Dear Naga people,
Thanks to the grace of our living God, I stand here once again to address our people on this occasion of Naga National Plebiscite Day of 16th May 2016. On this historic day, it is important to re-emphasise the absolute right of the Naga people for sovereignty and to say that we the NNC fully stand on this solid right for recognition of our freedom by the occupational Governments of India and Myanmar (Burma). And this political right of the Nagas can never be erased by anybody; rather sooner or later our political right to Nationhood will be recognized officially and publicly by the countries of the world and the United Nations in particular. Naga freedom and Nationhood are the Naga National Council Dream and Vision and we pray to our living God for blessing and strength to achieve victory.
But today the NNC must say, once again, that, in order to achieve our freedom, Naga National Unity in reality is critical. And we must respond to this urgent need with a sincere and true spirit of Nationalism and Brotherhood. Strengthened by the love of Christ the Saviour, we the Naga National Political Groups must do this now, because this is the only way to Nationhood if we really want our freedom. Otherwise, our immediate future is unpredictable, our Naga people will be the losers, and our Nationhood aspirations will be thwarted for many more years. This we must avoid and instead unite to achieve our freedom and gain independence for our present and future generations. May the good Lord bless and sustain the Nationhood for His glory.
Today many good and concerned thinkers and writers are spelling out the reality prevailing in the Homeland for Naga Nationhood without any hesitation and reservation and we the NNC welcome these efforts; but only the true political stand will achieve our freedom in reality with all concerned stakeholders who are really prepared to sacrifice for the Cause of the Nagas. The truth will prevail in the Naga journey to Nationhood.
The NNC on this occasion urges the concerned intellectuals to come forward to participate practically in Nation building as their services are much required and the time has come for capable young adults to shoulder the responsibility of the Nation.
Today it is very unfortunate that many more ugly factions are emerging in the Naga homeland as a result of jealousy, hatred, frustration and the opportunistic nature of some leaders who have indeed been the main stumbling block in Nation building till date. This is a very shameful and destructive phase in our National affairs of more than six long decades. But history will condemn these people and their legacy will be recorded only as a stumbling block in the Naga Political story as future generations will come to know the truth.
The NNC also remembers the elders and leaders who fought for all the Naga National Political Rights for sovereignty with strong determination. The present generation must remember these people in prayer to our living God. Out of respect for these heroes and for our own good and our own future, we must commit ourselves once again to march ahead unitedly with strong determination for Naga sovereignty, which is our political birthright.