Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary was marked in Abeokuta South with a social support initiative by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives candidate for the constituency, Chief Toyin Amuzu, who distributed free 4kg cooking gas refills to 1,000 residents.
The intervention, organised as part of activities to commemorate the Independence Anniversary, was aimed at providing relief to households facing rising living costs and increasing pressure on family budgets.
Speaking during the exercise, Amuzu, the Asiwaju Leragun Egba, said the initiative was intended to demonstrate what he described as people-centred leadership and practical support for residents.
He said the significance of independence should extend beyond the commemoration itself to include efforts to improve the living conditions of citizens.
Amuzu also used the occasion to call for an end to what he described as “political slavery,” which he said manifests when citizens are kept in prolonged hardship, hopelessness and dependence.
According to him, government should be focused on serving citizens and addressing their welfare rather than using public resources as instruments of political control.
“We want our people to know that they are not alone. Leadership must be about the people, their welfare and their future. This is why we are putting people first,” he said.
The PDP candidate said citizens should recognise the importance of their votes and use their participation in elections to demand accountability and leadership that responds to their needs.
He also spoke about the PDP’s “Itura Dé” message, describing it as a campaign theme centred on relief, improved governance and policies addressing the challenges faced by ordinary citizens.
Amuzu said the gas distribution was one of the ways he intended to demonstrate that political representation should involve practical engagement with constituents and attention to their everyday challenges.
He further urged residents to regard the Independence Anniversary as an opportunity to reflect on the broader meaning of freedom, including freedom from hunger, hardship and hopelessness.
The Abeokuta South PDP candidate said his political agenda was focused on what he described as restoring hope, improving citizens’ welfare and rebuilding confidence in government.
The distribution of the 4kg cooking gas refills, which benefited 1,000 residents, formed the central part of the anniversary intervention.
