64 Years Of Independence, But At What Cost? Peter Obi’s Dire Warning For Nigeria

Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has lamented that 64 years after gaining independence, Nigeria has not achieved significant progress compared to other nations. He pointed out that many countries that gained independence around the same time as Nigeria have excelled across various development indices.

In his Independence Day address on Tuesday, Obi urged Nigeria’s leaders to reflect on the country’s current challenges and take corrective actions.

“Anniversary celebrations, whether personal or national, provide moments for reflection, celebration of achievements, and a look towards the future, while also expressing gratitude,” he remarked.

“Today marks 64 years since Nigeria took control of its destiny and embarked on its journey as a sovereign nation. It is a day to thank God for blessing us with abundant natural, human, and material resources to forge a great nation.

“However, this should also be a time for sober reflection for all Nigerians, particularly for us, the leaders, whose actions and inactions have contributed to the stagnation and stark failures we are currently witnessing.

“As the saying goes, an unexamined life is not worth living. We must, therefore, scrutinize our nation’s journey over the past six decades.

“Have we lifted our citizens out of poverty, or have we pushed more into it? Have we ensured education is accessible to every Nigerian child, or have we allowed over 18 million out-of-school children to roam our streets? Have we established a productive economy, or have we created a nation with the worst debt profile in its history?

“By all measures of development, from critical sectors to the most minor aspects, we are underperforming. We rank poorly in security and peacefulness, making us one of the most insecure nations globally.

“We are also among the most corrupt countries and are noted for our disregard for the rule of law.

“Our nation continues its perilous dance on the edge of a precipice.

“When compared to countries that achieved independence around the same time, Nigeria emerges as a nation in decline, urgently in need of rescue from further deterioration.”

The former governor of Anambra State called for a serious commitment from leaders to revitalize the country. He emphasized the importance of liberating the nation from state capture.

“On this day, we must make a solemn pledge to build a nation truly free from the state capture that has led to failure and kept its people in suffering.

“We must foster a nation devoid of tribal disunity and religious discord.

“We must create a New and Productive Nigeria that prioritizes the well-being of its citizens.

This is the independence we should celebrate as a nation with immense potential,” Obi concluded.