African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has called for a fundamental transformation of Nigeria, saying the country must go beyond celebrating its independence and confront the poverty, insecurity, corruption and injustice affecting millions of citizens.
Sowore made the call in an Independence Day message on Thursday, October 1, as Nigeria marked its 66th anniversary of independence from British colonial rule.
He argued that political independence would remain incomplete without freedom, dignity, justice, equality and access to basic services for Nigerians.
According to him, millions of citizens continue to struggle with poverty, hunger, unemployment, insecurity and inadequate access to essential services despite the country’s 66 years of independence.
“We cannot celebrate independence while our people are trapped in poverty, hunger, unemployment, insecurity, darkness, and hopelessness,” he said.
Sowore also criticised the state of education, healthcare and electricity, while accusing successive governments of failing to properly utilise Nigeria’s human and natural resources.
He said Nigerians were not responsible for the country’s problems, describing them as hardworking, creative, resilient and resourceful.
“Nigeria’s problem is not its people. Nigerians are hardworking, creative, resilient, and extraordinarily resourceful,” he said.
The AAC presidential candidate argued that Nigerians deserved more than ceremonial celebrations and political promises, saying citizens should have access to living wages, quality education, healthcare and reliable electricity.
He also called for safer conditions for farmers, better opportunities for young people and the protection of citizens’ rights to challenge those in power without facing persecution.
Sowore said the responsibility of his generation should extend beyond celebrating the independence achieved in 1960.
“The task before our generation is not merely to celebrate the independence handed to us in 1960. Our historic duty is to redo it,” he said.
He called for what he described as genuine independence from corruption, oppression, poverty, injustice, ethnic manipulation, religious bigotry and divisive politics.
Sowore said Nigeria should ultimately become a country that works for all citizens rather than what he described as a privileged few.
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