Independence Day: APGA Chieftain Urges Nigerians to Reject Despair, Back Nigeria’s Recovery

Evangelist Chinedu Obigwe

The National Coordinator of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Media Warriors, Evangelist Chinedu Obigwe, has urged Nigerians to remain hopeful and support ongoing efforts by governments at all levels to build a stronger, more economically resilient and self-sustaining nation.

Obigwe, in an Independence Day message, said the anniversary provided an important opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the country’s journey since independence, assess its achievements and shortcomings, and confront the persistent challenges that have continued to impede its development.

He said the occasion should not be reduced to another platform for political name-calling, blame allocation or recrimination, but should serve as a new point of departure for Nigerians to renew their faith in the country, strengthen national unity and contribute meaningfully to its development.

According to him, Nigeria has passed through several difficult phases since independence, with successive administrations confronting varying economic, political and social challenges and implementing policies aimed at addressing the problems confronting the nation.

“There is no longer room for us to continue to lament, but for us to work in tandem with the respective leaderships of the states and the country in general towards building a greater Nigeria,” he said.

Obigwe said it was misplaced to blame the administration of President Bola Tinubu for all the challenges confronting the country, arguing that many of the problems were structural and had predated the present administration.

He, however, acknowledged that the Tinubu administration should be held accountable for its policies and performance while urging Nigerians to assess the government within the broader context of the challenges it inherited.

He expressed optimism that the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration would, over time, deliver significant socioeconomic benefits to Nigerians, describing the President’s agenda as a “rescue mission.”

“Blaming the Tinubu administration is out of place because he came on a rescue mission and he has hit the ground running. So far, his socioeconomic policies and programmes are yielding multiplier effects on the polity of our country,” Obigwe said.

He noted that successive administrations had inherited significant economic and developmental challenges and made varying attempts to address them, stressing that the current administration should be allowed to consolidate the foundations it was laying.

“Be reminded that successive administrations met these challenges and tried without end towards tackling those challenges. But with the administration of President Bola Tinubu in the saddle, it is a rescue mission.
“With his Renewed Hope Agenda, the next four years would be reaping from the bounties of the foundations of the first four years,” he said.

Obigwe therefore called on Nigerians to remain hopeful and support legitimate efforts aimed at strengthening domestic production, promoting economic growth, improving infrastructure, creating opportunities and raising the standard of living of citizens.

He said the difficulties confronting the country should not weaken Nigerians’ commitment to nation-building but should instead reinforce the determination of citizens, governments and other stakeholders to work towards a more prosperous, peaceful and self-reliant Nigeria.

The APGA Media Warriors coordinator also stressed the importance of constructive political engagement, responsible citizenship and accountability at all levels of government, saying sustainable national development could not be achieved by government alone.

According to him, the 66th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence should remind citizens that nation-building is a collective responsibility requiring the contributions of individuals, communities, state governments and the Federal Government.

He urged Nigerians to use the occasion to look beyond political differences, strengthen their sense of national responsibility and remain committed to building a country in which democracy, good governance, economic opportunity, social justice and human dignity can thrive.