Independence Day: Otti Urges Nigerians to Reject Vote-Selling, Apathy, Primordial Sentiments
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has urged Nigerians to reject vote-selling, political apathy and primordial sentiments, saying the country’s future depends largely on citizens making responsible choices at the ballot box and actively participating in governance.
Otti made the call in his 2026 Independence Day broadcast on Thursday, warning that Nigeria’s abundant human and natural resources could not, on their own, guarantee development without citizens and leaders willing to put in the necessary work.
He urged Nigerians to embrace their responsibilities as citizens by voting, participating in social and political discussions, paying taxes, obeying the law, rejecting corruption and pursuing excellence in their various endeavours.
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According to him, “the pursuit of progress shall remain an illusion if majority of us continue to stay away from the ballots, sell our votes or vote on primordial sentiments.”
The governor acknowledged that Nigeria had recorded significant achievements since independence but said persistent challenges, including poor infrastructure, poverty, unemployment, limited access to education and healthcare, as well as insecurity, remained major concerns.
He noted that the situation was particularly troubling as millions of young Nigerians continued to leave the country in search of opportunities abroad.
Otti, however, said the challenges should not lead to despair, urging Nigerians to channel their frustrations into legitimate efforts to demand better governance and contribute to national development.
He said citizens must recognise that they were all stakeholders in the Nigerian project, regardless of political affiliation, religion, occupation or place of origin.
The governor also condemned dishonesty, mediocrity, greed, nepotism and clannishness, saying such practices contributed to corruption, institutional inefficiency and developmental setbacks.
On democracy, Otti noted that Nigeria had remained on the democratic path for 27 years, describing the continuity as significant given the political setbacks experienced during the country’s early years.
He said the strength of democracy lay in the opportunity it provided citizens to determine who governed them, urging Nigerians to demand capable leadership at every level of government.
“The philosophy of hiring the best hands for the job should apply to every public position in contest,” Otti said.
The governor commended security personnel for their sacrifices in confronting insecurity and acknowledged the contributions of teachers, health workers, civil servants, artisans, traders, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, farmers, scientists, artists, sportspeople and other Nigerians contributing to national development.
He urged Nigerians facing difficult circumstances not to give up, stressing that perseverance remained critical to overcoming the country’s challenges.
Speaking on Abia State, Otti thanked the people for their support and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the state’s socioeconomic transformation.
He pledged that the security and welfare of Abians would remain a priority, while urging residents to remain vigilant in protecting the gains of democracy and freedom.
“The fruits of yesterday’s struggles can only be sustained by the collective vigilance of our generation and those coming after us,” he said, warning that complacency could create opportunities for those seeking to undermine the freedoms Nigerians had fought to secure.
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