Nigeria @66: Nigerians Can’t Celebrate Amid Poverty, Insecurity – Sowore

Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has said Nigerians cannot genuinely celebrate the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary while millions of citizens remain trapped in poverty, hunger, unemployment and insecurity.

Sowore, who spoke in an Independence Day message posted on X on Thursday, said Nigeria’s attainment of political independence from Britain in 1960 had yet to translate into freedom, dignity, justice, prosperity and equality for millions of citizens.

According to him, the annual commemoration of independence would remain largely symbolic unless Nigerians begin to experience the benefits and freedoms associated with genuine independence.

“Today, Nigeria marks 66 years since the Union Jack was lowered and our green-white-green flag was raised. But for millions of Nigerians, the fundamental promise of independence, freedom, dignity, prosperity, justice, and equality, remains unfulfilled,” he said.

The AAC candidate said the hardship confronting citizens across the country made it difficult for many Nigerians to celebrate the anniversary amid worsening socio-economic challenges.

“We cannot celebrate independence while our people are trapped in poverty, hunger, unemployment, insecurity, darkness, and hopelessness,” he stated.

Sowore also decried the state of education, healthcare and electricity supply in the country, while accusing public officials of mismanaging and looting resources meant for citizens.

“We cannot call ourselves truly independent when our children are denied quality education, workers earn wages that cannot sustain their families, hospitals are collapsing, the paltry electricity that exists remains a luxury, and those entrusted with public resources loot with impunity,” he said.

He maintained that Nigerians were not the cause of the country’s persistent challenges, describing them as hardworking, creative and resilient.

“Nigeria’s problem is not its people. Nigerians are hardworking, creative, resilient, and extraordinarily resourceful,” he said.

According to him, successive governments had failed to properly harness the nation’s vast human and natural resources for the benefit of the wider population.

“The tragedy is that successive ruling establishments have squandered our enormous human and natural wealth while demanding endless sacrifices from those who have the least,” he added.

Sowore said Nigerians deserved more than Independence Day ceremonies and repeated political promises, stressing the need for equal rights, justice and improved living conditions.

He said the country should guarantee decent wages, quality education and healthcare, reliable electricity and a safe environment for farmers and young people.

“They deserve a country where workers earn a living wage; where education and healthcare are accessible; where electricity works; where young people can build meaningful lives; where farmers can work without fear; and where no Nigerian is arrested, brutalized, or imprisoned simply for challenging those in power,” he stated.

The activist said the responsibility of the current generation extended beyond celebrating the independence secured in 1960, arguing that Nigerians must confront the challenges that have continued to undermine the country’s development.

“The task before our generation is not merely to celebrate the independence handed to us in 1960. Our historic duty is to redo it,” he said.

He subsequently called for what he described as genuine independence from corruption, oppression, poverty, injustice, ethnic manipulation, religious bigotry and divisive politics.

“We must build a Nigeria that is genuinely independent, not just from colonial rule, but from internal colonizers enmeshed in monumental corruption, oppression, poverty, injustice, ethnic manipulation, religious bigotry, divisive politics, and the political establishment that has held our people down for decades,” he said.

Sowore called for a Nigeria where government works for all citizens rather than a privileged section of the population.