society
Nigeria at 65: A Celebration or a Call to Conscience?
Nigeria at 65: A Celebration or a Call to Conscience?
By George O. Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
“65 years after independence, Nigerians at home and abroad must ask: Are we celebrating freedom or enduring failure?”
Introduction: Between Celebration and Reflection.
On October 1st, 2025, Nigeria marked its 65th Independence Anniversary. Around the world, Nigerians unfurled the GREEN-WHITE-GREEN flag, sang the national anthem and are organizing gatherings in unity. Among the voices of commemoration was Adv. Smart I. Nwobi, President General of the Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA). In his message, he reminded Nigerians in the diaspora to remain steadfast and not relent in their daily pursuits, despite the odds.
“We Nigerians in Diaspora should not relent. We must always strive to thrive in our daily activities and endeavors,” he told SaharaWeeklyNG.com. His words, while encouraging, also raise a deeper question: what exactly are Nigerians celebrating at 65? Is it true independence, or is it endurance in the face of recurring hardship?
A History of Hope and Betrayal.
Nigeria gained independence from Britain on October 1st, 1960, amid great optimism. With vast natural resources, fertile lands and one of the largest populations in Africa, the nation was tipped to be a continental powerhouse. At independence, Nigeria’s GDP per capita was higher than South Korea’s and the country had a robust agricultural sector feeding not only its people but also serving as a major exporter of cocoa, groundnuts and palm oil.
Yet, six decades later, Nigeria tells a different story: Ranked poverty capital of the world in 2018 (Brookings Institution).
Over 133 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty as of 2023 (National Bureau of Statistics).
A youth unemployment rate surpassing 42%.
A failing public education system and chronic power shortages.
Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka once observed, “Nigeria is a nation perpetually at war with itself.” At 65, the nation still struggles with LEADERSHIP FAILURES, TRIBALISM, CORRUPTION and INSECURITY.
Diaspora Voices: The Resilient Nigerians Abroad.
Adv. Smart I. Nwobi’s words highlight a critical reality, Nigeria’s diaspora community has become not just an extension but a lifeline of the nation. According to the World Bank, Nigerians abroad remitted $20.1 billion in 2022, an amount higher than Nigeria’s federal allocation to education and health combined.
Nigerians abroad excel in academia, medicine, technology and business. From Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO, to Dr. Bennet Omalu, the Nigerian-American physician who discovered Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), to countless entrepreneurs and innovators, the diaspora consistently proves the resilience of the Nigerian spirit.
As comedian I Go Dye once joked, “Nigerians do not travel abroad, we export solutions.” While humorous, his words capture a truth: Nigerians abroad thrive despite the failures of the state.
The Homefront Crisis: Poverty Amid Plenty.
Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil producer, yet its citizens endure endless fuel scarcity. The paradox of wealth and poverty is glaring. Economist Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has repeatedly warned: “Nigeria is not poor because it lacks resources. Nigeria is poor because of mismanagement and corruption.”
Consider this:
Nigeria earned over $1 trillion from oil since the 1970s, yet most citizens lack access to clean water, quality healthcare and steady electricity.
Over 20 states in 2024 failed to implement the ₦70,000 minimum wage despite rising inflation and cost of living.
Universities were shut for eight months in 2022 due to strikes, while politicians continued to collect allowances running into millions of naira monthly.
Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former Vice President, noted: “Nigeria’s problem has never been resources; it has always been leadership.”
Corruption and Leadership Failure.
At 65, Nigeria remains plagued by leaders who treat governance as personal inheritance. The Senate earns some of the highest salaries in the world, yet delivers some of the lowest governance outcomes. Governors loot state coffers, while local governments have become shadows of their constitutional purpose.
Activist Omoyele Sowore bluntly stated: “Nigeria is not a poor country; it has been made poor by a criminal political class that thrives on stealing from the people.”
Meanwhile, insecurity continues to ravage the country:
Boko Haram and banditry in the North.
Kidnapping epidemics in the South.
Farmers abandoning farmlands due to fear of attacks.
