Speech delivered by Usani Uguru Usani, Honourable Minister of Niger Delta, on the Occassion of his "THANKS-GIVING" Service, 3rd December 2016.
When I chose to “Thank”
God, it was a divine obligation to be performed. When my friends and
well-wishers decided to honour God in supporting me, it stood as a proof to the
glorious maxim that those who look unto God will never be disappointed.
For all those
who have attended this occasion, I cherish your enormous sacrifice of time and
resources, which I consider as expression of love and care for me.
I thank my
friends, the Governors, Members of National and State Assemblies, the APC
platform, and my colleagues, for support in material terms and direct
sponsorship.
History is a
platform of reference which guides our actions for the future. Sometimes, it
just happens and at other times it is just made.
Life records
those who consciously seek to make history through fame, popularity,
impressionable strive, as occupying the lower rung of history’s ladder.
In the natural
course of events, everyone has a place in history. All those who appreciate the
helpless state /weakness of mortal nature are enabled by God to achieve great
feats.
Among the
duties of mankind, the greatest is to “owe no man nothing, except love”.
Life is ruled
by two elements- reason and emotion. The two play on the psychology of
beneficiaries and society. One (emotion) is a spontaneous eventuality, the
other achieves deliberate organisation. In both, man’s achievements are only
sensual, all accounting for history.
For me neither
reason nor emotion have contributed to life’s worth. This reminds me that I did
not just become, I was created. Therefore, I am only good for what my creator assigns
me.
When distress attends my way, I do not relish in
self-pity. When joy comes, I look forward to when it will wane. Life is, thus,
a cycle of moments of ‘good’ and ‘bad’. In all, the fundamental benefits are
lessons of philosophy and psychology. When we learn fast, we gain from the
benefits of knowledge. When we reject the knowledge of discontent, we pass
through that route again with greater agony.
The greatest moments of history are recorded under
compelling divine direction. At other times, positive history beckons on the
indifferent lot.
However, history is recorded in positive and negative
terms. Consequently, let no man count on his strength, but on the perfect will
of God.
