…Vows to Preserve Democracy
President Bola Tinubu has honored the legacy of Chief Moshood Abiola, the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, along with other notable heroes of democracy such as General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and Pa Alfred Rewane.
In his Democracy Day broadcast on Wednesday, President Tinubu also recognized the contributions of Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Arthur Nwankwo, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Frank Kokori, Chief Bola Ige, and other eminent Nigerians who sacrificed for the restoration of democracy in the country.
President Tinubu urged Nigerians to be vigilant against elements seeking to undermine the current democratic dispensation. He acknowledged the economic hardships facing the nation and expressed his commitment to supporting the citizens.
“On this day, 31 years ago, we entered our rites of passage to becoming a true and enduring democratic society,” Tinubu said.
“Going through this passage was hard and dangerous. During the fateful six years that followed, we fought and struggled for our natural rights as human beings put on this earth by the divine hand of our Creator. We lost great heroes and heroines along the way.”
He paid tribute to Chief MKO Abiola, the symbol of Nigeria’s democratic struggle, his wife Kudirat Abiola, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Pa Alfred Rewane, and others who sacrificed their lives for democracy.
Tinubu also honored the memories of Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Arthur Nwankwo, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Frank Kokori, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Ganiyu Dawodu, Chief Ayo Fasanmi, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Olabiyi Durojaiye, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, Chima Ubani, and others who have passed on.
The President emphasized that the sacrifices of General Alani Akinrinade, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Chief Ralph Obioha, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, and many others who endured life in exile for at least six years should never be forgotten. He also praised pro-democracy activists like Olisa Agbakoba, Femi Falana, Abdul Oroh, Senator Shehu Sani, Governor Uba Sani, Chief Olu Falae, and other National Democratic Coalition leaders for maintaining pressure on military leaders while some of their comrades were in exile.
Tinubu highlighted the crucial role of the media in opposing military rule, celebrating Nigerian journalists and their media establishments such as The PUNCH, The Guardian, National Concord, Tribune, The News/Tempo, and TELL Magazines, which stood firm for free speech and civil liberties despite military oppression.
“We could not have won the battle against military dictatorship without the irrepressible Nigerian journalists who mounted the barricades along with the pro-democracy activists,” Tinubu stated. “The power of an idea, the power of the people proved more potent than all the guns and munitions, and the threats of the strongmen.”
The President affirmed that Nigeria’s tradition of holding transparent and fair elections underpins its democratic principles.
He noted that true democracy enhances daily life by providing freedom and liberty, allowing people to think freely, live where they choose, and pursue their desired legitimate endeavors.
“Democracy does not assume some false or forced unity of opinion,” Tinubu added. “In fact, democracy assumes that conflicting ideas and differing opinions shall be the order of the day.
Given the diversity and variety of the human experience, there must be diverse perspectives and viewpoints.”
Tinubu, a former prominent member of the National Democratic Coalition, insisted that democracy is the best form of government, regardless of its complexities.
He warned Nigerians to be cautious of those who might exploit current economic challenges to undermine the nation’s democracy.
“As Nigerians, we must remind ourselves that no matter how complicated democracy may be, it is the best form of governance in the long run,” Tinubu said.
“We must also be aware that there are those among us who will try to exploit current challenges to undermine, if not destroy, this democracy for which so much has already been given.”
The President concluded by reaffirming his commitment to preserving and strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, pledging to protect the rights, freedoms, and liberties of all citizens.
“I stand uniquely placed in this regard,” Tinubu noted. “I was among those who took the risk to midwife the birth of our democracy. I am now a direct and obvious beneficiary of the fruits of those historic efforts.
As president of this nation, I am morally and constitutionally bound to preserve this precious form of governance. I vow to do my utmost best to protect your rights, freedoms, and liberties as citizens of Nigeria.
Even more than that, I pledge to do whatever is necessary to cement democracy as our way of life.
Although the challenges are steep and multiple, I am grateful to lead Nigeria at this moment in her history and point in her democratic journey.”
“I say to you here and now that as we celebrate the enshrinement of our political democracy, let us commit ourselves to the fulfilment of its equally important counterpart, the realisation of our economic democracy.”
Regarding the economy, Tinubu acknowledged the economic challenges facing the nation, adding, however, that the prostrate economy required reforms.
He justified the necessity of the various reforms his administration has instituted, saying, “Our economy has been in desperate need of reform for decades. It has been unbalanced because it was built on the flawed foundation of over-reliance on revenues from the exploitation of oil.
“The reforms we have initiated are intended to create a stronger, better foundation for future growth. There is no doubt the reforms have occasioned hardship.
“Yet, they are necessary repairs required to fix the economy over the long run so that everyone has access to economic opportunity, fair pay and compensation for his endeavour and labour.
“As we continue to reform the economy, I shall always listen to the people and will never turn my back on you.”
Tinubu stated that his administration will soon submit an executive bill to the National Assembly to codify the agreements reached in the ongoing minimum wage negotiations between Organized Labour, the private sector, and the state and Federal governments, which have been prolonged for weeks.
According to him, the bill will make the agreed terms part of the nation’s law for the next five years or less.
He noted, “In this spirit, we have negotiated in good faith and with open arms with organized labour on a new national minimum wage. We shall soon send an executive bill to the National Assembly to enshrine what has been agreed upon as part of our law for the next five years or less.
“In the face of labour’s call for a national strike, we did not seek to oppress or crack down on the workers as a dictatorial government would have done. We chose the path of cooperation over conflict.
“No one was arrested or threatened. Instead, the labour leadership was invited to break bread and negotiate toward a good-faith resolution.
“Reasoned discussion and principled compromise are hallmarks of democracy. These themes shall continue to animate my policies and interaction with the constituent parts of our political economy.”