As comedian Gordons once quipped, “The only place Nigerians are sure of light is inside the mortuary.” Behind the humor is a bitter truth, basic infrastructure remains a mirage.
65 Years of Missed Opportunities.
Nigeria’s trajectory since independence has been marred by missed opportunities:
Agricultural collapse – from being a food exporter in the 1960s to relying on imports worth over $10 billion annually.
Industrial failure – factories shut down due to power shortages and policy inconsistency.
Brain drain – thousands of skilled professionals leaving under the “JAPA” wave, draining the nation of doctors, engineers and academics.
Political instability – six coups between 1966 and 1999, followed by two decades of democracy riddled with electoral malpractice.
The Call of Diaspora Responsibility.
Adv. Nwobi’s call is not merely ceremonial. Nigerians abroad must ask how their success can translate into national transformation. Beyond remittances, the diaspora must:
Influence policy by engaging with home-based governance structures.
Invest responsibly in small and medium enterprises to create jobs.
Champion accountability by demanding transparency in Nigeria’s institutions.
As Nelson Mandela once said: “Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation.” The Nigerian diaspora has the potential to be that generation.
Nigeria at 65: Cause for Celebration or Protest?
So, is there a cause to celebrate? Yes – Nigerians have survived despite overwhelming odds. They have built communities, thrived in foreign lands and refused to surrender their identity. The Nigerian spirit remains unbroken.
Survival is not the same as success. At 65, the nation should have moved from survival to prosperity. It should have secured electricity for all, functional schools and hospitals that save lives instead of killing hope.
Chinua Achebe, Nigeria’s literary giant, once wrote: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a FAILURE of LEADERSHIP.” That remains the nation’s central truth.
Final Word: A Call to Conscience.
As Nigerians raise the flag at 65, the real question is not about the number of years since independence, but the quality of life those years have delivered.
Adv. Smart I. Nwobi’s reminder to remain steadfast is valid. Yet steadfastness must go hand in hand with accountability. Nigerians at home and abroad must demand more from their leaders, refuse to normalize corruption and insist on a country worthy of its immense potential.
The green-white-green flag is not just cloth; it is a symbol of hope. Though symbols cannot feed the hungry or protect the vulnerable. Only LEADERSHIP, VISION and UNITY can.
At 65, Nigeria must decide: will it continue as a nation of SQUANDERED WEALTH and BROKEN PROMISES or will it RISE, at last, to its rightful place as Africa’s giant?
STILL ON DELE MOMODU by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode
I saw Dele Momodu’s response to my article on him & was amused.
I tried to be polite & restrained in that write up & I didn’t realise that it would hurt him so deeply. Yet for that I offer no apology.
I said he sounded tired & worne in his interview with Seun Okinbaloye but from his response today it is clear that he is now completely unhinged.
He has blown his gasket & his reaction is rooted more in emotion than it is in logic.
Frankly I feel sorry for him because it is clear that he is fighting a lost cause, he is badly diminished & he is now a shadow of his former self.
For Bobby Dee the glory days are certainly over & I suspect that by 2027 when Tinubu emerges victorious he will crawl back into the hole that he originally came from.
Perhaps at that time he will go back to taking pictures of former Governor Nyesom Wike, the Adeleke’s & other prominent figures for a living & shining their shoes.
Playing clips of things that I said about President Tinubu 11 years ago when I was in the then opposition & when I led the media section of President Jonathan’s presidential campaign organisation will not help him to get rid of the stench of faeces that he has immersed himself in today & neither does it derogate from the fact that he was speaking rubbish when he said Tinubu is a dictator.
Unlike others I will never deny what I have said in the past about Tinubu or anyone else but at least I had the decency & courage to admit that I was wrong & ever since I left the then opposition and joined the APC in 2021 I have not looked back.
Not only did I fight for Tinubu in 2023 during the presidential campaign but I have remained loyal & committed to him & his cause since then and I have no apology for that either.
Unlike Dele I did not benefit from him for close to 40 years, eat from his plate, collect handouts from him, stay in his house, claim to be his brother and yet refuse to support him in achieving his dream of becoming President.
