By: Our Reporter, Calabar
Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has called on Nigerians to give deeper meaning to the nation’s 66 years of independence by transforming political freedom into self-reliance, human dignity and shared prosperity.
Also he urged citizens to look beyond the rituals of October 1 and embrace the patriotism, integrity, tolerance and collective responsibility required to build a stronger and more prosperous nation.
Otu who was represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, made the call in his Independence Day goodwill message to Cross Riverians at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, in which he described the anniversary as an opportunity for “solemn national introspection” and a renewed commitment to the ideals for which Nigeria’s founding nationalists sacrificed.
He said independence should not be viewed merely as freedom from external rule, but as “the capacity of a people to determine their destiny, provide for their needs, protect their dignity and build institutions worthy of their aspirations.”
The Governor said the sacrifices of Nigeria’s nationalist generation were “deliberate, selfless and animated by an abiding faith in the possibility of a sovereign Nigeria”, stressing that their legacy imposed a responsibility on present and future generations to preserve the values for which they struggled.
Otu specifically cited the national ethics enshrined in Chapter II, Section 23 of the 1999 Constitution, including patriotism, integrity, self-reliance and religious tolerance, as indispensable foundations for a stable and prosperous society.
Otu said Independence Day should transcend ceremonial pageantry and official rituals, insisting that it should provide an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the country’s journey and the responsibilities of citizenship.
“Independence Day must mean more to us than the ceremonial pageantry and official rituals that accompany it,” he said, describing the anniversary as “a solemn moment of national introspection” and an occasion to consider “the Nigeria we desire to bequeath to generations yet unborn.”
According to him, Nigeria’s progress in infrastructure, education, healthcare, maritime development and other critical sectors demonstrates that nation-building remains a continuing enterprise requiring “patience, sacrifice, unity of purpose and the determination to transform our enormous potential into tangible prosperity.”
He said Cross River, too, had remained “in motion”, progressively evolving economically, socially and politically while giving practical expression to the ideals of national independence.
The Governor highlighted Cross River’s tradition of religious harmony, social justice and inclusive governance, saying his administration had consciously translated the national ethics of patriotism, integrity, tolerance and self-reliance into the State’s ethos.
He pointed to the longstanding proximity and peaceful coexistence of the Calabar Central Mosque and the Apostolic Church along Mary Slessor Street, Bogobiri, as a vivid illustration that “faith need not be a source of division”, but could coexist with “mutual respect, fellowship and understanding.”
Otu also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to equity, human rights and the rule of law, declaring that “no one, regardless of social or economic standing, is above the law.” He added that no citizen, “irrespective of how modest his or her circumstances may be”, should be subjected to oppression, intimidation or injustice, stressing that “justice must remain the shield of both the weak and the strong.”
He said his administration had opened the doors of public service to “well-meaning Cross Riverians, irrespective of political affiliation”, in keeping with its commitment to participatory and inclusive governance.
On economic empowerment, the Governor said his administration was investing in the capacity of young people through apprenticeship, skills acquisition and empowerment programmes, while providing local entrepreneurs with training, institutional support and start-up assistance.
He identified agriculture as a major pillar of the State’s self-reliance agenda, noting that government was supporting smallholder and large-scale farmers with loans and grants, improving rural feeder roads and promoting mechanisation. “Our ambition, however, goes beyond food sufficiency. We seek absolute food security,” he declared, adding that the revitalisation of agro-based cottage industries would help transform agricultural produce into semi-finished and finished products. “This is the meaning of Food Independence,” he said.
The Governor, however, stressed that the task of building a prosperous Cross River could not be accomplished by government alone, urging citizens to embrace unity, cooperation and collective responsibility. Comparing governance to an orchestra, Otu said: “
As Governor, I am the conductor, responsible for setting the tempo and directing the symphony. But no conductor, however committed, can produce beautiful music if the instrumentalists refuse to play in harmony.” He called on Cross Riverians to reject “distrust, ethnic prejudice, needless division and every tendency that diminishes our collective strength”, insisting that “Cross River belongs to all of us” and that its future remains “a shared inheritance and a shared responsibility.”
Otu urged citizens to honour the sacrifices of Nigeria’s founding heroes by becoming “worthy custodians of the nation they envisioned”, while wishing Nigerians and Cross Riverians a peaceful, meaningful and rewarding Independence celebration.
