By Christian Njoku
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – Reverend Tunde Adeleye, former Archbishop of the Province of Niger Delta in the Anglican Communion, has asserted that claims by Nigerian leaders of a better tomorrow were all a hoax.
Adeleye made the call on Thursday in Calabar, while reacting to the Independence Day speech of President Bola Tinubu.
The clergyman who was once Chairman of the Christian Council of Nigeria said the idea of telling Nigerians to endure monetary hardship for a better tomorrow was the same tale all former leaders told Nigerians, yet things have remained the same.
“This was the same statement made by the late Former President. Mohammadu Buhari and even those before him, and when they left office, nothing changed,” he said.
He noted that it was deceptive for anyone to claim that things were going well in Nigeria after 65 years, because we all know that the nation is not doing well.
He said his personal opinion was that Nigerians were deliberately being punished by the leadership at all levels in the nation.
“Another falsehood peddled in the nation is that the youths are the future of Nigeria, just to keep them docile, because the same story was told to the youths over 20 years ago by the people who are still in power.
“These leaders are still holding on to power for years, so, when exactly will the youths take charge in this nation? He enquired.
On his part, Mr Richard Inoyo, Country Director, Citizens Solution Network said Nigeria’s Independence Day was only celebrated by those in the presidency, governors, senators and other appointees of government.
He said the vast majority of Nigerians had nothing to celebrate because the only thing they had seen was the transfer of leadership from foreigners to locals with any corresponding dividends.
“I drove through town yesterday and didn’t see Nigerians holding the green white green flag as it used to be because there was a sense of detachment in the air. In fact, if anything, October 1st is now a source of anger to the majority of Nigerians.
“What we have now is leadership that tells struggling Nigerians not to worry that it will be fine while they live in abundance, wealth, and luxury,” he said.
Speaking further, Inoyo said Nigerians no longer believe in the speeches of the leaders because both the young and old in Nigeria are all going through severe hardship in the nation, irrespective of what the leaders are saying.
According to him, it is not about talking of the healthcare and education sector when the leaders and their wards travel abroad to access these services or even security when an average Nigerian can hardly sleep with his two eyes closed
He added that as long as the 65th Independence Day was concerned, Nigeria is divided into two, the ordinary Nigerians bearing the brunt of hardship every day and those on the other side feeding fat on the sweat of the average Nigerians.
