Nigeria At 65: Guard Constitution, Pursue True Federalism - Gov Adeleke

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has urged Nigerians to use the nation’s 65th Independence anniversary as a moment of sober reflection and recommitment to the ideals of democracy, rule of law, and true federalism.

In a statement to mark the anniversary on Wednesday, Governor Adeleke congratulated Nigerians at home and abroad on the anniversary.

He added that despite the challenges confronting the country, there have been remarkable strides since Independence.

He, however, stressed that Nigeria’s progress can only be consolidated if the nation continues to uphold its constitutional foundation and strengthens the rule of law.

“We have made progress but we can move faster and better. We should continue to protect the foundation of our national existence, the constitution and its interpretation by a truly independent judiciary,” Adeleke said.

The governor maintained that democracy thrives only when its structures function without unlawful interference, adding that judicial processes must be respected as the sole legitimate means of regulating relationships among political actors and the citizenry.

Adeleke charged political leaders to work towards a federation that allows for more devolution of powers and resources while reiterating his call for genuine reforms.

“Nigeria must run truly as a federation where the tiers of government operate with clear regulations as provided by the constitution and moderated by the rule of law. This will fast-track development at all levels of governance,” he stated.

While felicitating with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian people, the governor assured that Osun would remain committed to constitutionalism and the principles of good governance.

“Our government will continue to abide by democratic rules in our striving to better the lot of our people and deliver democratic dividends,” he said, urging residents of Osun to remain law-abiding and resist the temptation to take laws into their own hands.

“As we mark this 65th Independence anniversary, we look forward to more national and subnational improvements as democratic governance progresses,” Adeleke added.