BY SAMSON FANIRAN
On 1st October 1960, Nigeria received its Freedom Charter from Princess Alexandra of Kent, representing the Queen of England. That day symbolised hope, promise, and a new beginning for millions of Nigerians. Our leaders declared that never again would we be second-class citizens in our own land; never again would we be voiceless in the affairs that shape our destiny.
Yet, sixty-five years later, the question stares us in the face: have we truly lived up to the promise of independence?
Mr President, and my fellow Nigerians, the hard truth is that many of our government agencies, created to serve, protect, and defend the Nigerian people, have failed in their primary responsibilities. These institutions were meant to be guardians of justice, consumer rights, public safety, fair labour, health, and accountability. Instead, too many have become symbols of inefficiency and corruption, consuming billions of naira in government funds without providing real value to the ordinary citizen.
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The tragedy is not only in their failure but also in the ignorance and fear of the very people they were created to protect. Many Nigerians do not even know that institutions exist to defend them when they are cheated, harassed, or oppressed. Too often, we endure injustice silently unfair treatment at workplaces, inflated prices, substandard products, or even unlawful arrests, not knowing that agencies are mandated by law to stand by us, even in court.
But when the agencies themselves are weak, inaccessible, or unwilling to rise to their duties, Nigerians are left stranded, carrying burdens they should not bear. This cycle has fueled corruption, deepened poverty, and eroded the trust between government and the governed.
Mr President, Nigerians do not ask for too much. What we seek is not beyond reach: strong institutions that work, agencies that justify their budgets, leaders that prioritise service over personal gain. Independence means little if Nigerians cannot find justice in their own land. Freedom rings hollow if institutions created to defend the people have become offices of comfort for a privileged few.
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As we mark this Independence Day, let this be a call to action.
To the President and leaders at all levels: reform these agencies, hold them accountable, and return them to the people they were created to serve.
To my fellow Nigerians: let us no longer be silent. Let us know our rights, demand our rights, and remind those in authority that sovereignty belongs to the people.
True independence is not merely the lowering of the Union Jack in 1960; it is the daily assurance that Nigerians are protected, respected, and served by their institutions. Until then, the promise of 1st October remains unfulfilled.
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Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Samson Faniran is a public social critic and writes from Lagos.
Views expressed by contributors are strictly personal and not of TheCable.