Cautioned that Nigeria cannot advance while millions of its people live in poverty and terror on Wednesday, the country’s 65th anniversary of independence.
To celebrate the nation’s 1960 independence from Britain, the Federal Government proclaimed Wednesday, October 1, a public holiday.
But the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation revealed late Monday that the customary Independence Day parade would no longer take place.
Adebayo stated in a statement released in Abuja to mark the day that without immediate action is taken to address corruption, hunger, and insecurity, the nation’s potential of grandeur will stay unfulfilled.
“No country can thrive as long as its citizens are afraid.” He proclaimed, “Peace is not optional; it is the prerequisite for advancement, the fulcrum of wealth, and the vitality of national revitalization.”
His remarks were made in the wake of the horrific death of 29-year-old Somtochukwu Maduagwu, an anchor for Arise News, who was allegedly injured in a violent robbery at her home in Katampe, Abuja, and passed away on Monday.
Concerns about the nation’s security and healthcare conditions have been rekindled by the incident, which colleagues said was made worse by her alleged refusal of medical treatment.
Adebayo reflected on Nigeria’s history since gaining independence in 1960, recalling the aspirations and vision of the country’s founding fathers, especially Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the country’s first prime minister:
However, 65 years later, Adebayo pointed out that the anticipated ideal and the reality for many Nigerians differ significantly.
He bemoaned the fact that the National Bureau of Statistics has classified 133 million people, or 63% of the population, as multidimensionally poor, with over 31 million experiencing severe food insecurity and one in three living below the World Bank’s poverty line of $2.15 per day.
He declared, “These are broken lives, not just numbers, and they call for a national response as urgent as war.”
Adebayo issued a warning on instability, citing United Nations data showing that by the end of 2024, banditry, insurgency, and communal violence had displaced over 2.3 million Nigerians.
The SDP candidate maintained that the nation’s progress will continue to be impeded in the absence of a well-thought-out security plan that integrates the military, police, and intelligence services and makes use of cutting-edge surveillance technologies like satellites and drones.
However, Adebayo maintained that there was still hope despite the dire situation. He said that putting responsibility and peace at the top of any government’s agenda was an important necessity. “Building a Nigeria where no Nigerian is left behind and where no community is condemned to despair is the pressing work that lies ahead of us. We will awaken the Nigeria of our dreams if we pass this test. He declared, “This is the real promise of independence.”
