Most importantly, nothing has happened to change my conviction that freedom and the love of liberty remain the essential defining attributes of our national character as a people.

To meet the expectations of the majority of our people, and to open up new vistas of economic opportunity so that the aspirations of Nigerians can stand a fair chance of being fulfilled in a lifetime, there must be a truly committed leadership in a democratic Nigeria.

The work of Nigeria is not complete for as long as there is any one Nigerian who goes to bed on empty stomach.

I am not sure that you, the younger generations, will like to go to war that we went through. So, we learn as the mistakes are being committed.

Even now, we make no apologies for the choice we made. The sacrifices we made were selfless. The options we offered were patriotic while the paths we chose were well thought out.

Debate and divergence of views can only enrich our history and culture.

The return of democracy in our land has indeed thrown the problems of development into bolder relief.