Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, National
Leader of the All Progressives Congress, has commended Nigeria’s democratic
evolution, saying as important as it is, May 29 does not carry the weight of significance
that June 12 carries in the country’s democratic sojourn.
He said that what the country had
been commemorating on May 29th of every year since the democratic restoration
of 1999 has been the day of the handover of power from the military regime to
the elected civilian administration.
Tinubu pointed this out in a
statement, stating that, “May 29 does not carry the weight
of significance that June 12 does in Nigeria’s democratic evolution. May 29th
is at best an arbitrary date on which the military chose to hand over the reins
of power to an elected civilian government in 1999.”
In the statement titled “June 12:
The Truth that Sets Democracy Free in Our Land,” the APC leader said observing
May 29 as Democracy Day delinks the country’s democratic experience since 1999
from the protracted and bitter struggle against military dictatorship from June
12, 1993, till the exit of the military in 1999.
“Without those who stoutly stood
on June 12 and sacrificed life, limb, freedom, economic ruin, psychological
devastation and more in the battle against tyranny, there would most certainly
not have been any May 29, 1999, handover to commemorate.
“Nigerians do not take the
democracy we enjoy today for granted or do anything to threaten its existence
because it was not won on a peaceful and comfortable “platter of gold.
“The power of truth to set men
free from the limiting chains of falsehood and limiting superstitions is one of
the most poignant spiritual verities that has proven to be valid across time
and space over the last two millennia.
“In the realm of politics, the
most fundamental truth that man has discovered is that power can be the
handmaiden of progress and accelerated development only if it flows from the
will of the electorate as determined in regular, free, fair and credible
elections.
“This is why, in spite of its
many flaws and failings, man is yet to invent a form of government superior to
democracy – the famed government of the people, by the people and for the
people.
“It is thus understandable and
indeed justified that Nigerians are elated that the country has recorded 20
years of unbroken democratic rule since 1999.
“Today, we commemorate the
country’s emergent democracy in a way that is certainly more spiritually
fulfilling and psychologically satisfying than has ever been the case since
1999.
“For, thanks to the administration
of President Muhammadu Buhari and the assent of the National Assembly, we are
for the first time today celebrating our democracy as a nation on a historic
day, June 12, which coincides with the day that the seed of today’s democratic
sprouting was sown 26 years ago.
“What we had been commemorating
on May 29th of every year since the democratic restoration of 1999 has been the
day of the handover of power from the military regime to the elected civilian
administration.
“Observing May 29 as democracy
day delinks the country’s democratic experience since 1999 from the protracted
and bitter struggle against military dictatorship from June 12, 1993, till the
forced exit of the military in 1999.
“Without those who stoutly stood
on June 12 and sacrificed life, limb, freedom, economic ruin, psychological
devastation and more in the battle against tyranny, there would most certainly
not have been any May 29, 1999, handover to commemorate.
“The democracy we enjoy today was
not won on a peaceful and comfortable “platter of gold”.
‘’It was not gifted to Nigerians
by a benevolent military regime. It is the product of the sweat, tears, blood,
pain, toil and anguish of millions of Nigerians. That is why we can never
afford to take it for granted or do anything to threaten its existence.
“June 12 must serve as a
continual reminder to Nigerians on the imperative of pursuing the cause of
justice in all spheres of our lives at all times as a necessary condition for
peace, prosperity and progress.
‘’As we kick off from today the
annual celebration of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, let us renew our
commitment to utilizing democracy as a vehicle for eliminating poverty in our
land as well as providing prosperity and life more abundant for the teeming
millions of our people.
“It was indeed his deep aversion
to poverty and the avoidable suffering of the majority of our people that
compelled Chief MKO Abiola to contest Nigeria’s presidency and thus his
campaign slogan was “Farewell to Poverty”. The problem of poverty remains
primal and fundamental in our land today.
‘’Indeed, at the root of the
severe existential challenges, which confront the country today such as
religious extremism, terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cultism, ritual killing,
armed, robbery, communal violence and herdsmen/farmers clashes among other is
the protracted economic crisis that has worsened poverty, unemployment and
inequality in Nigeria over the last four decades.
“It is indeed incumbent on us
all, particularly those in positions of authority at all levels, to vigorously
support President Muhammadu Buhari administration as it invests massively and
on an unprecedented scale in the renewal and expansion of infrastructure as
well as its various social intervention programmes aimed at uplifting the vast
majority of our people out of dehumanizing poverty, political instability and
insecurity.
“We must take concerted efforts
to banish poverty from Nigeria. To rid Nigeria of poverty is indeed a task that
must be done. As the historic restoration of June 12 to its proper place by the
Buhari administration sets democracy free to soar in our land, let us
rededicate ourselves to the challenge of utilizing democracy to set Nigeria
free from poverty.
“God bless our fatherland.”
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