Omoyele Sowore Claims Nigeria Not Truly Independent at 66th Anniversary

Presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore declared that Nigeria is not truly independent during the country's 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1, 2026. In a message posted to X, Sowore argued that the political independence gained from Britain in 1960 has not translated into dignity, justice, or prosperity for millions of citizens.

Sowore criticized successive governments for looting public funds and mismanaging natural resources while failing to provide reliable electricity, healthcare, and quality education. He cited widespread hunger, unemployment, and insecurity as evidence that the nation's freedom is nominal. He asserted that the current generation has a historic duty to redo the independence of 1960 to achieve a genuine liberation from internal corruption and oppression.

This critique coincides with a decline in practical sovereignty caused by persistent violence from bandits and insurgents linked to the Islamic State and Boko Haram. Security failures include the abduction of nearly 700 people in Niger State in August 2026. While Nigeria maintains global influence through leaders like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, critics argue that restoring true sovereignty requires a shift toward inclusive governance and accountable federalism ahead of the 2027 elections.