Fellow Nigerians,
Today marks 64 years since we gained independence from colonial rule, but the sad truth is that we remain trapped in a cycle of oppression, only now it is at the hands of our own leaders. What exactly do we celebrate when we reflect on our situation today? Our independence seems hollow, with the very fabric of our nation unraveled by corruption, nepotism, electoral fraud, and incompetence.
The last presidential election was a mockery of democracy, riddled with fraud, voter suppression, and manipulation. Nigerians voted with hope, but were left disillusioned. The dream of free and fair elections in our nation has become a nightmare of ballot snatching, rigging, and judicial controversies. Instead of progressing, we are retreating into a cesspool of bad governance and weakened institutions. The cost of this democratic failure is staggering—our economy bleeds, our currency devalues daily, and ordinary Nigerians are thrown deeper into poverty. The once mighty naira has been reduced to a shadow of its former self.
Fuel prices have skyrocketed, hitting an unimaginable almost ₦1000 per liter thereabouts, while salaries remain stagnant and unemployment rises. Nigerians can barely afford basic necessities, and yet we hear no real solutions from those in power. Instead, they cling to office, benefiting from subsidies and corrupt deals, while the masses suffer.
What is more disheartening is the blatant nepotism that fuels our leadership appointments. Competency is discarded in favor of tribal and political affiliations, undermining our potential as a nation and leading to the destruction of our democratic institutions. The local government elections, especially in the Southeast, were nothing but a farce. These sham elections not only deny the people true representation, but dim any hope for progress at the grassroots level. Once again, our leaders, in their greed, have failed the common man.
In the Southeast, our leaders have sold out our region. With exceptions, they are really a piece of work. Despite receiving large allocations from the federal government, there is no development to show for it. Our infrastructure remains in disrepair, our roads are death traps, and our industries have collapsed. Worse still, our leaders have imported insecurity into the region, contributing to the anarchy and unrest that now plague our communities. This betrayal is mega and is unforgivable.
Our military past also bears much of the blame for today’s chaos. Those who led us under the barrel of the gun destroyed the democratic foundations of our nation. They instilled a culture of impunity, where power is seized through force and corruption is allowed to fester. The anarchy we witness today, from terrorism in the North to banditry and kidnappings across the country, is a direct consequence of this failure in leadership.
We must ask ourselves: after 64 years, are we truly independent? Can we call ourselves a free nation when corruption is so deeply ingrained in every sector of our society, and when millions of our people remain oppressed by poverty, violence, and a lack of opportunity? The answer is no. There is nothing to celebrate today.
The way forward is clear. We must restructure Nigeria and return to a regional system of governance. This centralization of power has failed us. Let each region develop at its own pace, harnessing its resources and potential. We must demand the removal of this present crop of leaders who have failed not only us, but the next generation. They have stolen our future, but we must not allow them to steal the future of our children.
It is time for a revolution of the mind and the spirit. Let us rise and take back our country, not through violence, but through relentless advocacy for justice, equity, and real democratic reforms. Only then will we have something truly worth celebrating.
May God bless Nigeria.
Duruebube Chimazuru Nnadi-Oforgu
OBLONG MEDIA UNLIMITED 
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