Sen. Ned Nwoko (APC-Delta) has urged Nigerian leaders to prioritise citizens’ welfare over the pursuit of wealth
Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District, said this in his independence message to mark Nigeria at 65 made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Abuja on Tuesday.
He said that as the country marks 65 years of independence, the echoes of her past struggles blend with the urgent cries for renewal, adding that Nigeria was a nation rising beyond challenges.
According to him, 65 years after independence, Nigeria remains a work in progress. A story of resilience, promise, and determination.
“Ours is a nation that has survived turbulence, overcome setbacks, and yet continues to stand as Africa’s most powerful voice.
“Nigeria at 65 must choose to lead, not as a country of wasted potential, but as a nation that transforms its wealth into wellbeing for its people.
“We must secure our communities, empower our youth, modernise our infrastructure, and build institutions that outlive individuals.
“We must insist that no Nigerian is left behind. Not the farmer in the village, not the entrepreneur in the city, not the vulnerable in need of support.”
The law maker added that the 2025 independence anniversary was not just another one, but a clarion call to redefine progress not by the weight of the nation’s wealth but by the welfare of every citizen.
“It is a call to renew our sense of duty to one another and to the generation ahead,” he said.
Nwoko who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Reparations and Repatriation noted that the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of the current administration had sparked positive changes across the country .
He said it had stabilised the economy, curbed reckless imports, and was investing in social programmes.
According to him, these are germain and consistency is key. Macroeconomic gains must translate to microeconomic relief.
The lawmaker also said that the vice president’s call for a permanent African seat on the UN Security Council, sovereign debt relief, fair access to trade and financing, equity in resource ownership, and closing the digital divide so that “AI means Africa Included” captured the very essence of Nigeria’s place in the world.
According to him, these are not abstract declarations, they are the lived realities that define our struggle as a nation.”
He added that in the senate, his motions and bills have been guided by these same convictions that justice must be pursued, whether through reparations for historical wrongs or reconciliation for national tragedies.
Nwoko also said that dignity must be guaranteed, whether through attaining veto power at the UN security council, the establishment of a National Social Security Agency or by ensuring healthcare and education reforms that work for Nigerians at home.
“Our sovereignty must be protected, whether by stopping crude oil theft, ending gas flaring, or reclaiming control over our mineral wealth.
“Opportunity must be created, whether through youth entrepreneurship, diaspora voting, indigenous participation in mining, or the expansion of our digital economy.
“Our journey is far from finished. But if we keep faith with one another, strengthen collaboration between the executive and legislature, and place people at the center of our policies, then this decade can be the turning point when Nigeria moves from survival to greatness.
“Happy Independence Day, Nigeria. The struggle continues, but so does the hope,” he added.
(NAN)