Nigeria At 66: Ibezim, Okunna, Asadu Others Seek Better Leadership

Stakeholders in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States have highlighted Nigeria’s resilience, infrastructure development and social interventions as notable achievements in the country’s 66-year journey.

They also called for sustained reforms, accountable leadership and greater citizens’ participation in nation-building.

They made the observations in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday ahead of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

In Anambra, Dr Ejimofor Opara, National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said that Nigeria had recorded continuous progress in leadership and national development since independence in 1960.

“We may not have reached the point of Eldorado, but we are certainly not where we used to be.

“This country has survived a major civil war, military juntas and today we are in a democracy and still advancing.

“We thank God for the many resilient Nigerians who have firm belief in the Nigerian project,” he said.

Assessing the administration of President Bola Tinubu, Opara said it had recorded commendable strides in infrastructure development and efforts to strengthen the country.

He described Tinubu as a president with strong focus on infrastructure, citing ongoing projects on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Enugu-Makurdi Road, maintenance of the First and Second Niger Bridges and coastal highway projects in Lagos.

On education, Opara said the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) had provided financial relief to students and parents by easing the burden of tuition fees.

He said efforts to address insecurity, particularly in the South-East, were gradually yielding results through collaboration among federal and local security agencies.

Opara also cited the digitalisation of passport applications, tax reforms, improved foreign exchange stability and growth in foreign reserves as areas of progress.

He said the removal of fuel subsidy had eliminated prolonged fuel queues and scarcity, although the cost of petrol remained a major concern for Nigerians.

“These returns by President Tinubu’s administration may appear painful at the beginning, but they are necessary measures to better our country.

“There are no changes that will not come with sacrifices and pains, but they are necessary for our continued advancement and sustainability as a country,” he said.

Opara urged Nigerians to remain committed to the country’s progress and wished the nation, continued greatness.

Also speaking, Anglican Archbishop of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim, said Nigeria had not failed as a nation, urging citizens to remain optimistic and contribute positively to national development.

Ibezim urged Nigerians to “brighten the corner where they are,” stressing that personal integrity, responsible conduct and commitment to duty were essential to building a better country.

He said true independence went beyond raising national flags, noting that freedom meant allowing citizens to determine their own path and destiny.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s 66-year journey, Ibezim observed that although governments changed and leaders came and went, the nation had continued to endure.

“I urge political leaders and public office holders to remain accountable and give their best in serving the country,” he said

The cleric, however, lamented the decline of the agricultural boom Nigeria enjoyed before independence, calling for renewed commitment to national development.

Meanwhile, Professor of Mass Communication, Mrs Stella Okunna, said that Nigeria was not in a mood of celebration at 66 because “Nigeria is under extreme tough time”.

“There is hunger in the land and Nigeria has been described as a poorest country where people live in absolute poverty,” she said.

Okunna, who is the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Paul University, Awka, urged leadership of the country to get fundamental policies that could change the pains of Nigerians.

“I am not in celebration mood, I am certain most Nigerians are not, too, because the level of hardship in the country demands urgent intervention; I am not seeing it in a short term.

“There is need for additional efforts to bring up proactive solutions to the hardship; a liter of petrol sells for N1,500 and how many people will afford it,” she said.

Prof Chike Nwankwo of the Department of Staticistics at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, said that Nigerian leadership needed to be sensitive to the needs of the citizens and cushion the effects of hike in almost every aspects of living.

Nwankwo said that Nigeria crawled at 66 and that she required positive policies drawn from egg heads in the country to package people friendly policies that would grow the country’s economy to phase out high level of living standards.

“Our founding fathers did noble and it is expected that present leadership should put service of the people first,” he said.

Meanwhile, some residents of Anambra commended the Tinubu administration for its interventions in infrastructure and social welfare, particularly the ongoing rehabilitation of the First Niger Bridge and programmes under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).

Mr Kyrian Iriaka, a businessman, described the ongoing repairs of the First Niger Bridge as a significant step towards improving road safety and preserving critical transport infrastructure.

He said the maintenance was particularly important as the bridge was undergoing major repairs after many years of use.

