At 65, Nigeria’s Independence Dream Still Out of Reach -Adebayo

At 65, Nigeria’s Independence Dream Still Out of Reach – Adebayo

 

 

Sixty-five years after Nigeria gained independence, the nation’s promise of progress remains unfulfilled, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) 2023 presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has said.

 

In a statement marking Independence Day on Wednesday, Adebayo lamented that millions of Nigerians continue to live in poverty and insecurity. He warned that without urgent action to tackle corruption, hunger, and insecurity, the country would remain trapped in underdevelopment.

 

“No nation can prosper while its people live in fear. Peace is not optional; it is the precondition for progress, the anchor of prosperity, and the oxygen of national renewal,” he said.

 

The SDP chieftain’s statement followed the tragic death of 29-year-old Arise News journalist, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, who reportedly died after being attacked during a robbery at her Katampe residence in Abuja. Colleagues alleged her death was exacerbated by denial of urgent medical care, highlighting ongoing concerns over insecurity and healthcare.

 

Adebayo noted that 63 per cent of Nigerians—around 133 million people—are classified as multidimensionally poor, with over 31 million facing acute food insecurity. He added that worsening insecurity had displaced at least 2.3 million people as of 2024, citing United Nations data.

 

“These are not abstract figures; they are broken lives, and they demand a national response as urgent as war,” he said, urging the government to strengthen the country’s security architecture and deploy modern surveillance technology.

 

Despite the challenges, Adebayo said hope was not lost if peace and accountability were prioritised in governance. “The urgent task before us is to build a Nigeria where no Nigerian is left behind, and where no community is consigned to despair. If we meet this test, we will awaken the Nigeria of our dreams. This is the true promise of independence,” he stated.

 

The Federal Government had declared October 1 a public holiday to mark the anniversary but announced that the traditional Independence Day parade would not hold this year.