CITIZENS COMPASS—A Lagos based Non-Governmental Organisation, the Centre for Righteousness Living (CRIL), on Friday, congratulated the Government and people of Nigeria at all levels on the occasion of the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
CRIL called on political leaders at all levels to move beyond political rhetoric and build on the enduring legacies of Nigeria’s founding fathers.
This statement, signed by the Chairman, Dr. Olatunji Abolade, followed a meeting by the members of the Think-Tank Committee on the State of Nigeria after 66 years of Independence experience.
According to the statement, “Sixty-six years after Nigeria attained independence on October 1, 1960, the anniversary should be more than a ceremonial celebration. It should be a moment of sober reflection on the country’s journey, an assessment of the progress made, and a renewed commitment to the Nigeria envisioned by the men and women who fought for self-government and national sovereignty.”
They further noted that “Nigeria’s independence was achieved through political engagement, sacrifice, negotiation, courage and a determination to establish a nation capable of determining its own destiny, where the founding fathers understood that independence was not an end in itself, but the beginning of the difficult work of nation-building.”
CRIL therefore urges today’s political class to build on what previous generations started, rather than continually presenting new promises as though Nigeria has no history of ideas, institutions, policies and national aspirations upon which to build.
Practically expressing concerns over politicians making promises to deceive Nigerians as Nigeria enters the next election cycle, the Centre noted that successive administrations have introduced policies and programmes aimed at addressing Nigeria’s developmental challenges, but “national development cannot be sustained when every new political administration seeks to discard, rename or reinvent what its predecessor began”, stressing that “Nations develop by building institutions and improving what works and not by permanently starting from zero.”
The body therefore calls on political leaders to demonstrate a greater commitment to continuity, accountability, institutional development, national unity, economic productivity, quality education, infrastructure, security, justice and inclusive governance.
As Nigeria celebrates 66 years of independence, CRIL challenges politicians to reconsider the culture of expansive promises during election campaigns.
“Political leaders must be prepared to tell Nigerians not only what they intend to do, but how they intend to do it, what it will cost, when it will be delivered and how citizens can measure the result.
“Politicians must stop promising what they cannot deliver. The Nigerian people should not be continually presented with ambitious slogans and declarations that disappear after elections. Political leadership must be anchored on realistic commitments, transparent budgets, measurable targets and clear timelines. A promise made to the electorate is not merely a campaign language. It is a public commitment that should attract public scrutiny.”
CRIL therefore calls for a political culture in which elected officials are judged by what they deliver, the institutions they strengthen, the opportunities they create and the lives they improve, rather than merely by the eloquence of their speeches or the size of their campaign promises.
CRIL which also noted the efforts of the current government to give economic independence to Nigeria congratulate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his frantic efforts to liberate Nigeria economically, but was quick to call on the government to consider the poor in the country in all their economic policies, noting that every government policy ends up with the masses.
“Every government policy ends with the people, they are the consumers of every product released to the society, in transportation, buying fuel, needing government infrastructure, and use of the basic facilities provided by the government and the private sector, and they are the ones that cast their votes massively for the people in government. The onus is therefore on the government to be mindful of the welfare of the masses.”
Calling on the current leaders to build on the legacy, and correct the mistakes of the past, CRIL expressed the need to appreciate the efforts of the founding fathers which does not mean romanticizing the past or pretending that everything they did was perfect, but to mean that recognizing their contribution, learning from their successes and failures, and ensuring that each generation leaves the country stronger than it inherited it.
“The founding generation laid important foundations for national development and political independence. Nigeria’s present generation of leaders has a responsibility to preserve those foundations, correct historical mistakes and construct stronger institutions for future generations,” the statement added.
The Centre particularly calls for greater attention to the values that are essential to nation-building: service before self, patriotism, public accountability, national cohesion, respect for institutions, sacrifice, hard work and commitment to the common good.
Noting that political differences are inevitable in a democracy, CRIL maintains that political competition must not become an excuse for undermining national interests or destroying institutions for short-term political advantage.
“At 66, Nigeria remains a nation of enormous human and natural potential. Its diversity, rather than being treated as a permanent source of political division, should be harnessed as an asset for national development.”
CRIL urges political leaders to resist the temptation to exploit ethnic, religious, regional and other identities for political gain. “Nigeria needs leaders who can unite citizens around a common national purpose, and not leaders who deepen divisions in pursuit of temporary political advantage,” it maintained.
As Nigeria advances in its democratic experience, the Centre also called on citizens to demand more from their leaders, saying, “Democracy does not end at the ballot box, and citizens have a continuing responsibility to ask questions, demand transparency, scrutinize public expenditure and hold elected officials accountable.”
CRIL also called on Nigerians to ask their politicians relevant questions that have to do with their welfare and development. “The central question for Nigeria’s political leadership should no longer be simply “What will you promise Nigerians?” but rather, “What measurable difference will your leadership make to the lives of Nigerians, and how will you be held accountable for it?
“At 66, Nigeria needs a political class prepared to think beyond the next election cycle and work toward the next generation. The country needs leaders who will build roads and institutions, not merely to commission projects; create productive opportunities, not merely distribute political patronage; strengthen education and healthcare, not merely make announcements; protect public resources, not treat them as political rewards; and leave behind institutions capable of functioning long after they have left office,” it advised.
CRIL also urged political leaders to embrace continuity in national development advising, “Where policies are working, they should be improved rather than be abandoned. Where programmes have failed, leaders should acknowledge the failures, learn from them and develop better alternatives.”
Despite the challenges confronting the country, CRIL believes Nigeria’s story is still being written and that the country possesses the human capacity, natural resources and institutional potential to achieve greater development.
“The 66th Independence Anniversary is therefore both a celebration and a challenge. It is a celebration of the courage and sacrifices that brought Nigeria to independence. It is a challenge to the present generation to ensure that the sacrifices of the past were not in vain. The founding fathers gave Nigeria independence. The responsibility of today’s leaders is to give Nigerians effective institutions, accountable governance, sustainable development and a future worthy of that independence.”
Concluding, CRIL calls on all Nigerians, politicians, professionals, business leaders, civil society, traditional institutions, young people and citizens, and all stakeholders of the Nigeria Project to renew their commitment to building a country in which leadership is measured by service and public office is understood as a responsibility rather than a privilege.
“At 66, Nigeria does not need more empty promises. Nigeria needs leaders with the courage to make realistic commitments, the discipline to deliver them, and the humility to build on the work of those who came before them.”
The Centre wishes all Nigerians at home and in the diaspora a peaceful and reflective 66th Independence Celebration.
