He said in the midst of hate speeches and threats of evacuation by ethnic groups and heightened political unrest across the geo-political zones, Nigerians must be united to condemn all forms of utterances and acts that are capable of ripping the country apart.
In a special broadcast to commemorate 26th anniversary of Osun, which was created on August 27, 1991, Aregbesola underscored the need for indigenes of Osun and Nigeria in general to shun all forms of anti-social behaviours and discriminations based on faith and ethnicity, for the nation to move forward as a united entity.
He averred that if the people unite, work assiduously, harness their God-given potentialities and pray fervently, the nation will overcome any challenges that come its way be it in mode of economic, political or social problems.
According to Aregbesola, “we should practise tolerance in religion, ethnicity and ideology and abhor any form of hatred or discrimination against anyone different from us in any social category. We should remain strong, united, unbroken and unbreakable, in the spirit of togetherness.
“An economic transition is in the horizon in which our national dependence on oil will end as we know it. We should all brace up for this development by preparing spiritually and intellectually, using our God-given endowment. Our faith in God and responsible use of our endowment will see us through. We will overcome any challenge we face. Our best is yet to come” he posited.
While recalling that the creation of Osun in 1991 was the realisation of the demand of the people for a state of their own, Aregbesola described the birth of the state as ‘a dream come true,’ as it brought government closer to them and through which they have been experiencing human and infrastructure development and life more abundant.
and then