By Sani Aliyu, Zaria
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Alhaji Mustapha Adamu Ubaidullah, the Marafan Yamman Zazzau, has said that after 66 years of independence Nigerians are still asking the same basic questions about food, security, electricity, education, employment and justice.
Alhaji Ubaidullah stated this in an interview with newsmen in Zaria on the celebration of the country’s independence anniversary. “Nothing to write home about”, he said, citing the prevailing hardship faced by Nigerians.
According to him, the independence anniversary should be a moment for sober reflection rather than celebration, in view of the economic difficulties confronting the ordinary Nigerian.
“At 66, what we are experiencing is hardship as most families cannot afford three square meals, there is high inflation and many other difficulties,” he lamented.
The traditional title holder noted furthert that the rising cost of food stuff and other essential commodities has worsened the living condition of the common man, making life unbearable for many households.
The APC chieftain said if enormous resources are being devoted to servicing debt, how much remains available for schools, hospitals, roads, agriculture, industry and job creation?
More importantly, will future generations inherit productive assets from today’s borrowing — or merely inherit the bills?
This is where Nigeria’s problem becomes deeper than economics. Perhaps it is fundamentally a crisis of leadership.
“We have had development plans, economic reforms, anti-corruption agencies, poverty-alleviation programmes and countless policy documents. We have borrowed enormous sums”.
He advised government at all levels to urgently introduce measures that will cushion the effects of the hardship and restore hope in the citizenry.
Alhaji Ubaidullah also advised the electorate to be more conscious and circumspect ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While advising voters to think critically before electing leaders, he stressed the need to vote for credible and people-oriented leaders who have the capacity to address the challenges facing the country.
“Electorate must think wisely before electing leaders in the 2027 general elections. We need leaders who have the interest of the people at heart,” he opined.
