By [Olusegun Ogunkayode], Osogbo, Nigeria — October 1, 2025:
Renowned Pan-African scholar and public intellectual, Prof. P.L.O. Lumumba, delivered a powerful and thought-provoking lecture at Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day commemoration, urging Nigerians to confront the nation’s contradictions and reclaim the true essence of independence.
Speaking on the topic “How Can One Speak the Language of a Wedding in a Funeral,” Lumumba used vivid metaphors and historical insights to question how citizens could celebrate independence amid deep-seated challenges such as corruption, insecurity, poverty, and disunity.
“How can a people dance when their nation weeps? How can one speak the language of joy when the drums of hunger and despair are beating across the land?” Lumumba asked, drawing a standing ovation from the audience.
The Kenyan professor noted that Nigeria, like many African countries, continues to struggle with the “ghosts of colonialism and the demons of bad governance,” warning that independence without discipline and vision amounts to “a flag without a nation.”
He emphasized the need for ethical leadership, youth awakening, and a rebirth of national consciousness, stressing that no foreign power would develop Africa unless Africans themselves chose to rise.
“It is not enough to change the colour of the flag or the faces in government. True independence comes when the mind is liberated, when justice flows, and when the people refuse to glorify mediocrity,” Lumumba said.
The lecture, attended by top government officials, diplomats, students, and civil society leaders, was part of activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Many attendees described Lumumba’s speech as “a wake-up call” and “a mirror to the conscience of the nation.”
As Nigeria continues its search for stability and progress, Lumumba’s challenge; how to speak the language of celebration in the midst of national grief, echoed as both a question and a call to action for leaders and citizens alike.