Mrs Georgina Akachukwu, a civil servant, commended the inauguration of the National Community Food Bank Programme, aimed at cushioning the effects of economic hardship on vulnerable households.

“But more needs to be done because many Nigerians are still experiencing economic hardship,” she said.

Mr Donald Okeke, a resident, calls for synergy in Nigeria development drive as the nation prepared for her 66th anniversary.

Okeke called for more proactive approach to execution of projects meaningful to the masses as a way to halt high level of hardship currently experienced by Nigerians

He also suggested that governments should put in factors that would enable residents to support the execution of federal government projects by assuming ownership.

“Our people should learn to give government a helping hand by ensuring specification and monitoring the projects in our locations,”.

Some residents of Nsukka in Enugu State have also commended Nigeria’s achievements since 1960 she gained independence from the British colonial era.

Igwe Samuel Asadu, the Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, said the country had done well especially in maintaining the country’s one indivisible entity since 1960 in spite of challenges.

Asadu, who is the traditional ruler of Edem-Ani Ogwugwu Ancient kingdom in Nsukka, said that in terms of economy and infrastructure, there had been great improvement by successive Federal Government administrations.

“If we look back on how the country was in the 60s and what we have now, we will all agree that the country has made tremendous achievements.

“Now, almost everbody in the country have mobile phones which has helped in communication and doing business, did we have it in 1960?

“To me Nigeria has every course to roll out drums to celebrate her 66 years of Independence anniversary,” he said.

He also commended Tinubu for construction of many important roads across the country, establishment of the South East Development Commission, deploying adequate funds to security agencies to fight security challenges in the country among other numerous achievements.

The Royal Father however, urged the present administration to ensure level playing ground to all political parties in the 2027 general elections, so that the elections would be free and fair.

Also speaking, Prof Jonah Onuoha a Lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) said there had been numerous achievements both in the economy and infrastructures since 1960.

“Not minding the economic challenges we have now, the standard of living today is better than that of 1960.

“How many professors do we have in 1960 in our universities but today we cannot count the number of professors we have.

Onuoha, who was the former Head of Department of Political Science in UNN, said President Tinubu’s administration had done well especially in its commitment to ensure that states and local governments in the country have adequate funds to develop the country.

“President Tinubu should be commended in ensuring the autonomy of Local Government councils which now made it possible for council chairmen to receive their Federal Government allocations direct.

A Public Affairs Analyst, Dr Uchenna Anioke, commended Nigeria for sustaining democratic governance for 27 years, but decried the high level of insecurity, poverty and decline in social services in the country.

He described Nigeria at 66 as a country with a “dual-faced reality”, noting that while the economy showed signs of recovery, the country continued to grapple with insecurity, poverty and other social challenges.

In Ebonyi, some residents, in their diverse perspectives, expected governments to proritise programmes and projects aimed at transforming the socio-economic well-being of citizens.

Prof Oguguo Egwu, Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Ebonyi Council, stated that the new cement factory project in the state, when executed, would expand the state’s economic space and improve its revenue base.

The labour leader commended the state government efforts to develop agric-industries and provide adequate power supply to support industrial activities.

Mr Elijah Uguru, a civil servant said that the occasion served as a reminder of the sacrifices of the past, the achievements of the present and even the work force.

Uguru noted that the event gave opportunity to continue the quest for a more prosperous and developed country.

Mr John Chukwu, a civil servant, commended the federal government massive ongoing road projects.

Chukwu acknowledged that the road projects were connecting communities and enhancing economic activities across the country.

He however, urged the federal government to close the persistence gaps in electricity.

Speaking, a lecturer in the Department of Soil Science, Ebonyi State University, Dr Chinedu Ajana, commended President Bola Tinubu on NELFUND initiative.

Ajana described the educational policy as transformative as it had assisted less privileged individuals to continue their education.

He also appreciated employment opportunities recorded in his regime and advocated for establishment of more industries for the engagement of the teeming unemployed youths in country.

In a related development, a Public Affairs Analyst, Mr Onyema Nkwuda hailed the president on his road infrastructure and urged him to accommodate more roads across the country.

NAN reports that Nigeria willmark its 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1.