As Nigeria commemorates 65 years of independence, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has called for a bold recommitment to justice, security, and national development.
In a message titled “Nigeria at 65: Hope Against the Odds,” Adebayo reflects on the country’s journey since 1960, noting its remarkable population growth—from 45 million at independence to over 237 million today, making it the most populous country in Africa and the sixth-largest in the world.
The statement urges Nigerians to move beyond nostalgia and face the country’s most pressing challenges with urgency and unity.
It also highlights progress in areas such as the expansion of tertiary education and the global recognition of Nigeria’s creative industries, particularly Nollywood.
According to the statement, Prince Adebayo stresses that hope and optimism must be matched with decisive action. Citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics, World Bank, and UN agencies, he pointed to the staggering reality that over 133 million Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty.
He also said that 31 million others face acute food insecurity, and more than 2.3 million are internally displaced due to violence and insecurity.
“These are not abstract figures; they are broken lives, and they demand a national response as urgent as war,” he states.
Adebayo therefore outlined three urgent national priorities critical for Nigeria’s renewal which includes establishment of a unified, modern, and accountable national security strategy that integrates military operations, intelligence services, and grassroots peacebuilding initiatives.
Others are Infrastructure Revolution – Launching large-scale investments in roads, electricity, broadband, and essential public services through transparent, corruption-free partnerships.
Other areas are, Intensifying the fight against illicit financial flows and endemic public sector corruption, which reportedly drains an estimated $18 billion from the Nigerian economy annually.
The statement calls on both citizens and leaders to rise to the challenge to revive the founding ideals of the nation.
“The urgent task before us now is to build a Nigeria where no Nigerian is left behind. This is the true promise of independence. This is the noble vision our founding fathers entrusted to us. This is the vision we must dare together.” Adebayo
