Nigeria @ 61: Otuaro Congratulate Nigerians, urges Deltans to hold leaders Accountable

Nigeria @ 61: Otuaro Congratulate Nigerians, urges Deltans to hold leaders Accountable

Francis Tayor

Asaba---------- The Deputy Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Barr. Dcn. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government as well as Nigerians as the nation attains sixty one (61) years old, after gaining lndependence from the British Colonial Government in 1960.

Otuaro made the statement on Friday 1st of October, 2021, at the Cenotaph Asaba, as Deltans join Nigerians all over the world to mark our 61st lndependence Day celebration.

Speaking on behalf the Executive Governor of Delta State,  His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, at the ceremony, Otuaro encouraged Deltans to involved in governance in order to hold their leaders accountable for the principles of fairness, equity and justice to ensure transparency. 

He further expressed gratitude to the good people of Delta State, and charged them to uphold the tenants of peaceful coexistence and unity, which have remained the cornerstone of the stronger Delta Agenda of His Excellency, Senator (Dr.) lfeanyi Okowa, and the primary reason behind the great peace and development we have experienced as a state for the last six years. 

According to Otuaro, said:

 " Today I addressed a cross section of Deltans at Cenotaph, Asaba as we join Nigerians all over the world in acknowledgement of our 61st Independence Day.

The atmosphere was filled with glitz and glamour native to the tradition of Independence Day celebrations, but not without some signs of despondency signaling the myriad of security and economic challenges the nation is currently facing, including those that threaten the social stability, peace, and unity of the nation.

Speaking on behalf of the Governor, His Excellency Senator (Dr.) Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, I charged the people not to lose faith and hope in their nation. I enjoined the people to cherish the blessing of nationhood and consider it as a costly gift which is the attainment of the "self-evident truth that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

I further admonished the people to reflect on the great works and sacrifices of our founding fathers; Nnamdi Azikiwe, Herbert Macaulay, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Peter Enahoro, Michael Okpara, Tafawa Balewa and many others, and how they suffered subjugation and mortgaged their personal freedom for the greater good. Though we are yet to attain our full potential as a nation, I made them understand that progress comes with a lot of challenges and the case of our beloved nation in such a time as this isn’t different from nations that have survived similar historical events. Challenges bring out underlying issues and provide an opportunity to address those issues, and in the end, we will come out better refined and our potential will be realized. Therefore, Nigeria is not an impossible deal.

In closing, I encouraged people to get involved in governance, holding leaders accountable for the principles of fairness, equity, and justice to ensure transparency.

I cheered the people in thanksgiving and asked them to take solace in the formidable progress the Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa administration is making in transforming the economic, infrastructural and social landscape of Delta. This can be seen in the prioritized educational sector by building critical educational infrastructure to provide a conducive learning environment for school pupils and improving the access of young people to tertiary education through the recently established three universities. Significant progress has been made in road networks connecting rural communities to rural areas and improving urban livability. Championing youth inclusivity in economic development through several entrepreneurship programmes that have received far reaching commendations nationwide.

On behalf of our dear Governor and the good people of Delta State, I congratulated the President of our dear nation, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Assembly, the Judiciaries and all Nigerians within and in the diaspora on the occasion of our 61st Independence Day Anniversary.

While we give God thanks for his great acts of benevolence as a nation, today also offers us an opportunity to face head-on those issues that are confronting us as a nation.

I further reiterated the Okowa administration's commitment to investing in young people by developing relevant youth-oriented programmes and policies that create jobs and make them wealth creators. This is a critical part of this administration's agenda, in addition to accelerating the infrastructural development of the State.

I salute the support of the good people of Delta State and encourage them to uphold the tenants of peaceful coexistence and unity, which have remained the cornerstone of the Stronger Delta agenda of His Excellency Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa and the primary reason behind the great peace and development we have experienced as a state for the last six years.

Finally; preach love and unity. Forgo ethnic and political prejudice. Trust more. Forgive more and together we can build the Stronger Delta for the greater good of all and our greatness will be realized.

The height of the event was the cutting of the anniversary cake. I was joined by the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Theresa Diai, President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Patience Elumeze, Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Christopher Ochor and other government functionaries. The anniversary was well attended and featured a march-past by officers of the Nigerian Police, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Correctional Service, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Civil Defence, the Federal Road Safety Corps and DESTMA", the statement added.