Otti Urges Nigerians to Take Responsibility for National Development
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has urged Nigerians to see themselves as stakeholders in the country’s development rather than leaving the responsibility for national progress solely to government.
Otti made the call at the Michael Okpara Auditorium during the 2026 commemoration of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, stressing the need for citizens to embrace their responsibilities and remain vigilant in protecting the freedoms secured at independence.
Acknowledging challenges including poverty, unemployment, insecurity and inadequate infrastructure, the governor urged Nigerians not to despair but to remain committed to building a better country.
He identified voting, participating in social and political conversations, paying taxes and obeying the law as some of the ways citizens could contribute meaningfully to nation-building.
Otti also urged Nigerians to reject dishonesty, mediocrity, greed, nepotism and clannishness, which he described as obstacles to national development.
According to him, democracy has given citizens the opportunity to influence who governs them, making it important for Nigerians to reject political apathy, vote-selling and primordial considerations during elections.
The governor maintained that Nigeria’s enormous potential could only be translated into meaningful progress through collective effort, perseverance and responsible citizenship.
He further called on citizens to remain vigilant in protecting the gains of independence and democracy, warning that complacency could expose the country’s freedoms to threats.
Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the security and socio-economic transformation of Abia State, pledging to build systems and institutions capable of responding to the state’s development aspirations.
