Lawyer Calls for Inclusive Leadership as Nigeria Marks 65 Years

As Nigeria marks 65 years of independence, lawyer and public affairs commentator, Justice Osai Ahiakwo, has urged the nation to embrace inclusive leadership, credible elections, and innovation as the foundation for a renewed national future.

Speaking in Calabar, Ahiakwo said Nigeria’s journey since 1960 has been marked by resilience and sacrifice, but also by missed opportunities. He noted that many visionary plans, including Vision 2010, ended up in the dustbin while poverty and unemployment continued to rise.

“The destiny of Nigeria does not rest in government alone but in the hands of every citizen,” Ahiakwo said, stressing that leadership has often fallen short due to corruption, self-interest, and flawed electoral processes.

He called on leaders to treat their positions as a sacred trust grounded in integrity. According to him, inclusivity is key, warning that marginalization breeds resentment while inclusivity fosters trust, unity, and national cohesion.

Ahiakwo also emphasized the need for credible elections anchored in technology to ensure that every vote counts. Civic education and mentorship, he said, are essential to prepare the next generation for responsible leadership.

Pointing to the country’s economic potential beyond oil, he highlighted Nigerian youths’ creativity in fintech, entertainment, and digital entrepreneurship as drivers of future prosperity. He further recalled the unity and vision of Nigeria’s founding nationalists—Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, and Sir Tafawa Balewa—as a model for national building.

“At 65, the question is not whether Nigeria will rise, but whether we will choose to rise together,” he said. Ahiakwo stressed that strengthening institutions, diversifying the economy, and ensuring accountability are critical to the country’s rebirth. “The ballot may elect leaders, but only character can sustain them,” he warned.

He concluded that Nigeria’s rebirth is urgent and necessary, insisting that posterity will judge the nation not by its problems, but by the courage and determination of its response.