Nigeria @66: Citizens can’t celebrate amid poverty, insecurity – Sowore
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, 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.
The human rights activist stated that Nigeria cannot claim to have achieved true independence without freedom, dignity, justice and equality for its citizens.
Sowore stated these in a post on X on Thursday to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
He said although Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule in 1960, millions of Nigerians were yet to enjoy the fundamental benefits associated with 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.
Sowore said the country could not genuinely celebrate independence while many citizens continued to grapple with poverty, hunger, unemployment, insecurity and inadequate access to basic services.
“We cannot celebrate independence while our people are trapped in poverty, hunger, unemployment, insecurity, darkness, and hopelessness,” he stated.
He also criticised the state of education, healthcare and electricity, while accusing those entrusted with public resources of misappropriation.
“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.
Sowore maintained that Nigerians were not responsible for the challenges confronting the country, describing them as hardworking, creative and resilient.
“Nigeria’s problem is not its people. Nigerians are hardworking, creative, resilient, and extraordinarily resourceful,” he said.
