As Nigeria celebrates its 66th year of nationhood, the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Adamawa State, Amb. Engr. Omar Suleiman Omarana, emphasised the need for a fundamental shift in focus.
Rather than simply commemorating Nigeria’s independence, he advocates for the establishment of institutions and systems that will translate freedom into tangible economic opportunities and improved living standards for citizens.
Engr. Suleiman also stated that Nigeria’s independence should serve as a time for sober reflection on whether the benefits of political freedom are being effectively turned into real economic and social opportunities for ordinary citizens.
“Our independence must be felt not only as a historical milestone but also in the daily lives of Nigerians through employment, quality education, accessible healthcare, profitable agriculture, functional infrastructure, viable businesses and personal security”.
According to him, political independence would remain incomplete if citizens continued to face poverty, unemployment, insecurity and inadequate public and social services.
Stressing that the ultimate test of Nigeria’s independence was the capacity of the country’s institutions and leadership to create conditions in which citizens could live productive and dignified lives.
“Nigeria had demonstrated remarkable resilience despite decades of political, economic and social challenges, arguing that the country possessed the human and natural resources required to build a prosperous society”.
He, however, noted that the aspirations of millions of Nigerians often exceeded the opportunities available to them.
He advised that Nigeria’s diversity should be treated as an asset rather than a source of division, stressing that the major challenge was to build effective institutions and provide leadership capable of converting the country’s vast resources into prosperity that would be felt in ordinary households.
“The real measure of progress is the quality of life of the ordinary citizen,” he said.
The ADC candidate challenged political leaders and citizens to examine whether young graduates could secure meaningful employment, farmers could earn decent incomes, children in rural communities could access quality schools and healthcare, small businesses could survive and expand, and families could plan their futures with confidence.
” For us in Adamawa, Omarana said the state was endowed with human, agricultural, cultural and natural resources capable of supporting sustainable economic development.
“Adamawa is not poor in potential. Adamawa is rich in land. Rich in people. Rich in culture. Rich in agricultural possibilities, rich in mineral and natural resources. Rich in young people with talent and ambition,” he said.
He maintained that the central challenge was not the absence of resources, but the need to establish effective systems, institutions and leadership capable of unlocking the opportunities available across the state.
Omarana said his vision of an “Adamawa That Works” was anchored on transforming the state’s agricultural sector from subsistence production into a productive economic enterprise.