Citizens’ patriotic acts, good conduct will restore lost glory – Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday assured Nigerian children that the country would regain its lost glory through the good conduct and acts of patriotism exhibited by the citizens.

Osinbajo gave the assurance at the ‘Nigeria Reads 2018’ organised by UNESCO and Rainbow Book Club (RBC) at the LEA Primary School, Life Camp, Abuja.

The event was the UN World Books and Copyright Day.

Osinbajo read excerpts from the book “The Legend: Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe,’’ by Dapo Adeleke, depicting the childhood, early education and political life of Nigeria’s first President.

He also asked the pupils questions from the book and entertained them.

During the event, the pupils also asked questions on how the nation could regain its lost glory and the anti-corruption war.

They also wanted to know how about efforts to provide amenities for citizens, assist the poor and vulnerable as well as how the Vice President ran his family amid busy schedule.

“The way to regain our lost glory is in the way you do things and behave and by what I do,’’ he told the children.

He added that the country had brilliant professionals in sports, entertainment industry, adding that the country had produced many pilots.

“If you do your best and do something great, we will regain our glory.’’

He explained that the anti-corruption war entailed the arrest of the suspects, prosecuting them and jailing those found guilty.

He further said that the looted money belonged to all Nigerians and that government should have used such money to provide infrastructure.

According to him, it is the responsibility of the government to provide amenities using the taxes collected from individuals and corporate agencies as well as revenue from crude oil.

He added that the poor in the country were being assisted with N5,000 monthly stipends for their upkeep, adding that no fewer than one million households had been identified and being paid the stipend.

On how he ran his family, Osinbajo informed them that his children had grown and that when they return home, he interacted and prayed with them.

“My job is tasking but if you are going to be the President or the Vice President, it is usually for between four years and eight years; and you cannot be in that position all the time because it is tasking.’’

On how he became the Vice President, he said:`I was a lawyer and a law teacher before my appointment and we contested election and won on March 28, 2015.’’

It was reported that the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammadu Bello, and his Education counterpart, Malam Adamu Adamu, were present and encouraged the pupils to imbibe reading culture.

A representative of UNESCO, Mr Ifeanyi Ajaegbo, said developing a reading culture at a young age was the best way to promote education.

The RBC Founder, Mrs Koko Kalango, who moderated the event, said in a statement that there was no better time to build the character of individuals than as children.

“We believe that any form of impact has to start from the foundation; that is why we channel our energy into activities that mould the minds of young people.

“RBC seeks to encourage people to read for human capital development,’’ she added.