Elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, has declared that Nigeria is in a far better state today than it was before independence, stressing that the country has achieved “tremendous progress” in its political and social development.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Wednesday, the 99-year-old politician said his support for President Bola Tinubu’s government is rooted in the administration’s commitment to reforms.
“In my opinion, so far so good, I believe that by and large, people will agree with me that he has achieved quite a lot with the period that he has been controlling the country,” Yakasai said.
Nigeria’s progress since independence
When asked why many Nigerians look back with nostalgia if things are better now, Yakasai explained that only those who experienced colonial rule can truly appreciate the country’s growth.
“The Nigeria of today is far better than the Nigeria of the pre-independence era. If anybody says we have not done well, maybe he has not known what was happening before or now,” he stated.
“Those of us who knew what was happening before know that we are making tremendous progress.”
Nigerians in full control of governance
He highlighted self-rule as one of the country’s most important milestones, stressing that no foreign power now dictates Nigeria’s affairs.
“Before independence, the entire administration of Nigeria was in the hands of the British. Today, no single responsible position of government in Nigeria is in the hands of the British or any foreigner. Everything is in the hands of Nigerians, and the Nigerians are doing their best,” Yakasai explained.
He argued that, despite imperfections, Nigeria’s electoral process has allowed citizens to hold leaders accountable.
“We have been having election after election. Parties who performed during the election, after the election, they are now performing better. Those who are not prepared were replaced because they are not performing. So I think we are making progress tremendously,” Yakasai said.
According to him, the country’s democratic journey remains a work in progress, but one that has steadily improved over the years.
