The call was contained in a message delivered by the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem.
By Staff Reporter
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Published on September 27, 2026
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3 min read
Cross River State Governor, Sen. Bassey Edet Otu, has called on Nigerians to remain committed to peace, unity and the collective responsibility of building a nation that future generations will be proud to inherit.
The call was contained in a message delivered by the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, who represented the Governor at an interdenominational thanksgiving service held at the Christian Central Chapel, Ikot Ene-Obong, 8 Miles, Calabar, to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The Governor described the anniversary as an opportunity to appreciate God’s faithfulness and reflect on the sacrifices of past heroes. “Independence is more than the remembrance of a date in our history. It is a reminder of the sacrifices of those who came before us and of the responsibility placed on our generation to build a nation that future generations will be proud to inherit,” Otu said.
He noted that despite challenges since 1960, the Nigerian spirit has endured. “Nigeria has travelled a long road since 1960. Yet, through it all, the Nigerian spirit has endured. Our people remain resilient, enterprising and deeply committed to the hope of a better country,” he added.
Otu said his administration remains conscious of the work needed to improve lives through opportunities for youths, stronger education and healthcare, support for enterprise, improved infrastructure and increased investment. Reaffirming his People First agenda, he stated: “We will continue to work deliberately towards a state where our people can live in peace, work with dignity and look to the future with confidence. But government cannot do this alone.”
He therefore called for collective effort from the Church, traditional institutions, private sector, civil society, young people and all citizens to advance Cross River and Nigeria.
The Governor also called for prayers for wisdom for leaders, peace in communities, protection for security personnel and comfort for struggling families. “As we pray for Nigeria today, let us pray for wisdom for our leaders at every level… Let us also pray for greater unity in our country,” he said.
On diversity, Otu urged Nigerians to embrace differences as strength, not division. “Our diversity should not divide us. We may come from different ethnic groups, speak different languages and practise different faiths, but we share one country and one collective destiny,” he said, while urging citizens to reject violence, uphold the rule of law and remain hopeful and committed to nation-building.
