Former Speaker of the House of Representatives and ex-Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has declared that Nigeria is sliding dangerously towards national collapse, warning that only decisive, collective action can halt the country’s steady decline.
Speaking at a high-powered political colloquium in Abuja to mark his 60th birthday, Tambuwal said Nigeria has betrayed the promise of its democratic rebirth and is now paying the price for years of poor leadership, weak institutions and elite complacency.
“This is not the Nigeria we fought for,” Tambuwal said, insisting that the nation has drifted far from the ideals that accompanied the return to democracy. He argued that the architects of Nigeria’s democratic struggle—both living and dead—would be deeply dismayed by the country’s present condition.
According to him, Nigeria’s crisis is not accidental but the product of governance failures that have eroded public trust and deepened national disillusionment. He warned that denial and political self-interest continue to delay urgently needed reforms.
“Our nation is in peril. We must first admit that something is fundamentally wrong with how this country is governed before we can begin to fix it,” he said.
Tambuwal stressed that national salvation cannot be outsourced to political parties alone, accusing the political class of narrowing governance to electoral competition while ignoring the broader responsibility of nation-building. He called on citizens, civil society and credible political actors to rise above divisions and reclaim the country.
“This country belongs to all of us. We have nowhere else to go. If we fail to act, the consequences will be catastrophic,” he warned.
The former Speaker said his 60th birthday was deliberately turned into a forum for national introspection rather than personal celebration, underscoring his belief that the moment demands seriousness, not ceremony. He pledged to intensify his engagement in the struggle for democratic renewal, saying age has removed any room for hesitation.
“At this stage of my life, there is no excuse for silence or retreat. I recommit myself to the fight for accountable leadership and democratic governance,” he said.
The event attracted Nigeria’s political heavyweights, including former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Senate President David Mark.
Obasanjo described Tambuwal as a disciplined and humble leader whose strength lies in listening and learning, while Jonathan praised his ability to command trust during his tenure as Speaker. David Mark said Tambuwal’s political journey reflected loyalty, discipline and service to the nation.
Delivering the keynote lecture, former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, warned that Nigeria’s democratic future hangs in the balance unless leaders confront insecurity, economic hardship and institutional decay with courage and sincerity.
Participants at the colloquium agreed that Nigeria’s survival now depends on unity of purpose, moral leadership and a decisive break from politics as usual.
Nigeria on the Brink, Must Be Rescued by United Action — Tambuwal
