By Lanre Oloyede
As Nigeria marks its 64th Independence Anniversary, Global Affairs Analyst and prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) chief, Chief Jackson Lekan-Ojo, has expressed deep dissatisfaction with the country’s progress, stating there is little to celebrate. .
Reflecting on Nigeria’s journey since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1960, Chief Lekan-Ojo lamented that the nation’s continued existence as one indivisible entity is its only achievement.
In a strongly worded critique, the APC stalwart noted that, despite surviving the threats of secession and divisive agitations, Nigeria remains trapped in various forms of internal colonialism—poverty, corruption, poor economic management, inadequate infrastructure, and failing education and health sectors.
“I can congratulate Nigeria only because we are still one nation despite the numerous secession threats. But 64 years after independence, we are still in the grips of new forms of colonization—poverty, corruption, and poor infrastructure. Are we truly free when we are held back by these problems?” Chief Lekan-Ojo asked rhetorically.
He argued that while Nigeria may have freed itself from British rule, it has “jumped from the frying pan into the furnace of fire,” pointing out that the current state of affairs offers little for Nigerians to rejoice about.
The country, according to him, is plagued by the lack of basic amenities such as consistent electricity, affordable fuel, and public water supply.
“There is no steady electricity supply, and 90% of those who own generators can no longer afford to fuel them because it’s too expensive. Public water is non-existent, and even those who can afford to sink boreholes can’t power them because there is no light, and fuel is unaffordable,” he lamented.
Chief Lekan-Ojo also decried the insecurity that has gripped the nation, leaving citizens unable to sleep peacefully with both eyes closed. He remarked that Nigerians are fleeing to neighboring countries like Benin, Togo, and Niger in search of better living conditions, adding that the cost of living has spiraled out of control under the current administration.
“The cost of food is unbearable. Basic staples like rice, beans, yams, and even tomatoes and pepper are now luxury items for many Nigerians,” he said. “Air travel is out of reach for ordinary Nigerians, with tickets now costing around N400,000. This is the worst government in our political history. The cost of living wasn’t this high under Buhari, but now it is worse.”
Chief Lekan-Ojo called for urgent reforms, emphasizing that the nation must address the core issues of poverty, insecurity, and economic hardship if it is to have any hope of realizing the aspirations of its founding fathers
