As Nigeria marks her 65th Independence anniversary, the Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu has declared that the greatness of Nigeria does not lie in parades or pageantry.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Linus Obogo, Gov. Otu, emphasized that the true essence of independence is not measured by ceremonial parades.
According to him, it is by the unwavering spirit of a people who refuse to surrender to despair maintaining that the Cross River State government has aligned with the federal government’s directive to mark the occasion without the traditional parade or the fanfare usually associated with it.
The cancellation of the parade does not diminish the meaning of the celebration, but rather elevates it to a higher plane of sober reflection, Gov. Otu further remarked.
He noted that at 65, Nigeria stands as a testament to the resilience of her people, their capacity to weather storms and rise from trials stronger and more determined.
The governor urged Cross Riverians, and indeed all Nigerians, to use the anniversary as an opportunity to look back at the path already trodden, draw strength from past victories, and chart a future anchored on unity, peace, and progress.
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“This is a moment to celebrate our resilience, to honor the sacrifices of those who came before us, and to renew our collective vow to the ideals that keep us together as one nation under God” the governor also said.
While acknowledging that the change in the day’s programme might disappoint some, Gov. Otu expressed regret for any inconveniences caused by the alteration.
He, however, reassured citizens that the spirit of the day remains undiminished, carrying the same grandeur and gravity, even in its modest observance.
In extending his warm felicitations, the governor called on Cross Riverians to embrace this moment not as a reduction of celebration, but as an invitation to elevate the meaning of independence in their daily lives.
