As Nigeria marked its 65th Independence Anniversary on Wednesday, former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, warned that the nation cannot achieve prosperity while millions of its citizens remain trapped in fear, poverty, and insecurity.
The Federal Government declared October 1 a public holiday to commemorate Nigeria’s independence from Britain in 1960. However, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation announced on Monday that the traditional Independence Day parade would not hold this year.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Adebayo said the country’s promise of greatness remains unfulfilled unless urgent action is taken to address insecurity, hunger, and corruption.
“No nation can prosper while its people live in fear. Peace is not optional; it is the precondition for progress, the anchor of prosperity, and the oxygen of national renewal,” he stated.
His remarks followed the death of 29-year-old Arise News anchor, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, who reportedly died on Monday from injuries sustained during a violent robbery at her residence in Katampe, Abuja. Colleagues alleged that her condition worsened after she was denied timely medical care. The incident has reignited concerns over insecurity and the state of healthcare in the country.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s journey since independence, Adebayo noted that the lofty aspirations of the nation’s founding fathers, including its first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, contrast sharply with today’s realities.
He cited recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics showing that 63 percent of Nigerians—about 133 million people—are multidimensionally poor, with one in three living below the World Bank’s poverty threshold of $2.15 per day. He added that over 31 million Nigerians face acute food insecurity.
“These are not abstract figures; they are broken lives, and they demand a national response as urgent as war,” he said.
On insecurity, Adebayo warned that banditry, insurgency, and communal violence had displaced more than 2.3 million Nigerians by the end of 2024, according to United Nations data. He stressed the need for a unified security strategy that integrates the military, police, and intelligence agencies, while also deploying modern surveillance tools such as drones and satellites.
Despite the challenges, the SDP candidate said hope is not lost. He urged governments at all levels to prioritize peace and accountability.
“The urgent task before us now is to build a Nigeria where no citizen is left behind and no community consigned to despair. If we meet this test, we will awaken the nation’s true potential,” Adebayo said.