Despite the ethno-religious conflicts facing
Nigeria, the United States of America said the country had so much to
celebrate but must embrace its differences to strengthen the democracy.
The US Ambassador to Nigeria Terence McCulley who spoke in Abuja at the 237th National Day celebration yesterday said Nigeria, like America could "find strength in its diversity."
"In Africa, Nigeria carries aloft this precious torch and with it the weighty responsibility to demonstrate that the Nigerian democratic experiment-like our American project-can find strength in its diversity of language, ethnicity and cultural traditions.
And for Nigerian democracy to continue to prosper, conflict must be addressed, differences must be embraced, and unity must be promoted as a core value. I, for one, am optimistic. I am confident that Nigerians-despite the challenges-will find a way forward, as Nigerians have always done.
"In America and Nigeria, the common issues we face, the common hopes we have, are all human issues, all human hopes. We seek stability in our lives.
We desire positive action from our leaders. We expect transparency in governance. We seek economic opportunity. We demand high quality education for our children. And we work to protect the environment so that our children and our children's children can enjoy the benefits of this bountiful planet.
"I am convinced that America and Nigeria share these common goals.
"And I am proud to say that we are friends whose relationship spans critical issues of global and regional import. And as friends, we have had some difficult conversations of late, about corruption, about human rights. But I wish emphasize to you that our strategic relationship remains as strong as ever, that the bonds that link our two nations remains solid; that Nigeria remains for America our indispensable ally in Africa', he added."
The US Ambassador to Nigeria Terence McCulley who spoke in Abuja at the 237th National Day celebration yesterday said Nigeria, like America could "find strength in its diversity."
"In Africa, Nigeria carries aloft this precious torch and with it the weighty responsibility to demonstrate that the Nigerian democratic experiment-like our American project-can find strength in its diversity of language, ethnicity and cultural traditions.
And for Nigerian democracy to continue to prosper, conflict must be addressed, differences must be embraced, and unity must be promoted as a core value. I, for one, am optimistic. I am confident that Nigerians-despite the challenges-will find a way forward, as Nigerians have always done.
"In America and Nigeria, the common issues we face, the common hopes we have, are all human issues, all human hopes. We seek stability in our lives.
We desire positive action from our leaders. We expect transparency in governance. We seek economic opportunity. We demand high quality education for our children. And we work to protect the environment so that our children and our children's children can enjoy the benefits of this bountiful planet.
"I am convinced that America and Nigeria share these common goals.
"And I am proud to say that we are friends whose relationship spans critical issues of global and regional import. And as friends, we have had some difficult conversations of late, about corruption, about human rights. But I wish emphasize to you that our strategic relationship remains as strong as ever, that the bonds that link our two nations remains solid; that Nigeria remains for America our indispensable ally in Africa', he added."
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