Sowore says poverty and insecurity make Nigeria’s independence celebrations hollow

African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has said Nigeria cannot genuinely celebrate its 66th Independence Anniversary while millions of citizens face poverty, hunger, unemployment and insecurity. Sowore made the remarks in a post on X on Thursday. He said that although Nigeria became independent from British colonial rule in 1960, many citizens had yet to experience the freedom, dignity, prosperity, justice and equality associated with independence.

He pointed to continuing problems in education, healthcare and electricity, and accused those entrusted with public resources of misappropriating them. Sowore said workers were struggling to earn enough to support their families, while access to basic services remained inadequate. “We cannot celebrate independence while our people are trapped in poverty, hunger, unemployment, insecurity, darkness, and hopelessness,” he said.

Sowore argued that Nigerians themselves were not responsible for the country’s difficulties. He described them as hardworking, creative, resilient and resourceful, while saying successive governments had failed to make adequate use of the nation’s human and natural resources. He said citizens deserved more than ceremonial celebrations and repeated promises.

Among the conditions he called for were living wages, accessible education and healthcare, reliable electricity and safe conditions for young people and farmers. Sowore also said no Nigerian should be arrested, brutalised or imprisoned simply for challenging those in power. He described the task of his generation as rebuilding the meaning of independence rather than merely commemorating the transfer of power from colonial rule.

He called for what he termed genuine independence from corruption, oppression, poverty, injustice, ethnic manipulation and religious bigotry. His comments contrasted with anniversary messages focused on unity, resilience and continued belief in the Nigerian project.