Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has urged Nigerians to embrace the responsibilities of citizenship, saying the country’s progress depends on the collective efforts of its citizens.
Otti made the call in his 2026 Independence Day broadcast on Thursday to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th independence anniversary.
The governor said Nigerians must move beyond blame and frustration by actively participating in national development through legitimate means, including voting, paying taxes, obeying laws and contributing to social and political discourse.
He said the support of ordinary Nigerians was instrumental to the struggle for independence, stressing that citizens must similarly play active roles in building the country they desire.
According to him, Nigeria’s challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, poverty, unemployment, limited access to education and healthcare, and insecurity, remain sources of concern despite the country’s vast human and natural resources.
Otti, however, said the difficulties facing the country should not lead to despair, noting that Nigerians could still rediscover the ingenuity and resilience that characterised the country’s early years of independence.
He urged citizens to reject corruption, dishonesty, mediocrity, greed, nepotism and disregard for basic rules, describing them as obstacles to national development and institutional efficiency.
The governor also stressed the importance of responsible participation in elections, warning that the country’s development would remain difficult if citizens stayed away from the ballot box, sold their votes or voted based on primordial sentiments.
He said democracy provided Nigerians with the opportunity to influence who governs them, urging citizens to demand capable leadership at all levels of government.
“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.
The governor acknowledged the challenges Nigeria had experienced since independence, including the civil war, military interventions and poorly managed elections, but noted that the country had remained on the democratic path for the past 27 years.
Otti commended security personnel for their sacrifices in combating insecurity and also acknowledged the contributions of teachers, healthcare workers, civil servants, artisans, traders, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, farmers, scientists, artists, sportspeople and other Nigerians contributing to national development.
He encouraged Nigerians to remain resilient despite current difficulties, urging them not to abandon their efforts toward building better lives and a stronger country.
“Do not give up; keep pushing and never surrender to the vicissitudes of the time,” he said.
The governor also commended the people of Abia State for their support for his administration and reaffirmed his commitment to the socioeconomic transformation of the state.
He said the security and welfare of Abia residents would remain a priority, while promising to strengthen systems and institutions capable of meeting the state’s development aspirations.
Otti concluded by urging Nigerians to remain vigilant in protecting the gains of independence, warning that complacency could undermine the freedoms secured by previous generations.
He called on citizens and future generations to protect the country’s freedom and preserve the ideals that inspired the struggle for independence.
(The Whistler)