Saraki tells Nigerian youths to demand accountability beyond elections

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has urged Nigerian youths to demand greater accountability, opportunity and better governance from elected leaders as the country marks its 66th Independence anniversary. In an Independence Day message issued on Thursday, Saraki said young Nigerians had the right to expect tangible improvements in education, employment, security and their prospects for the future. He said those who had grown up under democracy were entitled to question whether the system was improving their daily lives.

Saraki contrasted that experience with that of Nigerians who lived through military rule before the return to civilian government in 1999. For that older generation, he said, being able to choose leaders was itself a major achievement. Younger Nigerians, he added, understood the value of democracy but wanted to know when its benefits would become visible in their own lives.

He identified questions about finishing school on time, finding work, travelling safely and having to leave Nigeria to pursue a better life. Saraki said these concerns should not be seen as evidence that young Nigerians had lost faith in the country. Instead, he argued, demanding better conditions could be an expression of patriotism.

He said those who had held public office, including himself, owed young Nigerians better answers, adding that love of country could involve refusing to accept less than its potential. Saraki called on youths to maintain high standards when assessing candidates and to let their expectations shape the questions they ask during elections. He also urged them to continue monitoring elected officials after polling day, saying civic participation should not end when votes had been cast.

He said the anniversary should prompt political leaders to reflect on what Nigeria owed its younger population, before wishing citizens a happy Independence Day.