Adewole Adebayo warns on poverty, hunger and insecurity, saying Nigeria cannot prosper while millions suffer on 65th Independence Anniversary
Adewole Adebayo warns on poverty as Nigeria marked its 65th Independence Anniversary, insisting that the country cannot achieve lasting progress while millions of citizens remain trapped in fear and deprivation.
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In a powerful statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) said the “true promise of independence” remains unfulfilled unless urgent action is taken to address insecurity, hunger, and corruption.
“No nation can prosper while its people live in fear,” Adebayo declared. “Peace is not optional; it is the precondition for progress, the anchor of prosperity, and the oxygen of national renewal.”
His comments came shortly after the tragic death of 29-year-old Arise News anchor Somtochukwu Maduagwu, who died from injuries sustained in a violent robbery in Abuja.
The case, further aggravated by reports of denial of emergency medical care, has sparked renewed debate over Nigeria’s broken security and healthcare systems.
As Adewole Adebayo warns on poverty, he cited shocking statistics: 63 per cent of Nigerians—over 133 million people—live in multidimensional poverty, and 31 million face acute food insecurity, according to national and international data.
“These are not abstract figures,” he said. “They are broken lives, and they demand a national response as urgent as war.”
On security, he referenced UN data showing that more than 2.3 million people were displaced by violence by the end of 2024.
He criticised the lack of a unified security approach and called for modern surveillance tools like drones and satellite intelligence to fight banditry and insurgency effectively.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s journey since independence in 1960, Adebayo honoured the nation’s founding fathers, including Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, but lamented that the present reality is a far cry from their vision.
Despite the grim picture, Adebayo remained cautiously optimistic. He argued that the nation can still rise if leaders make peace, justice, and development their top priorities.
“The urgent task before us now is to build a Nigeria where no Nigerian is left behind, and no community is consigned to despair,” he said.
“If we meet this test, we will awaken the Nigeria of our dreams.”
Adebayo’s remarks coincide with a scaled-down Independence Day celebration, after the Federal Government cancelled the traditional military parade in Abuja for cost-saving reasons.
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As Nigeria looks beyond its 65th year of independence, Adewole Adebayo warns on poverty not as a political gesture, but as a national emergency demanding immediate and strategic response.
