By ANAYO OKOLI

UMUAHIA — ABIA State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, declared, yesterday, that conflicts and disagreements were a part of democracy.

The governor spoke against the backdrop of the current crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Orji, in a radio and television broadcast to Abia people to mark Nigeria’s 53rd independence anniversary, said:  “I need to re-assure you that our democracy, our state and our nation will continue to endure in-spite of our growing teething problems, our inevitable internal conflicts and the many disagreements we sometimes face in our Party politics.

“We must accept the caution that there is no alternative to the collective unity of our people under one Nation, just as we all continue to seek genuine resolves to addressing existing areas of imperfections in our political system, and do so with justice and fairness.

“Our government of Abia State will remain an active player in the search for solutions to the many challenges that today face our state and the nation, especially in the areas of deepening our democracy, advancing the development of our economies and people in all vital areas, and providing for a sustainable ‘human security’ of our citizens.

“I, therefore, advise our politicians and citizens to endeavor to promote peaceful conducts at all times, as we all seek to pursue our democratic rights and aspirations even under different banners.

“Our journey towards a viable nationhood in the past 53 years of Nigeria independence remains a story of courage, tenacity, and commitment as our leaders search appropriate ways of advancing the interests of our diverse people within a united nation.

“Thank God that we have endured despite our often conflicting individual and collective aspirations, and we will continue to endure.”

“Over the years, it has become more evident that ‘you’ – the entire people of Nigeria and our state, have been the only sure preservation for our unity, our democracy, our liberty, our security and our development as a state and as a nation.

“I commend all our citizens for keeping faith with Nigeria and for remaining tenacious with our leaders, despite all odds.

There is no way our State and this nation can continue to go forward expect we are united as a people; and there is no way any state and our nation can develop except by serving the urgent needs of our citizens.”