Independence Day: Otti Urges Abians to Reject Despair, Says Nigeria Can Rediscover Its Greatness
The Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, has urged the people of the state and Nigerians generally not to succumb to despair despite the numerous challenges confronting the country.
Otti said Abians and Nigerians should not be discouraged merely because the nation had yet to achieve some of the dreams and aspirations envisioned at independence, stressing that the country still had enormous potential to overcome its present difficulties and reclaim its place among the world’s leading nations.
The governor stated this in a message marking Nigeria’s 2026 Independence Day anniversary.
According to him, it would be unfair to suggest that the post-independence years had been completely devoid of progress or meaningful achievements.
“Yes, we may not have done as well as one could have wished on a number of critical development frontlines, but evidently, there are some remarkable achievements that we can take pride in. The more important reality is that even amidst the frustrations of the hour, our beautiful country can still rediscover the genius that made us world-beaters in the early years of our national expression,” he said.
Otti said the country’s perennial struggles with basic infrastructure, poverty, unemployment, low factor utilisation, limited access to quality education and healthcare, and insecurity, particularly over the last two decades, should remain a source of concern to every patriotic Nigerian.
He noted that the situation was particularly troubling because several countries with fewer natural and human resources had recorded significantly better outcomes in some of these critical areas of national development.
The governor added that the growing number of young Nigerians leaving the country in search of opportunities and better prospects for self-fulfilment in different parts of the world was another indication of the challenges confronting the nation’s development.
According to him, the exodus of young people does not tell a favourable story about the country’s progress after 66 years of independence, especially given the hundreds of billions of dollars earned as national revenue over the years and the country’s abundant natural resources and exceptional human capital.
He, however, maintained that while there were legitimate reasons for dissatisfaction with the state of the nation, disappointment should not be allowed to degenerate into despair.
“Obviously, there are grounds for disaffection, but disappointment need not lead to despair.
“If there is one thing that stands us apart as a community of people, it is our optimistic outlook to life. Therefore, we are wired to rise above and beyond the intimidation of temporary circumstances and setbacks.
“In addition to the gift of hope for a better tomorrow, today would be a good time to ask a few soul-searching questions of ourselves to identify what we may have missed in the quest for true economic and political sovereignty,” he added.
Otti acknowledged that Nigeria had yet to attain the lofty heights envisaged by the country’s founding generation at independence, noting that the aspirations for freedom, prosperity, self-determination and national development had inspired Nigerians across different sectors of society.
“Agreed that we may not have reached the lofty heights they envisioned as they took to the floor of the Parliament, classrooms, editorial pages and the streets of our urban centres with the single message of freedom,” he said.
The governor’s message called for renewed optimism, introspection and a collective commitment to addressing the structural challenges that have continued to constrain Nigeria’s development, while emphasising the need for citizens to remain hopeful about the country’s capacity to fulfil the aspirations of its founding generation.
