MPAC Urges Justice, Accountability as Nigeria Marks 66 Years of Independence
As Nigeria commemorates its 66th independence anniversary, the Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) Nigeria has issued a call for a renewed dedication to justice, accountability and equal citizenship.
The group extended congratulations to Nigerians both within the country and abroad, while posing a question it said the occasion demands an answer to: what does independence mean to the average Nigerian today?
MPAC's executive chairman, Disu Kamor, argued that the hoisting of a flag is not the true gauge of freedom. According to him, the real measure lies in whether a citizen is able to live with dignity, security, justice and opportunity.
The organisation stated that such dignity can only be realised when Nigeria's sovereignty is regarded as sacrosanct by its political leaders.
"True independence demands that we remove all vestiges of colonialism and imperialism from governance- from our laws and institutions, to our economic arrangements and foreign policy that must put Nigeria and Nigerians first," MPAC said.
It described a genuinely independent Nigeria as one where the law shields the vulnerable as firmly as it curbs the powerful, where a person's faith does not influence the justice they receive, where poverty is not passed down as a permanent inheritance, and where young Nigerians can build their futures at home rather than seeking them overseas.
While acknowledging the progress the country has made, MPAC stressed the need for honesty about the gap between the nation that was promised, the nation that exists, and the nation Nigerians owe to one another. It said independence cannot be celebrated while millions are unable to afford basic necessities.
The group also warned that unity cannot be proclaimed when distrust, religious suspicion, ethnic division and political exclusion are weakening the social fabric. It added that freedom cannot be claimed where citizens are afraid to speak, institutions struggle to win public confidence, and accountability is seen as a burden rather than a constitutional obligation.
Furthermore, MPAC noted that prosperity cannot be built when a generation of young people is confronted with unemployment, frustration and diminishing hope. It stated that Nigeria does not lack potential, but lacks sufficient courage, discipline and leadership to convert that potential into progress.
MPAC called on the government to fulfil the core responsibilities of the state, including security, justice, economic opportunity, quality education, healthcare, infrastructure and transparent governance. It also urged the government to defend Nigeria's sovereignty as sacrosanct and to reject any arrangement that undermines self-determination.
Citizens were urged to reject indifference, resist hatred and misinformation, demand accountability through lawful and democratic means, and refuse to allow political, ethnic or religious differences to destroy shared humanity.
The group also appealed to political, religious and community leaders, the media and the private sector to go beyond the yearly ritual of celebration and commit to the harder work of nation-building.
MPAC noted that the commitment of Muslims to Nigeria is rooted in justice, integrity, compassion, responsibility and peaceful coexistence. It said, "Our faith does not excuse us from national development. It demands that we contribute to it with excellence and conscience."
It further stated that Nigeria's diversity should not be a permanent fault line but is one of its greatest national assets. According to the group, differences in faith, ethnicity, language and culture should not prevent agreement on what matters to people of shared destiny: human dignity, justice, security, equal citizenship, and the right of every Nigerian to live a meaningful life.
"The Nigeria of tomorrow will not be built by slogans. It will be built by institutions that work, leaders who are accountable, citizens who are responsible, and a society that refuses to normalise injustice. Independence is not the destination. It is a responsibility," MPAC added.
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