must carry those lessons into this times as well.

It sit now our generation's task to carry on what those pioneers began. For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until no citizens is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote - until our bright young students and engineers are enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from our country. Our journey is not complete until our all our children, from the streets of ututu Arochukwu, Abia state to the beautiful lane of Aso drive know that they are cared for and cherished and always safe from harm.

For now decisions are upon us and we cannot afford delay. We cannot mistake absolutism for principle or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name - calling as reasoned debate. We must act, knowing that our work will be imperfect, we must act, knowing that it will be only partial and that it will be up to those who stand here in four years and 40 years and 400 years.

Let us, each of us, now embrace with solemn duty and awesome joy what is our lasting birthright. With common effort and common purpose, with passion and dedication, let us answer the call of history and carry into the uncertain future that precious light of freedom.

Thank you. God bless you, and may He forever bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Adewumi Adedeji Oriyomi
Writes from Ogun state, Nigeria.
+2348082790452
Dejijupiter@gmail.com.