It’s time Nigerian citizens discover how they can make Nigeria better- Symington

The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart
Symington yesterday charged Nigerians to
stand up and think of how to contribute and
make Nigeria a better country which together
with the United States of America could lift up
the world.
Symington who stated this at the event marking
America’s 241 Independence anniversary said
that
it was time Nigerian citizens capitalized on their
unique qualities- the diversity, energy,
optimism, creativity and resilience of
Nigerians adding that when Nigeria gets better,
everyone will enjoy and it will make a positive
impact globally.
His words, “In my life time, the number of
Nigerian-Americans who have lifted the United
States by their actions in my country has grown
to be enormous and from my perspective there
is no greatest thing as the bonds between our
countries’ friendship and common focus.
I look forward to marking the next century of
our relationship in this way and the Nigeria
dream and the American dream that would
together lift up the world.” Symington added.
“Here is the point of my stay in Nigeria, I
haven’t been everywhere in Nigeria but I have
been in some places and I know how fortunate I
am to be in Nigeria. I usually ask a simple
question, what do you like about Nigeria. And
each time I get the answer ‘me’. It is a truly
wonderful thing that the diversity also brings
about the resilience that makes the people say I
like Nigerians. In our country, it caused us some
big problems.
In a nation full of Nigerians who love their
diversity, resilience and love their creativity, and
their strength and innovativeness, and a nation
full of Nigerians who live the Nigeria dream
everyday, the single most important thing that
can happen is this, that the leaders of the
country be recognized when they speak like
George Washington and Abraham Lyncon.
Citizens of this country should realize that
leaders without citizens are like a book with
covers and no pages. Leaders without citizens
cannot live and the greatest is that every
Nigerian citizen who is proud to be a citizen,
would stand up and say how can I make Nigeria
better because of what I do.
The next thing I’d like us to remember is this,
here’s what is at stake in your Nigeria, when
Nigeria gets better with more Nigerians
believing in the Nigerian dream because they
live it together, it will truly lift up the leadership
that they find. You will lift up Nigeria and you
will lift up the world.”