Former Kaduna State Governor and ex-FCT Minister, Nasir El-Rufai, has called on Nigerians to consciously “reset” the nation’s trajectory as the country marks its 65th Independence Day.
In a statement released October 1, 2025, El-Rufai urged the citizenry to embrace true federalism, credible elections, and elite consensus as foundational pillars for progress.
Speaking during a public session in Owerri with clergy, professionals, and youth leaders, El-Rufai expressed that while Nigeria has recorded democratic gains since 1999, structural ailments have persisted— voter apathy, economic instability, insecurity, and poor governance, among them.
“At 65, Nigeria must choose. We can continue to lurch forward, or we can reset deliberately, boldly, and with collective purpose,” he stated.
El-Rufai also criticized the low voter turnout in recent elections as evidence of public disillusionment. He pointed out that participation dropped from above 60 percent in 2003 to barely 27 percent in 2023, urging reforms in electoral systems including electronic voting and real-time result transmission.
On the subject of federalism, he argued for a return to decentralised governance, where states have autonomy over sectors like policing, education, infrastructure, and healthcare.
He saw recent constitutional amendments transferring electricity and rail to the concurrent list as tentative steps forward.
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El-Rufai also laid out six critical questions Nigeria must confront: economic restructuring, alignment of education with labor market needs, efficient infrastructure, funding for health and education, and rooting out rent-seeking behavior while rewarding productive work.
In closing, he expressed optimism: with vision, courage, and a deliberate reset, he believes Nigeria can chart a more stable, prosperous path for the next 65 years.
