Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has said Nigeria’s democracy remains flawed and that he acknowledged it because he has been a victim of the many aberrations of it.
Otti who made this known in his Democracy Day address, observed while it would not be entirely true to claim that no progress has been made, but that in terms of social and economic progress, the country was is still a far cry from what the men and women Nigeria celebrate on Monday gave their energy, material resources and life for.
“Truly, it must be admitted that we have not done enough to justify the commitments and sacrifices made by several celebrated and millions of unsung heroes to the restoration of democracy in Nigeria.
“Even then, we must at least be comforted by the consciousness that across Nigeria today, there is an unspoken consensus that democracy remains the best governance and administrative vehicle to drive our nation to the dreamland of abundant prosperity and security for the greater majority.
“It is now beyond dispute that we cannot contemplate any other system of government outside democracy. Our job therefore is simple; we either commit more to the development of the democratic in the country for our own good or we perish”.
The governor said Day Day cannot be celebrated in Nigeria without remembering the individuals and groups who held back nothing in the fight to restore Nigeria’s democracy.
He mentioned Chief M. K. O Abiola, his wife Kudirat, and Pa Alfred Rewane as people who paid with their lives that Nigeria may enjoy the rights and privileges of living in a free society.
“The list of heroes of Nigeria’s democracy would be incomplete if we fail to mention three dear sons of Abia. These are Rear Admiral Godwin Ndubuisi Kanu, Comrade Chima Ubani, both of blessed memory, who gave their all in the collective and nationalistic efforts to return Nigeria to the path of popular democracy. The third is the Octogenerian, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, former Chief of General Staff”.
Otti said as a government elected by the popular will of the people, his administration was very conscious of the expectations of youths, mothers, fathers of the state who worked so hard to see that the seed of democracy blossomed in Abia State
He commended them for insisting that Abia deserved better than what it got over the past 24 years.
While appreciating their sacrifices, commitments and abiding belief in democracy, he promised to work round the clock to see he reasonably meet their expectations.
Sun