Bobby Dee’s nose is so far up the posterior of those he is now slaving for that he forgot to mention the fact that every single one of them, at some point or the other in their sorry lives & career, have not only changed political parties several times over but have also opposed Tinubu bitterly & even more vehemently than I ever did only to go back & later re-align with him.
I do not begrudge them or blame them for that because that is the nature of politics all over the world.
There are no permanent friends or enemies but only permanent interests and in my view it is in the interest of Nigeria that Tinubu continues the reforms that he started in 2023 after he was elected President.
It is also my view that Nigeria must never fall into the hands of the conglomeration of court jesters, sorry clowns & motely crew of insufferable jokers that Dele is now speaking, slaving & fronting for.
I will still be gentle with my old friend because I have a soft spot for him but if he ever crosses the line with me again I will stop being so restrained.
He does not have the stomach for a real fight because he is vain and thin-skinned. He also has an over- inflated opinion of himself and a huge ego.
These are weaknesses in this game and not strengths and as we get closer to the presidential campaign he will learn this the hard way.
Meanwhile he should stay in his lane otherwise I will give him plenty to write about.
For him to compare Tinubu to Abacha was wrong and if he was anything like the dictator that Dele claims he is both Dele and those he speaks for today would either be dead or in jail.
He should count himself lucky that our President is a democrat and not a monster.
Dele’s lies, duplicity & shameless perfidy have finally been exposed & are as obvious & glaring as his very large stomach.
I advise him to do some press ups & go jogging because unlike before I will no longer remain silent as he & his friends throw mud at our President.
Game on!
(FFK)
society
OWUTU FM 2026 Ramadan Lecture: Sheikh Jamiu Asanbe Urges Muslims to Avoid Showboating in Worship
OWUTU FM 2026 Ramadan Lecture: Sheikh Jamiu Asanbe Urges Muslims to Avoid Showboating in Worship.
The Chief Imam of Agelete Central Mosque, Ikoyi Lagos, Alhaji Jamiu Asanbe, has urged Muslims to remain sincere in their acts of worship and avoid the temptation of seeking public praise for good deeds.
The respected Islamic scholar gave this admonition while delivering a lecture at the OWUTU FM 2026 Ramadan Lecture, held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, in Lagos.
Speaking on the importance of sincerity in Islam, Sheikh Asanbe cautioned Muslim faithful against what he described as “showboating” — the practice of performing charitable acts or religious duties merely to gain recognition or admiration from others.
According to him, every act of worship in Islam must be done purely for the sake of Almighty Allah.
He explained that while acts such as prayer, fasting, and charity are fundamental pillars of faith, their true value lies in the intention behind them.
The cleric therefore encouraged Muslims to remain genuine in their devotion and avoid mixing their faith with the desire for worldly praise or attention.
Sheikh Asanbe also reminded the faithful that the holy month of Ramadan presents a unique opportunity for spiritual renewal. He urged believers to increase acts of generosity, particularly by supporting the needy, vulnerable members of society, and orphans.
Earlier in her remarks, the Convener of the Ramadan Lecture and CEO of OWUTU FM, Hajia Adejoke Muyibat Balogun, encouraged attendees to use the sacred month as a time for reflection, self-improvement, and community development.
She described the lecture theme as carefully selected to promote spirituality, strengthen faith, and encourage peaceful coexistence within the community.
Balogun expressed appreciation to the numerous guests and supporters who attended the event, noting that their presence reflected the strong bond within the community.
She further reaffirmed OWUTU FM’s commitment to sustaining the annual Ramadan Lecture, praying for Allah’s continued guidance and mercy in the years ahead.
The 2026 edition of the Ramadan Lecture attracted dignitaries and representatives from various organisations including Uzamot Communications, Okutex Fabrics, and the Yeye Asiwaju of Ojota Kingdom.
The event also featured engaging activities such as a quiz competition, where winners were presented with gifts. In the spirit of Ramadan, iftar meals were shared with guests, reinforcing the values of unity, generosity, and compassion that define the holy month.
Through initiatives like this, OWUTU FM continues to play a vital role in promoting faith-based dialogue, community engagement, and social harmony.
