Independence Message
By Oladipo Oluwatosin
“Nigeria @ 65: chains Must Break for True Liberty”
At 65, Nigeria stands like a man whose grey hairs ought to be a crown of wisdom, yet his garments are still torn with shame (Proverbs 16:31). We celebrate independence, yet true liberty is still a mirage. Freedom without justice is slavery in disguise, and independence without righteousness is but a golden cage.
Chains That Still Bind Us
For six and a half decades, our people have wrestled under the heavy yoke of oppressors, political thieves, corruption, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, money laundering, ritual killings, injustice, land grabbing, illiteracy, and ignorance.
Our youths, once called the leaders of tomorrow, now chant hopelessly: “Let us share the national cake and eat.” But a nation that eats its seed has mortgaged its harvest. A people that consume their future today will wake up tomorrow to famine of both bread and vision (Proverbs 29:18).
The currency dances like a drunkard; inflation suffocates the poor; exchange rates mock the labourer; debt chains us to foreign masters; while over-taxation kills the striving entrepreneur. Is this liberty, or is this bondage dressed in the colours of a flag?
A Call for Mindset Rebirth
It is high time to shout loudly: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
The time has come to rebuild the Nigerian mind, to uproot the weeds of selfishness and plant the seeds of service. Until we change how we think, we will never change how we live. As the Yoruba adage says: “A ki i fi ọwọ́ kan dá ilé”—one hand cannot build a house. Collective transformation is the brick, and restoration is the mortar for true liberty.
Who Shall Lead Us Across?
The question remains: “Who is that man or woman with the attributes of liberty?” One that God Himself will raise as a Moses for Nigeria—not a Pharaoh who multiplies burdens. Someone who will:
- Fear God and hate covetousness (Exodus 18:21).
- Stand for justice like Deborah (Judges 4:4–5).
- Speak truth to power like Nathan before David (2 Samuel 12:7).
- Build with wisdom like Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:17–18).
Without such a leader, our so-called independence is nothing but decorated captivity.
A Warning to Us All
If you are not the brain for liberty and independence, you will become the brain for corruption and oppression. Neutrality in the face of evil is silent partnership with bondage. Every Nigerian must choose: Are you a chain-breaker or a chain-maker?
A Prophetic Hope
Yet, hope is not lost. God declares:
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36).
“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34).
“For the Lord will not cast off His people, neither will He forsake His inheritance.” (Psalm 94:14).
Nigeria, your liberty will not come from empty slogans or political promises, but from a people who repent, rebuild, and rise. The time to seek God for a great pardon and a new dawn of restoration is now.
Conclusion
Nigeria at 65 must choose between liberty and captivity. Our destiny cries out for transformation. Let us no longer eat our seed but plant it for the next generation. Let us rise from the dust, shake off oppression, and embrace the new realm of liberty.
For if Nigeria must live, Nigeria must change. And if Nigeria must change, it begins with you and me.
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