By Stella Obi
The General Secretary of the Ndikelionwu Welfare Association, Lagos Branch, Mr. Chike Uchime, has called for collective efforts and responsible citizenship towards rebuilding Nigeria and fostering national development.
Speaking in an interview on Sept. 30 to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary, Uchime urged Nigerians to reject corruption in all sectors of the economy and called on leaders at every level to remain accountable to the people.
The community leader challenged the president, state governors, local government chairmen, traditional rulers, community president-generals and family heads to provide responsible, transparent and accountable leadership.
According to him, “We need to start getting it right from the forthcoming general elections,” urging citizens to reject vote-buying, participate actively in the electoral process and ensure that their votes count.
Uchime recalled that Nigeria’s attainment of independence in 1960 marked not only freedom from colonial rule but also raised expectations for rapid development and a prosperous future for the nation.
He, however, noted that the various challenges and setbacks experienced over the years have subjected Nigerians to considerable hardship, stressing the need to revive and strengthen all sectors of the economy, including the security sector.
Uchime also cautioned religious and traditional institutions against conferring honours on individuals of questionable character in exchange for gratification, urging them to uphold values that promote integrity, responsible leadership and good governance.
The community leader maintained that national development requires the active participation of citizens and leaders alike, stressing that every individual has a role to play in addressing the country’s challenges.
He expressed optimism that Nigeria’s future can still be transformed, provided citizens and leaders embrace their responsibilities, shun corrupt practices and work collectively towards building a more prosperous and stable nation.
Stella Obi is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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