Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged Nigerians to embrace love, unity and renewed faith in the country. He spoke in a goodwill message marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary. He congratulated President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians at home and abroad. “Nigeria is our destiny, our duty, our future,” he said.
Nigeria gained independence on 1 October 1960. The country has since experienced civil war, military rule, economic boom and bust, and a return to democracy in 1999. The 66th anniversary comes amid economic hardship, insecurity and political tension. Independence Day messages are a ritual. They celebrate resilience. They also acknowledge challenges.
Akpabio said the anniversary provided an opportunity to celebrate Nigeria’s nationhood. He honoured the founding fathers. “They handed us a country to cherish and a future to build,” he said. He acknowledged that Nigeria’s journey has experienced triumphs and trials. He said Nigerians have continued to strive despite challenges. “We celebrate that resilience today, the strength of a people whose hopes have survived every storm.”
He cited farmers, teachers, entrepreneurs and young people. He cited Nigerian music, enterprise and hospitality. He said the country’s diversity is an inheritance. “Let this anniversary renew our affection for one another and remind us that the green-white-green shelters us all,” he said. He paid tribute to the Armed Forces and security agencies. He assured Nigerians that the National Assembly would continue supporting Tinubu’s efforts. “Independence is an inheritance renewed by every generation,” he said.
In Akure, Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker Olamide Oladiji urged Nigerians to renew their commitment to national unity, peace and sustainable development. He described the anniversary as an opportunity for reflection. He paid tribute to the founding fathers. He commended Tinubu for economic reforms. He commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for achievements in Ondo. He urged Nigerians to remain united. He said the country’s diversity should be harnessed as a strength.
Winners: The Federal Government, which gains goodwill messages. Akpabio and Oladiji, who gain visibility. Nigerians who value unity. Losers: Critics who see the messages as routine. Nigerians facing hardship, for whom the celebration rings hollow. No serious losers.
Bottom Line: Sixty-six years. Messages of unity. Tributes to founders. Calls for resilience. Nigeria has survived worse. It faces hardship now. The messages are familiar. The challenge is unchanged.