DEMOCRACY IS THE PATHWAY TO FREEDOM AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GOV. OTTI

DEMOCRACY IS THE PATHWAY TO FREEDOM AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

GOV. OTTI

David Maduako –Umuahia

The Abia State governor Dr Alex Otti have on 2026 democracy day charged Nigerians to defend democracy in the country saying it is a path way to freedom and national development.

The governor who made the declaration in his June 12th 2026 Democracy Day Address titled ‘Of Freedom And Development’ said one of the beauties of democracy is the opportunities it offers for diverse opinions, freedom to exchange ideas and periodically reflect on national issues as it affects the nation.

Today he said presents to Nigerians an invitation to evaluate the pace of democracy ,

evaluate the progress so far made since 1999 and over the last 33 years of annulment of the June 12 1993 Presidential election won by Chief MKO Abiola . Reflecting on these is not to apportion blames but to reset the priorities of the nation. Alot may have gone wrong but there are still things to fight for, in the interest of the present and future generations .

Abia state governor,DrAlex Chima Ottu

Dr. Otti noted that the fight to stop military rule in Nigeria and install democracy was not an easy one, so there is still need to continue the fight, this time for freedom and development .

He maintained that there may have been several disappointments in the fourth republic, the. nation he said ought to have done better on development especially on Welfare and security of the people but all hopes is not lost and democracy have not failed ,the country only had a set back as a result of some erroneous, independent and collective decisions made by all . According to him Leaders who came before now , strongly believe that democracy is the only way to true national developmd. He said

“Those who came ahead of us were unyielding in their conviction that democracy is the only genuine vehicle for national development and millions of us today still hold strongly to the same idea . As we mark the 2026 Democracy Day celebration, we are duty-bound to rethink our disposition to the ideals and values that sustained the pro-democracy efforts of the last decade of the 20th century here in Nigeria”. He said on quote.

In Abia, democracy he said has empowered the people to take control of their destiny. The people are better of today because they kept faith with democracy . The state is better off as a result of the huge investments his government’ have made almost in all sectors of the state . The state has witnessed progress through the opportunity democracy offered for the people to choose credible leaders and no going back again on the progress of Abía . According to him freedom and genuine development need not be in Conflict . The pride of Abía he said is been restored not via benevolence of any Dictator but election of Trusted leaders .

He thank Abia people for their wise decision in 2023, expressing hope that this would be replicated come 2027 .

End.