A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nelson Ahamefula Akuma, has declared that there is absolutely nothing to celebrate about Nigerian’s 65 years independence anniversary.

Speaking while reacting to the anniversary, he said that those who fought for the independence of the country would be weeping in their graves over the state of the country.

According to him, while countries that got independence the same time with Nigeria are now among first world economies, Nigeria is receding into a fourth world nation.

He said that though Nigeria is one of the most blessed countries in the world with regard to human and natural resources, the citizens are swimming in abject poverty.

Akuma commended Nigerian people for their patience and resilience, adding that without that the country would have long gone up in flames due to bad leadership.

He said: “I am happy that the President on his own cut down on most of the funfairs that go with independent day celebration. The truth is that in his heart of heart he know that there is absolutely nothing to celebrate. Check, most of the countries that got independence with Nigeria, like Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil and others where they are today and where Nigeria is. In fact, our founding fathers would be weeping in their graves if they see what the country they laid down their lives for has become. For example, Rev. Moses Iloh, the little boy then who enthusiastically climbed the pole and removed the British Union Jack and replaced it with our green, white green, died out of disappointment when he saw his hope of a better and prosperous Nigeria being dashed. The labours of our heroes past and even present are now in vain because those who know next to nothing about governance are the ones who have been ruling the country. I am even wondering how a country that is import dependent and cannot feed itself claim to be independent.”

According to Akuma, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s speech of turning up the tap of productivity was just mere sloganeering, adding that how can Nigerians turn up the tap of productivity in the midst of insecurity, epileptic power supply and lack of infrastructure.