Nigerian President Bola Tinubu says that the special day for democracy being celebrated in the country on Wednesday, June 12, marks 25 years of uninterrupted democratic rule in Africa’s most populous nation.
In a national broadcast to mark the Democracy Day, President Tinubu assured Nigerians that his reforms, which have created hardship for the masses, would bring about the needed change the country has longed for decades ago.
“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.
“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,” he said.
President Tinubu stated that as a beneficiary of the historic efforts of the heroes of democracy, he is morally bound to preserve the present form of government.
“I stand uniquely placed in this regard. 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,” he said.
The Nigerian leader expressed gratitude to Nigerians, especially “the lost great heroes and heroines along the way”.
“In this struggle, the winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, the most significant symbol of our democratic struggle, his wife, Kudirat, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and Pa Alfred Rewane, among others sacrificed their very lives.
“They bravely surrendered their futures, so that our nation might have a better one,” he said
According to Tinubu, the sacrifices they made and the precious gift brought about by their selfless devotion can never be repaid. Neither shall it be forgotten.
“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. We celebrate them today, along with their media establishments such as The Punch, Guardian, National Concord, Tribune, The News/Tempo, and TELL Magazines.
“Military authorities proscribed these media establishments and jailed their journalists for standing for free speech and civil liberties,” he added.
He urged Nigerians to beware of those trying to exploit the current challenges in the country to undermine and destroy the democracy for which so much had already been given.
GIK/APA