Ex-presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo says Nigeria cannot progress while millions live in fear and poverty.
In his Independence message, he urged leaders to prioritize peace, security, and accountability.
As Nigeria marked its 65th Independence Anniversary on Wednesday, former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Prince Adewole Adebayo, said the country cannot achieve true progress while millions of citizens live in fear and poverty.
The Federal Government had declared October 1 a public holiday, but earlier announced that the traditional Independence Day parade would not hold.
In his message to Nigerians, Adebayo stressed that insecurity, hunger, and corruption continue to block the nation’s path to greatness. He noted that peace must be seen as the foundation for growth and development.
His remarks came shortly after the tragic death of 29-year-old Arise News presenter, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, who was killed in a robbery attack at her home in Abuja. Reports suggested that her condition worsened due to lack of medical attention, raising further concerns about the state of security and healthcare.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s history since independence in 1960, Adebayo said the dreams of the founding fathers remain far from reality. He pointed out that over 133 million Nigerians are classified as multidimensionally poor, with more than 31 million battling food insecurity.
“These are not just statistics; they represent broken lives that require urgent national action,” he said.
On security, Adebayo cited United Nations data showing that more than 2.3 million Nigerians had been displaced by violence as of 2024. He warned that without a unified security strategy involving the military, police, and intelligence agencies, supported by modern surveillance tools, the country’s growth would remain limited.
Despite these challenges, he said Nigeria’s future is not without hope. He urged leaders to place peace and accountability at the heart of governance and called for a Nigeria where no citizen is left behind.
