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Nigeria @ 60: We must review our strategy to make progress – Otti
BY NDUBUISI UWAEZU
A political leader and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, says for Nigeria to achieve meaningful development, leadership at various levels of government would need to review their strategies.
Otti, a former gubernatorial candidate, while felicitating with the government and people of Nigeria on the nation’s 60th Independence Anniversary, described the occasion as a milestone worthy of celebration.
He, however, regretted that the country even though blessed with enormous human and natural resources, has for a long time been bedevilled by too many self-inflicted socio-political, economic and leadership challenges, that have stunted her growth, leaving her only at the level of potential greatness.
Otti, a renowned economist, in a statement by his media aide, Ferdinand Ekeoma, frowned at a situation where sectional, religious and other trivial interests still dominate our national discourse and general engagements, especially in determining sensitive leadership considerations, 60 years after.
He insisted that for Nigeria to move forward and take a place of pride in the comity of progressive nations, our leaders must take a cue from their colleagues in the developed world, especially those countries that once trailed Nigeria but who have through the dint of hard work and visionary leadership overtaken her in all facets of development.
READ: I will keep on fighting until Abia is liberated – Alex Otti
The former bank chief specifically congratulated the people of Abia State, for their patience, peaceful disposition, resilience and consistent demand for good governance. He enjoined them not to lose hope, assuring that persistent progressive push beyond political, religious and sectional platforms was required to herald an Abia that they would be proud of and that meet the vision of the founding fathers.
Otti restated his call on Abia state government to prioritise the welfare of workers, pensioners and youths as an economic strategy, to rejig the economy of the state and erase the present atmosphere of gloom and despondency created by harsh government policies and programmes.
He promised to continue to lend his voice and taking very practical and decisive actions in alliance with other well-meaning citizens of the state, with a view to developing the state and improving the welfare of the people.