society
Nigeria at 65: Celebrate or Complain? A Brutal Inventory of a Nation That is Still Waiting
Nigeria at 65: Celebrate or Complain? A Brutal Inventory of a Nation That is Still Waiting.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
65 years of independence, millions still unfree; is this the PARTY or the PROTEST?
October 1, 2025; Today Nigeria turns 65. Sixty-five years after a proud “GOOD MORNING, NIGERIA” and the handing over of colonial keys, a short, simple question refuses to go away: IS THERE ANY GENUINE CAUSE TO CELEBRATE? If celebration means parading achievements; stable electricity, full hospitals, decent schools, security in every region, a currency people can trust and a population that is not hungry, then the answer is not a cheerful “yes.” It is a complicated, discomforting “NOT YET.”
Let us begin with the cold arithmetic. The economy shows faint green shoots in official statistics: headline inflation has eased from the peaks of recent years to about 20.1% in August 2025 and the IMF has nudged its 2025 growth projection into positive territory (around 3.4%). That is progress; but context matters. For most Nigerians, falling inflation from an unbearable peak to a still-punishing 20% does not translate to cheaper food, affordable medicine or meaningful wage power. The Central Bank’s recent policy tweaks and interest-rate cuts are important, but they are corrective needles, not a cure for a sick system.
On security and civic trust, the LEDGER is WORSE. Regions of the country remain under the blight of insurgency, banditry and kidnapping; civilian life in places is lived with the constant thrum of fear. Political tensions have hardened into institutional distrust: high-profile detentions and contested court processes have become part of the national drama, underscoring that the rule of law is still fragile for many. The recent courtroom orders and repeated legal showdowns involving separatist and opposition figures are a reminder that the crown of sovereignty sometimes feels like a heavy crown of discord.
If independence at 65 were to be measured by civic pride and national ceremony, this year’s official calendar offers an apt metaphor for our contradictions. The federal government declared October 1 a public holiday and then cancelled the central parade that traditionally showcased the best of our military and civic institutions. Symbolically, it was as if the state were saying: “We will mark the day, but with caution.” It is a fine mirror of a nation that wants to be seen as mature but often chooses optics over substantive repair.
Voices on the street and on social media are blunt. Activist Omoyele Sowore (who has made “FREEDOM” his watchword) asks an uncomfortable question: how do you wish people “HAPPY INDEPENDENCE” who are not in fact independent from HUNGER, POOR GOVERNANCE and FEAR? His rhetorical provocation is not nihilism; it is a call to examine the yawning gap between ceremonial independence and everyday liberty. Meanwhile comedians and social critics like Gordons and I Go Dye use ridicule and satire to puncture the pomp: their jokes contain the sting of truth, that our national house was built on shaky foundations and our leaders keep painting over the cracks. Satire here is not frivolity; it is a civic thermometer.
From the technocratic bench, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (an economist and global diplomat who has repeatedly warned about governance failures in Nigeria) reminds us that structural reform is not optional. Her public interventions and published commentary stress that corruption, poor public goods delivery and weak institutions are the clamps that stifle investment and opportunity. She has argued, repeatedly and patiently, that national wealth alone does not make citizens free; how the state allocates resources, invests in education/ health and attracts responsible capital does. Words from the global stage: PROGRESS requires COMPETENCE as much as cash.
And then there are the politicians whose rhetoric swings between consoling citizens and sparring over blame. Opposition leader Atiku Abubakar (a veteran of Nigeria’s national stage) hailed Nigerians resilience on this anniversary while pointing a finger at the ruling administration for “ABANDONING” citizens to economic pain. His message is part consolation, part indictment: Nigerians have held the country together through courage and improvisation, but representation and accountable governance are glaringly absent.
So: is there cause to celebrate? There is cause to acknowledge endurance. Nigerians are resilient, inventive and endlessly resourceful. From the markets of Kano to tech hubs in Lagos and diaspora remittances that cushion families, resilience is real and worthy of respect. But celebration must not be a substitute for critique. A birthday cake with frosting over rotten fruit is still rotten fruit beneath.
What would genuine celebration (the kind that honors the spirit of independence) actually look like? First, an honest reckoning. The nation must measure itself by lives lived in dignity: lower child mortality, functioning schools, reliable power, safe streets, transparent budgets and a justice system that protects rather than persecutes. Second, a social compact: when citizens pay taxes, they must see public goods. When the state borrows or reformers devalue the currency, the burden should not fall disproportionately on the poorest. Third, inclusion: our democracy must be more than elections; it must be a system where the voices of youth, women and marginalized regions alter policy outcomes.
