The Young Progressive Party (YPP) on Sunday said there was hope for positive development of Nigeria in spite of current economic and socio-political challenges.

The National Chairman of the party, Mr Bishop Amakiri, stated this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja as Nigeria marked 57 years of Independence.

Amakiri urged Nigerians not to give up on the country “because they are at the point of spotting light at the end of a dark tunnel”.

He said “we are at the point of spotting the light at the end of our failed political experiment which has thrown all kinds of leaders at us.

“We use this great opportunity to congratulate Nigeria and Nigerians for yet another independence anniversary marking 57 years of freedom from the grip of our colonial masters.

“Though tough was the road to independence, but tougher still has been the road since then.

“While a large portion of our population may not see any sense in celebrating a nation perceived to have failed us, it is however, expedient to state unequivocally that Nigeria has not failed us.

“It is rather we, as citizens, that have failed this great country.

“We failed Nigeria by our blatant refusal to challenge a system that has consistently failed to produce quality leadership, drive sustainable socio-economic development and build institutions.

“If the labour of our heroes past must truly not be in vain, then it is high time we as citizens, especially the youths, shunned the things that divide us.

“It is time to collectively channel our strength through political participation to the things we are forced to have in common such as unemployment, poverty and underdevelopment which do not know tribe, religion or creed.”

Amakiri added that the battle for the soul of the country was in progress.

“We must decide whether to join the revolution by challenging the status quo through political participation or continue to bask in the euphoria of our political nonchalance while a few are left to determine our collective destiny.

“To limit our political involvements to just casting aspersions on our leaders on social media will not change anything.”

He called on Nigerians to join YPP in its drive to change the current narrative of the country.