Atiku, the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has declared that Nigeria is at a “crossroads” as it celebrates its 63rd independence. He said that the country has a lot to be thankful for, particularly the achievements of its young people in various fields, which have led to the national flag being hoisted around the world.
In his Independence Day speech to Nigerians in Abuja on Saturday, Atiku said that this year’s Independence Day “is coming at a crossroads” as Nigeria continues to struggle to achieve the dreams of its founding fathers, who tried to bring development and social justice to our nation.
We have seen our country’s flag fly high on the world stage through the efforts of our athletes and women, the excellence of our academia, and the talents of our young people in the world music scene.
The resilience and perseverance of our young people is the source of the future we are celebrating today. The energy of our youth is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the manpower and skills that drive the global economy.
Across the world and in many fields of human endeavour, our young people have shown that they have the ability to compete with anyone from any corner of the globe.
This success – the bravery of our young people – is the very essence of what we celebrate as a nation. So, for me personally, the challenge we all face is to make sure that the political leadership of our country is worthy of our pride and not an embarrassment.
Our democracy has been able to endure for so long because of our belief that democracy when well-maintained, should make us and our society better. We all know the challenges facing the country’s economy, safety, and other vital areas of our lives.
We must all put our trust in the power of the Almighty God and work together to move the country from a state of insecurity to a state of shared security. I extend my warmest congratulations to all Nigerians, as well as to friends and well-wishers of our country all over the world. I wish you and your country the best on this Independence Day. God bless you all.
