Nig @63 : Kachikwu Decries Challenges Bedevilling Nigeria

Edited By Grace Namiji

Former Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2023 polls, Dumebi Kachikwu, says Nigerians cannot celebrate the nation’s independence following the challenges bedeviling the nation.

This is contained in his 63rd independence message in Abuja.

The statement explains that Nigerians daily experience issues of insecurity, poverty, and lack of basic amenities, which every government should be able to provide.

“I urge all citizens to dare to dream again for a better Nigeria, the best is still yet to come, On a day when Nigerians all over the world and our well-wishers are supposed to say happy Independence Day, many wonder if there is truly anything to be happy about in Nigeria or about Nigeria” he adds.

“Several years after, the words of Professor Aluko still ring through when he said “the poor cannot sleep because they are hungry, and the rich cannot sleep because the poor are awake and hungry. Many don’t know who to blame and many have resorted to self-help and shortcuts to survive”.

“Most Nigerians were born into this state of affairs and have lived it all their lives. This is the Nigeria our fathers gave us, but I am not sure this is the Nigeria their parents gave them. Those who birthed Nigeria in 1960 were dreamers who believed Nigeria could be so much better under the leadership of the natives of the land.

“They dreamt of a Nigeria that could rival her colonial masters on the world stage. They dreamt of a Nigeria whose citizens were united, educated and prosperous”.

“They believed that in the year 2023 our nation would lead the world in all fields of human endeavor but looking at the situation in our country today as we begin another year in our nationhood, it is pertinent to ask the question ‘WHO DID THIS TO US?” Kachikwu stresses.

“We don’t have to look far to answer this question. Our leaders did this to us. Our fathers did this to us. Decades of bad leadership coupled with a docile followership who didn’t ask questions or demand better did this to us. They accepted a mediocre government as normal and thus became mediocre in their servitude to nation and self”.

“We ought to be celebrating so much today but here we are with little to celebrate or cheer about. Our differences continue to divide us while our political class strangle the people. The chokehold of tribe, tongue and religion remain as strong as ever in our DNA’.

“We need to rise and rebuild. We need to build stronger and deeper foundations to sustain the peace and harmony of multiple tribes who have called this geographical space, home. Elections are over but our lives are not over. Let us retool and repurpose. Let us come together and redesign the pathway to our future.