Nigeria at 65: Time to turn promise into progress, leaders told

By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — As Nigeria marked its 65th Independence Anniversary connected Wednesday, leaders person been urged to determination from rhetoric to results by strengthening institutions, enforcing transparency, and delivering connected the committedness of prosperity.

In a connection signed by Prince Tochukwu Okorie, Executive Director of PROVOQIT Transparency & Accountability Project and erstwhile Chairman of the PDP successful Ebonyi State, the radical said the day should not lone beryllium a solemnisation of endurance but besides an urgent telephone to illustration a bold caller people for nationalist renewal.

“This day is much than a solemnisation of endurance; it is an urgent telephone to illustration a bold caller people toward the Nigeria envisioned by our founding fathers—one of robust institutions, inclusive governance, and accelerated development,” the connection read.

The radical noted that Nigeria was calved with immense promise, blessed with immense earthy resources, affluent taste diversity, and unmatched quality talent, but lamented that six and a fractional decades on, that committedness remains mostly unfulfilled.

“Cycles of optimism and setbacks, pervasive corruption, insecurity, and anemic nationalist institutions proceed to erode spot and opportunity. Still, determination is overmuch to physique on. The resilience and creativity of Nigerians astatine location and overseas person enactment our music, literature, technology, and entrepreneurship connected the planetary map,” Okorie said.

Highlighting the antiauthoritarian travel since 1999, the radical commended the sustenance of 26 years of uninterrupted ideology arsenic a uncommon accomplishment connected the continent. It besides noted the vibrancy of younker movements and civilian nine successful demanding accountability.

But it insisted that reflection was not enough, stressing that the state indispensable instrumentality bold steps to present results.

“Public bureau indispensable beryllium a trust, not a privilege, and the state indispensable fortify autarkic institutions, enforce transparency successful nationalist spending, and wage an impartial combat against corruption,” the connection added.

The radical further called for diversification of the economy, informing that lipid revenues cannot prolong a colonisation of implicit 200 cardinal people. It urged caller investments successful agriculture, manufacturing, technology, and renewable vigor to make jobs and broaden the gross base.

It besides stressed that bid and justness are prerequisites for progress, requiring information reforms, stronger assemblage engagement, and swift justness to extremity impunity.

“Above all, gender, youth, and marginalised communities indispensable beryllium cardinal to policymaking. Genuine federalism and fairness successful assets allocation volition crook our diverseness into strength,” Okorie emphasised.

While acknowledging Nigeria’s resilience and quality to stay united, the connection said the adjacent signifier indispensable absorption connected proving that the federation tin thrive together.

“The eventual trial of independency volition beryllium however good we alteration our tremendous imaginable into existent security, equity, and prosperity for each Nigerian,” it declared.

Reaffirming its role, PROVOQIT Transparency & Accountability Project pledged to proceed provoking conversations, empowering citizens, and driving reforms that marque governance open, transparent, and accountable.

“Together, we tin crook 65 years of lessons into a aboriginal of anticipation and tangible progress. Happy Independence Day, Nigeria,” Okorie added.

The station Nigeria astatine 65: Time to crook committedness into progress, leaders told appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.