2023 Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, released his message to Nigerians on the 65th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria on Wednesday 1 October, 2025.
The former Vice President said, Nigerians have been lowered to “refugees and beggars in their fatherland” despite being “blessed with immense human and material resources”.
Waziri Adamawa lamented, due to years of “poor leadership and wasteful governance”, Nigeria is still a “giant moving painfully slow on feet of clay” at sixty-five (65).
In his message to Nigerians on X, Atiku wrote: “It is tragic that in a country blessed with immense human and material resources, millions of our people have been reduced to refugees and beggars in their fatherland. Every responsible government holds the welfare and security of its citizens as supreme.
“The beauty of democracy lies in the power of the ballot.
“At 65, Nigeria remains a giant moving painfully slow on feet of clay, a direct result of decades of poor leadership and wasteful governance. Nonetheless, with the right leadership, our dear country can still rise from the ashes of failed governance to reclaim its rightful place among the comity of nations.
“I wish all Nigerians a happy 65th Independence Day anniversary celebration.”
