As Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day approaches, many hearts beat with hope tinged by uncertainty. In Rivers State, newly reinstated Governor Siminalayi Fubara is making a subtle but pointed appeal: peace must pave the way for progress. “Allah has brought us this far,” he says. “Without peace, we cannot have progress and economic development.”
His message, simple in words, heavy in meaning, comes at a time when the wounds of political turmoil still bleed across parts of the country and within his own state.
It’s not just a governor speaking to his constituents—it’s a leader speaking to a nation. In that speech lies both caution and challenge: that the future’s success depends on whether Nigerians choose reconciliation over rancour as they cross another anniversary of independence.
What Fubara Said
In his address, Fubara called on all citizens, irrespective of creed or background, to commit to peace ahead of the national celebration.
He reminded listeners that no matter the divisions, peace is nonnegotiable for development. “Without peace, we cannot have progress and economic development.”
He invoked divine guidance, noting that it is through Allah’s mercy that Nigeria has made it this far — a spiritual framing to unite rather than divide.
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His call comes after a turbulent period in Rivers State: the state underwent a six-month emergency rule earlier in 2025, political strife, institutional fractures, and suspended democracy.
The Price of Peace
Fubara’s plea is more than rhetoric. It’s a test—to himself, to Rivers, to Nigeria. Because peace isn’t given freely; it’s earned, maintained, defended. As Nigeria marches toward another anniversary of its birth, what it celebrates is not ceremony but survival, integrity, unity.
If the call is heeded, this Independence Day could become more than a ritual—it could become a turning point, where Nigerians choose reconciliation over resentment, cohesion over conflict. If ignored, the echoes of division may outlast the fireworks.
