El-Rufai Calls for Elite Consensus, Federalism, and Legitimate Elections as Nigeria Marks 65 Years

As Nigeria celebrates 65 years of independence, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has urged Nigerians to embrace elite consensus, federalism, and credible elections as the foundation for national progress over the next six decades.

                                               

Speaking in Owerri, Imo State, before an audience of civilians, professionals, and clerics, the former FCT Minister stressed the urgent need for a shared national vision to tackle Nigeria’s structural weaknesses.

El-Rufai noted that while Nigeria has recorded democratic progress since 1999 by consistently holding elections, public participation has dropped significantly.

• Voter turnout was over 60% in 2003.

• By 2023, it had fallen to just 27%.

He described this decline as a troubling sign of growing public apathy towards governance and democracy.

According to El-Rufai, Nigeria, despite being the world’s most populous Black nation and projected to surpass 400 million people by 2050, remains structurally fragile.

He highlighted several urgent threats to national stability:

• Rising poverty and inequality

• High youth unemployment

• Persistent inflation

• Escalating public debt

El-Rufai insisted that only through elite consensus and leadership alignment can Nigeria address its deep-rooted challenges.

“The evidence compels us to say it plainly. Nigeria remains structurally fragile. To secure our future, we must build an elite consensus that embraces federalism and credible elections as the basis of national renewal,” he said.

He urged government, corporate, and civil society leaders to chart a unified course for Nigeria’s development.