Tinubu Abroad, Nigeria in Chaos: The Spectacle of Elite Excess
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
“Government officials queue to bid him farewell as he departs, only to rush ahead and line up again to welcome him at his destination; a stark display of misaligned priorities in Nigerian leadership.”
Wednesday, March18, 2026
In a spectacle that has plunged Nigeria’s political class into fresh ignominy, a long line of federal ministers, governors, senators and political hangers‑on queued outside a London hotel this week to welcome President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR upon his arrival in the United Kingdom for a two‑day state visit.
Not only did these government officials send off Mr. Tinubu as he departed Nigeria (a ritual in itself excessive given the scale of pressing national crises) they rushed ahead to London to line the halls of his hotel, applauding and greeting him like conquering heroes arriving on foreign shores. This is how Nigeria’s elites now comport themselves while millions of citizens endure ever‑deepening hardship.
A Travesty of Priorities
Tinubu’s visit to the UK, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, is officially billed as an effort to deepen trade relations, attract investment and strengthen bilateral cooperation between Britain and Africa’s most populous nation. While those diplomatic objectives in theory could benefit Nigeria, the optics of an entire political class fawning over a president abroad are unbearably grim against the backdrop of domestic suffering.
According to recent economic analysis, despite macroeconomic adjustments such as ending fuel subsidies and floating the naira, more than 60% of Nigerians still live in poverty and daily hardships are rampant. Security remains a grave concern with violence and banditry destabilising large swathes of the country. Instead of addressing these crises with urgency, Nigeria’s leadership appears fascinated with photo‑ops overseas.
“A System of Self‑Centred Elites”
Critics within Nigeria have not minced words. Political observers describe the spectacle as a display of self‑centred politics divorced from the realities facing ordinary citizens. One observer on social platforms summed up the broader sentiment: “Tinubu represents a system of self‑centred elites (elite consensus over popular will) and this is exactly the performative politics that lines like these embody.”
Dr. Godfrey Mwakikagile, a respected African scholar on post‑colonial governance, has long warned that bad leadership and lack of accountability are Africa’s greatest challenges. “Power in many African states is too centralised and concentrated in the hands of elites who use it to perpetuate themselves at the expense of the public good,” Mwakikagile recently argued; a critique that resonates all the more when ministers fly abroad not to pursue tangible policy but to line up like admirers.
The Cost of Foreign Pageantry
This isn’t the first time Tinubu’s foreign engagements have attracted scrutiny. His administration’s frequent travels (often with large entourages) have drawn criticism for prioritising optics over outcomes, especially when Nigeria’s economy contracts and its people struggle with food inflation and insecurity.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has been among the most vocal domestic critics of these priorities, noting that Tinubu’s extensive foreign travel (including to the UK) distracts from urgent national needs and has become a “matter of grave concern.” Obi insists that such actions reveal a leadership more interested in global visibility than domestic wellbeing.
Nigeria Jagajaga!
The phrase “Nigeria jagajaga” (loosely translated as Nigeria being in disarray) has never felt more apt. A nation where ministers greet presidents in plush foreign suites while citizens queue for food and services is a country deeply out of balance.
Instead of being welcomed like dignitaries abroad, ministers and governors should be at home addressing the root causes of Nigeria’s struggles: insecurity that displaces communities and kills livelihoods, an economy that leaves the majority impoverished despite reforms, and the persistent failings of governance that erode public trust.
What Nigerians Deserve
President Tinubu and his entourage should be judged not by the number of ministers who lined up to greet him in London, but by the lives changed back in Nigeria.
As scholars like Mwakikagile and critics like Obi remind us, political leadership must be accountable and grounded in service, not spectacle. Nigeria’s leaders owe the people more than applause at international hotels; they owe them safety, economic opportunity, and genuine progress.
If this nation is ever to break free from the cycle of “jagajaga,” then those in power must demonstrate sincerity, not pageantry; action, not admiration. The lines outside a London hotel are not a testament to leadership; they are a testament to where Nigeria’s priorities have tragically come to rest.
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