Nation-Building Beyond Empty Rhetoric: A Call at 65 -By Turaki Abdulhamid Yahya

As Nigeria marks 65 years of independence, we are once again confronted with a sobering truth: no country can manipulate its elections, compromise its military, weaken its judiciary, control its legislature, and neglect its police force while still expecting to command global respect. Nation-building goes beyond anniversary speeches, ceremonial parades, and empty promises; it requires visionary leadership, strong institutions, and genuine commitment to reform.

Political scientist Francis Fukuyama (2004) reminds us that “state-building is fundamentally about creating and strengthening institutions that deliver public goods to citizens.” Yet, six and a half decades after independence, our institutions are still weakened by personal, sectional, and partisan interests. Robert Rotberg (2003) further warns that when leaders fail to govern effectively, states risk decline marked by corruption, insecurity, and deep divisions. Sadly, these remain Nigeria’s recurring struggles.

Across the globe, nations that command respect are those where leaders match words with action; implementing policies that strengthen unity, promote justice, and drive sustainable development. Nigeria, by contrast, continues to wrestle with tribalism, religious manipulation, and selfish ambitions that enrich a few while impoverishing the majority.

At 65, the question before us is simple: will Nigeria remain a giant shackled by rhetoric, or will it rise through genuine reform and collective responsibility? True nation-building demands more than celebrating independence, it requires Nigerians, both leaders and citizens, to demand accountability, participate actively in governance, and insist on reforms that put the people first.

The destiny of Nigeria does not rest on leaders alone. It depends on the collective will of its people to reject complacency, confront injustice, and embrace the hard but necessary work of building a nation worthy of its promise. At 65, let this be our renewed independence: not just freedom from colonial rule, but freedom from the chains of bad governance and wasted potential.

Turaki Abdulhamid Yahya,
Writes from Federal University of Kashere,Gombe State.