As Nigeria turns 59 today, a former Commissioner of Transport in Rivers State, George Tolofari says the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government would surely take the country to the ‘Next Level’ of national rebirth, infrastructural development, fiscal discipline and enhanced economic growth.

He, therefore, called on Nigerians to remain hopeful of Nigeria overcoming her hydra-headed challenges to nationhood, while appealing for synergy to tackle the security challenges bedevilling the country, especially, his home, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, where sea pirates have been terrorizing the Bonny River.

In his independence message to Nigerians tagged “Nigeria @ 59: Let’s Keep Hope Alive”, Tolofari, who is also the Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bonny LGA, stated that “As Nigeria celebrates 59 years of nationhood, I wish all fellow patriotic citizens a Happy Independence Anniversary celebrations,” noting that “It has been 59 years of mixed fortunes for a country that showed incipient signs of greatness right from the beginning”.

“However, all hope is not lost as the present APC government of President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to take Nigeria to the NEXT LEVEL of national rebirth, infrastructure development, fiscal discipline and enhanced economic growth”.

He pointed out that “all these can be achieved in an atmosphere of peace, love, mutual coexistence and security of lives and property,” enjoining all Nigerians to “eschew bitterness and rancour; and give their maximum support and cooperation to the government as it tries to tackle the hydra-headed challenges confronting our dear country,” adding that “Surely, there will be light at the end of the tunnel”.

On the issue of piracy on the Bonny/Port Harcourt marine corridor, the former two term member of the Rivers State House of Assembly stated that “We must all collaborate”.

“I hereby lend my voice and that of the All Progressives Congress, Bonny chapter to the call for improved security on Bonny waterways. There must be concerted efforts and deliberate collaboration of the security agencies and critical stakeholders to ensure that safety and security of commuters on the Bonny waterways are guaranteed.

“It is instructive that we should continue to push and engage relevant authorities and agencies of government for the speedy completion of Bonny/Bodo road project. This would surely reduce traffic on the sea corridor, thereby drastically reducing piracy on the sea”.

The former lawmaker expressed gratitude to God for the safe release of the lawmaker, Princewill Christy-Wilcox, the businessman, Harold Benstowe, and a student, simply identified as Nwachukwu, who were abducted by the sea pirates who attacked their boat on Thursday, September 26, 2019.

He also sympathised with their families and those of other victims of sea pirates’ attacks, calling on the security agencies to intensify actions at curbing the menace, regretting that “the spate of piracy and other forms of criminal activities on Bonny waterways, especially, the sea route to Port Harcourt has become a source of great concern to every well-meaning citizen of Nigeria and Rivers State, as well as indigenes of the Ibani nation, in particular”.

“It is indeed saddening to note that in the last few months now, no week has passed without reported multiple cases of banditry on the sea. In the process, many had lost their lives, women and girls have been raped and sexually abused, all forms of indignities have been visited on innocent victims who lost all their possessions and goods”.

He pointed out that abduction for ransom by the sea pirates has become “another gruesome dimension” which have now been introduced to the criminalities on the Bonny/Port Harcourt waterways,” disclosing that “one of the victims regained his freedom after payment of a humongous sum as ransom”.