By Chibuike Nwabuko
UMUAHIA (PRECISE POST) – Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has urged Nigerians to embrace the responsibilities of citizenship and reject vote-selling, primordial sentiments, nepotism and other practices capable of undermining the country’s democratic and developmental progress.
Otti made the call in his Independence Day message on Thursday, as Nigeria marked 66 years of independence.
The governor said Nigeria had recorded notable achievements since independence despite persistent challenges, including poverty, unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, insecurity and limited access to education and healthcare.
He, however, expressed concern over the continued migration of young Nigerians abroad in search of opportunities, describing it as a troubling reflection of the country’s development trajectory after 66 years of independence.
According to him, the country’s challenges should not lead Nigerians to despair, stressing that the nation could still rediscover the ingenuity that made it a leading force in the early years after independence.
Otti said Nigerians must accept that everyone was a stakeholder in the development of the country, regardless of occupation, ethnicity, political affiliation or religion.
He urged citizens to channel their grievances into constructive efforts aimed at finding solutions rather than resorting to violence, endless criticism or indifference.
The governor identified voting, participating in social and political discourse, paying taxes, obeying traffic regulations, maintaining environmental cleanliness and demonstrating diligence at work as some of the simple patriotic acts through which citizens could contribute to nation-building.
He also warned against mediocrity, greed, nepotism, clannishness and disregard for basic rules of decency, saying such practices fuel corruption, institutional inefficiency and developmental failures.
“Ultimately, what becomes of Nigeria in the next 66 years will be up to us as expressed in the decisions we make every day and periodically when we vote to elect leaders,” Otti said.
He noted that Nigeria had remained on the democratic path for 27 years, describing the continuity as significant given the political setbacks experienced during the country’s early years.
According to him, democracy offers citizens the opportunity to determine who governs them, and Nigerians should therefore use their democratic rights to demand accelerated national development.
Otti called on citizens to reject political apathy and insist on electing capable people into public offices.
He cautioned that the country’s development aspirations would remain elusive if Nigerians continued to stay away from polling booths, sell their votes or vote based on primordial considerations.
The governor also paid tribute to Nigeria’s security personnel for their sacrifices in combating insecurity, while commending teachers, health workers, civil servants, artisans, traders, entrepreneurs, farmers, manufacturers, scientists, diplomats, artists and sportspeople for their contributions to national development.
He urged Nigerians not to give up despite the difficulties confronting the country.
“To every other person or group diligently striving to build something for themselves and their families, not minding the resistance, we bring you our collective gratitude. The message that I leave you with remains what it has always been: do not give up; keep pushing and never surrender to the vicissitudes of the time,” he said.
Addressing the people of Abia, Otti thanked them for their support for his administration and reaffirmed his commitment to the rapid socioeconomic transformation of the state.
He said his administration would continue to build systems and institutions capable of responding to the development aspirations of the state, while making the security and welfare of residents a priority.
Otti also urged Nigerians to remain vigilant in protecting the gains of independence, warning that complacency could create opportunities for forces seeking to undermine the country’s freedom and democratic progress.
