Democracy Day: Oku Ibom Ibibio Hails Nigerians, Tasks Leaders On Good Governance

Oku Ibom Ibibio and President General of Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, His Eminence, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon Etuk, JP, CFR, has hailed Nigerians on the occasion of the 2024 Democracy Day celebration.

The Akwa Ibom premier royal father says Nigeria’s return to full democracy in 1999 against the backdrop of the hitherto military interregnum has gone a long way to strengthen the country’s position among the comity nations as well as accelerated the pace of governance.

In a goodwill massage, Ntenyin Etuk, while commending the country’s successive leaders at both federal and state’s levels for the various feats accomplished within the past 25 years of our democratic voyage, however emphasized the need to make civil rule much more rewarding for the masses.

The monarch offered prayers to leaders at all levels, who lead with the fear of God and working hard to give their best to the citizenry towards ensuring peace, love and unity. He urged all Nigerians to remain law-abiding, keep hope alive, and believe in the leadership of the country across all levels.

“As a country, we should be very happy that this phase of democracy has run uninterrupted since 1999. A curious x-ray shows that we have made tangible progress despite multiple and intractable challenges, like insecurity and economic meltdown faced by the country.

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“Through established institutions and the various arms of government, our people’s participation in the governance process has ensured that all parts of the country are now part and parcel of the government – at the federal, states and local government areas. This is the essence of democracy being “government of the people by the people and for the people,” he added.

Ntenyin Etuk said traditional rulers across the country, as the conscience of the society and custodians of the culture and traditions of the people, have contributed immensely to nation building by promoting unity, love, peace and development right from the grassroots to the state and the centre.

The Oku Ibom Ibibio, who is an executive member of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), therefore urged Nigerian leaders to put in their best to navigate the country out of her current challenges by offering insightful, honest, pragmatic and sustainable solutions.

According to him, Nigerian leaders should be empathetic to the welfare of the people rather than being self-centered, do away with greed and avarice and use the resources placed under their management for the development and good of all.

The Patriarch of the Ibibios worldwide particularly thanked and commended President Bola Tinubu for the patriotic efforts he is currently making to reposition the county and even more so the attention given to connecting the entire south by road through the ongoing construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

He also commended Barr Nyesom Wike for his resourceful leadership as the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, citing specifically quality projects and his good relationship with traditional rulers in the FCT.

He further lauded the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno for quality leadership, noting that through his ARISE Agenda he has equitably spread the dividends of democracy to all parts of the state.