In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Today, as Nigeria clocks 65 years of independence, we stand at a crossroad that tests not the memory of our past struggles but the weight of our present realities. Independence is not merely a flag raised or an anthem sung; it is the living responsibility to unite our people, protect the sanctity of life, and build a nation where justice and dignity are not privileges but rights for all.

But our country bleeds. From Zamfara to Kaduna, Niger to Katsina, Sokoto to Kebbi, Plateau to Borno, and now Kwara, communities live under the siege of banditry and violence. Homes are burnt, farms abandoned, schools emptied, and lives – lives that God holds precious – are daily cut short. To allow this bloodletting to fester is to betray the very meaning of independence.

This is not a time for platitudes. It is a time for conscience and courage. Leaders at all levels must rise above excuses and act with the urgency that life demands. Justice must not be delayed. Security must not be politicized. Mercy must not be selective.

The Qur’an reminds us: “Be ever steadfast in upholding equity, bearing witness to the truth for the sake of God…” (Quran 4:135).

A nation that loses its sense of justice loses its soul.

True independence today must mean freedom from fear. The freedom of children to walk to school without dread; of farmers to till their soil without ambush; of families to live without mourning. This is the Nigeria our founding fathers envisioned, and it is the Nigeria our leaders must commit to delivering.

To the citizens, let us not surrender to despair. Let us hold firmly to unity and compassion, for our diversity is not our curse but our strength. And to those in authority, let it be known: power is a trust, and before God, every drop of innocent blood will demand an answer.

As we mark this 65th year of our nationhood, may Allah heal our land, guide our leaders, and bless Nigeria with peace, justice, and enduring hope.

Happy Independence Day, Nigeria.

Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC, Nigeria)
October 1, 2025