Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State on Thursday in Calabar said Nigeria was yet to achieve economic freedom after 55 years of democratic independence.
Ayade, who said this at the 2015 Independence Day celebration, noted that the country still depended on foreign imports for all her needs, which negate the true aim of national independence.
“We have gained democratic independence, but today we are still economic slaves as long as we feed on imported foods and live on foreign finished homes.
`”We cloth with imported clothes, export our crude, import our refined petroleum products, import our drugs, medicine, weapons, tooth-picks, singlets, soaps and even under wears.
`”As long as we still depend on foreign technology to communicate and travel; as long as our leaders continue to seek medical attention in foreign lands.
“Send their children to schools overseas to study; steal and slash our money in foreign lands, we still remain slaves to our mentality, slaves to our inertia and slaves to colour,” he said.
He stressed the need for the citizens, especially the youths, to work hard to change the country in order to achieve a new Nigeria.
The governor described this year’s celebration as an opportunity for Nigerians to mirror the past and shape the future, and urged Nigerians to remain steadfast by re-committing and re-dedicating themselves to the values and vision as a people.
“It is by so doing that we can achieve true independence for our people; one that will guarantee true freedom; good governance and total emancipation of our people in the real sense of it,’’ Ayade said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the colourful celebration featured match-pass by the Nigeria Police, paramilitary outfits and school children.