There is another painful truth: the conversation about Nigeria at 65 is also about choices. For decades, elites have rationed national opportunity through patronage and short-term deals. Artists and satirists, from Gordons to I Go Dye, have lampooned that pattern because laughter sometimes reaches where speeches fail. Activists like Sowore insist that citizenship requires agency, not just slogans. If independence is to mean anything, it must mean the removal of systems that convert public money and trust into private gain.
So how should the citizen respond on this October 1? Not by blind rejoicing. Nor by despair. By demanding accountability, by voting with courage, by supporting institutions that strengthen rather than erode the social fabric and by insisting that our leaders stop treating the country like a family business. If the state cannot deliver the basics, then the people must reform the state.
Nigeria at 65 is not a simple story of failure or triumph. It is a liminal nation; one foot in a painful inheritance, one foot in an uncertain future. There are measurable gains and stubborn, systemic failures side by side. The choice for every Nigerian and for every member of the diaspora who loves this country, is whether this anniversary will be a moment of self-congratulation or a day of recommitment to fundamental change.
If we are honest, we will do both: PAUSE to HONOR the SACRIFICES that BIRTHED the NATION, then get to WORK. The party must end early enough for the real work of nation-building to begin again and with CLARITY, COURAGE and CONSCIENCE.
— George Omagbemi Sylvester, SaharaWeeklyNG.com
society
Dr. Bernard Shiaunda Eete Mobilizes Loyalists Ahead of Kenya’s General Election
Dr. Bernard Shiaunda Eete Mobilizes Loyalists Ahead of Kenya’s General Election
Ahead of Kenya’s 2027 general election, Nyanza ODM aspirant Dr. Bernard Shiaunda Eete, popularly known as Dumex3, has intensified grassroots mobilization by holding a strategic meeting with his loyalists across the region. The gathering was aimed at aligning his team, refining campaign strategies, and positioning the movement for a decisive outcome at the polls.
The meeting provided an important platform for open consultation, idea exchange, and consensus building. Dr. Eete emphasized the need for unity, discipline, and clear communication as the campaign enters a critical phase. According to attendees, the discussions focused on strengthening the political structure on the ground, addressing community concerns, and ensuring that the movement remains responsive to the aspirations of the people.
A key focus was Dr. Eete’s developmental agenda for Nyanza. He outlined his commitments to education, youth empowerment, healthcare access, and infrastructure development, noting that these areas remain central to transforming lives in the region. He urged his loyalists to carry the message to the grassroots, explaining both what has been achieved so far and what the region stands to gain if they rally behind his candidacy.
“This is not just about winning an election. It’s about building a stronger, united political movement that delivers real change for our people,” Dr. Eete told the gathering. He called on his supporters to remain focused, avoid divisive rhetoric, and engage voters with facts about his track record and plans.
The meeting ended with a renewed commitment from the loyalists to expand outreach, coordinate ward-level activities, and mobilize voters ahead of party primaries and the general election. Organizers described the session as productive, noting that it sharpened the team’s resolve and clarified immediate next steps.
As political activity heats up in Nyanza, Dr. Eete’s camp says the strategy is clear: consolidate support, communicate consistently, and deliver a campaign anchored on service and results.
Live update from Kenya by Hon. Babatunde Seidu, Youths Ambassador._
society
Mayor of Brampton Honours Olajumoke Abegunde For Charitable Works
Mayor of Brampton Honours Olajumoke Abegunde For Charitable Works
…Foundation Touches Over 8,000 Women, Widows, and Youth in Ondo State…..
…Collaborates with International Partners for Free Skill Acquisition in Canada…
For Chief Mrs. Olajumoke Abegunde, the act of touching lives positively and contributing meaningfully to societal development is not merely a pastime but a deeply ingrained existential mandate. With unwavering gusto, she has remained faithful to this noble vision, championing the esoteric principle that cheerful giving and advocacy for the downtrodden are responsibilities too sacred to be left exclusively in the hands of the government.
This resolute philosophy has not only engendered transformative impact within her immediate locality but has also catapulted her onto the global stage. Recently, her passionate charitable exertions—executed both within and outside the shores of Nigeria—earned her prestigious international recognition.
