Dear compatriots,
Today, we celebrate the re-birth of our nation’s democracy. On this day, eighteen years ago, the world watched as we ushered in a new era of government chosen by the people after countless years of military rule.
Democracy Day marks the turning point in our history, when we as a nation defied all odds and expectations, and chose to rebuild our motherland on the principles adhered to by many nations before us: that the people of a country can stand sovereign over their elected leaders, by exercising their right to choose at the ballot box.
Our democracy since 1999 has hurtled through numerous crossroads that have served to define our strength as a state/ nation, and have made many of our institutions stronger. On this day, I want us to recognise Cross riverians from all walks of life for their tireless and heroic sacrifices that have kept us together in spite of the difficult challenges that have confronted us.
I want us to take a moment to pause, reflect on, and appreciate the millions of our fellow country-men and women, and those in every corner of the globe who have joined us to campaign tirelessly against the challenges facing us particularly the killings that emanate from radical insurgents.
We must bear in mind that our organised strength lies in the common experiences we share with our fellow country men and women, and our everyday successes as a state are rooted in the foundations of our citizen-centered democracy.
Nevertheless, we must also never forget that just as our strength lies in our commonalities and shared experiences, our most potent power emanates from our strong voices.
When our minds are as one, we are strong. When we speak out as one, we are formidable. When we demand as one, we are insurmountable.
For this reason, on this anniversary of the founding of our Fourth Republic, I urge all Cross riverians to collectively work for the cross river dream.
We must demand that in 2019 Nigeria and Cross river state display its commitment to democracy, so that we have credible, free and transparent elctions. We must have the will and courage to defend our democracy. This is a process that starts now, that sees democratic and transparent processes to select candidates through to election day where we re free to vote for the candidate we believe in.
Democracy is not practiced by mirroring the language that we speak, where we come from or what religion we practice; democracy is the opportunity to address the issues that affect us all across board regardless of gender, age or religion.
We must acknowledge some of the realities that have presented themselves when election-time comes in our state, and enlighten others and ourselves against them.
One flaw that we have experienced in our young democracy is that it is often the case that many of our people choose leaders based on the constraints of sameness of , similarities in ethnicity, and other largely inconsequential values of state-building
To counter this, we must view leadership through a lense of: who will best address our state and local government problems? In a nutshell, we must elect the best amongst us.
We must also continue to strive towards the definition, or perhaps redefinition of the path that we as a state have chosen to take.
It is not prudent for a complex state such as ours to always be reactionary in our response to events.
We must begin to look into supporting and elevating proactive leaders who will not only defend the state when it is attacked, but will make her strong so that any enemies, foreign or domestic, that may aspire to threaten our security and its people will be dealt with before they have the chance to cause us harm.
As a state founded upon our diversity, we come to this task well equipped with the resources, indigenous skills and zeal to surpass all expectations and projections that have, and are, being made by our state.
Let us continue to uphold the bond of citizenship that has kept us together as one indivisible people.
Let us also be diligent and firm in the belief that we shall harvest the dividends of the sacrifices that many have given to obtain and sustain our democracy.
Let us also understand, that this democracy of ours is not just a gift, but a responsibility to be harnessed and developed for the benefit of generations that are yet to come.
In this regard, as we reflect, and celebrate yet another Democracy Day, I urge us all to march into the future knowing that in the spirit of togetherness, we can achieve more for our common success.
May God continue to bless Cross river state.
Hon.Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba,Director General due process and price intelligence bureau, Cross river state.
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