A Legacy of Grassroots Transformation
As the visionary founder of the Jummy I Care Foundation, Chief Mrs. Abegunde has systematically dismantled barriers of vulnerability across Ondo State. Through sustained philanthropic gestures, she has disbursed extensive humanitarian relief and social assistance to over 3,000 indigent widows and elderly persons. In parallel, her foundation has galvanized robust support for orphaned and vulnerable children while orchestrating an ambitious women’s empowerment programme. To date, over 5,000 women have benefited from skills acquisition and income-generating activities designed to cultivate self-reliance and entrepreneurial audacity. Many of these beneficiaries have also received start-up seed capital to establish their own enterprises.
A proud alumna of Criminology and Security Studies from the National Open University of Nigeria, Chief Mrs. Abegunde has also distinguished herself as a patron of youth development. She has sponsored numerous essay writing and entrepreneurship competitions across Ondo State, in addition to funding medical outreaches, orphanage interventions, Iftar and Easter entrepreneurship programmes, and sustained feeding initiatives for the less privileged.
Her core philosophy remains immutable: when those who are well-to-do invest strategically in their immediate society, the collective becomes safer, more stable, and poised for greater heights.
International Collaboration and Brampton Honour
In a decisive move to intensify her developmental footprint, the Jummy I Care Foundation recently entered into a strategic tripartite collaboration with the Habeeb Okunola Foundation and the MakeMee Elegant Foundation. Together, they delivered a gratuitous, high-impact skill acquisition training programme to residents of Brampton, Canada.
Participants were immersed in an array of artisan crafts, including the production of resin bags, photo books, picture otters, resin key holders and frame holders, ornamental flower vases, rhinestone embellishment, and the advanced technique of printing images on fabrics.
In a ceremonial recognition of her sustained benevolence, the Mayor of Brampton formally hosted Chief Mrs. Abegunde and her delegation at the mayor’s office. The mayor personally expressed profound gratitude for her unwavering support of community development and entrepreneurship. As a tangible emblem of this appreciation, she was presented with a personally signed certificate of appreciation and commendation.
Unwavering Commitment to the Future
While accepting the honour, Chief Mrs. Olajumoke Abegunde reaffirmed her immutable resolve. She declared that her commitment to touching lives remains absolute and non-negotiable. According to her, she will not relent in ensuring that more lives are touched, more support is channeled to the people, and greater stability is secured for communities. She further emphasized her dedication to cultivating the spirit of entrepreneurship among women and youths as a cornerstone for sustainable development.
With over 8,000 direct beneficiaries in Nigeria alone and an expanding international footprint, Chief Mrs. Abegunde stands as a formidable testament to the profound change one determined philanthropist can effectuate when passion meets purpose.
society
APM Senatorial Candidate Ajadi Distributes Over 500 Bags of Rice
APM Senatorial Candidate Ajadi Distributes Over 500 Bags of Rice
The Senatorial candidate of Oyo Central Senatorial District under the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has distributed over 500 bags of rice to residents, party members, state executives, and key stakeholders across Oyo State ahead of the forthcoming Eid al-Adha celebration.
The gesture, which forms part of his annual humanitarian outreach, was aimed at easing economic hardship and strengthening unity among party executives, party members, and residents within the senatorial district during the festive period.
Ajadi said the distribution was a continuation of his commitment to supporting vulnerable households and fostering community solidarity, especially at a time when many families are facing rising food prices and economic pressure.
He explained that Eid al-Adha is rooted in sacrifice, sharing, and compassion, adding that political leadership must consistently reflect empathy for the people, regardless of political affiliation or election cycles.
According to him, the intervention was extended to party executives, grassroots mobilizers, youth groups, and key stakeholders across the senatorial district to ensure equitable distribution across different segments of the political structure in Oyo State.
Ajadi further noted that the initiative was designed to complement household food needs during the festive season, stressing that small acts of support can significantly ease the burden on families affected by economic challenges.
He urged political leaders at all levels to prioritize welfare-driven initiatives that have direct impact on citizens, emphasizing that leadership should go beyond campaigns to sustained service delivery and humanitarian engagement.
Beneficiaries of the rice distribution expressed appreciation for the gesture, describing it as timely and thoughtful amid rising food costs across the country.
They commended Ajadi for maintaining close contact with grassroots members and consistently demonstrating what they described as people-oriented leadership.
The distribution exercise was carried out across selected locations within Oyo Central Senatorial District and coordinated through local party structures to ensure fairness and orderly sharing.
Political observers in the state noted that such interventions have become a key feature of political engagement in Nigeria, particularly during festive seasons, as politicians seek to connect with constituents beyond electoral promises.
As the Eid al-Adha celebration approaches, Ajadi reaffirmed his commitment to continuing similar initiatives aimed at supporting families and promoting unity among residents of Oyo State.
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