Fellow
Nigerians, 2. It is exactly three decades today that Nigerians went to the
polls to
exercise their inalienable right to elect a President of their choice
to lead the transition from military dictatorship to a representative
government of the people. 3. The abortion, by military fiat, of the decisive
victory of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola of the defunct Social
Democratic Party (SDP) in the June 12, 1993, presidential election, up to that
time, the fairest and freest election in the country’s political evolution,
turned out, ironically, to be the seed that germinated into the prolonged
struggle that gave birth to the democracy we currently enjoy since 1999. 4. In
rising to strongly oppose the arbitrary annulment of the will of the majority
of Nigerians as expressed in that historic election, the substantial number of
our people who participated in the struggle to de-annul the election signified
their fierce commitment to enthroning democracy as a form of government that
best ennobles the liberty, the dignity of the individual and the integrity as
well as the stability of the polity. The fierce opposition to the annulment of
the June 12, 1993 presidential election and the unrelenting pro-democracy
onslaught it unleashed was the equivalent of the battle against colonial rule
by our founding fathers that resulted in the gaining of Nigeria’s independence
in 1960. 5. Just like the anti-colonial movement, the pro-June 12 vanguard
demonstrated, once again, the enduring validity of the 19th century historian,
Arnold Toynbee’s eternal postulation, that civilization and societies
experience progress as they are forced to respond to challenges posed by the
environment. The unjust annulment of a widely acknowledged free and fair
election was a challenge that elicited resistance by a resurgent civil society,
leading ultimately to the attainment of our ‘second independence’ as
exemplified by the return of democratic governance in 1999. 6. Fellow
compatriots, we celebrate a day that has remained a watershed in our nation’s
history, not just today, but for every June 12, for the endless future that our
beloved country shall exist and wax stronger and stronger, generations of
Nigerians will always remind themselves that the democracy that is steadily
growing to become the defining essence of our polity was not gifted to us on a
silver platter. 7. We can easily recall the sacrifice and martyrdom of Chief
MKO Abiola, the custodian of the sacred mandate that was so cruelly annulled.
He sacrificed his life in unyielding, patriotic defense of the ideals of
democracy as symbolized in his choice, by his fellow countrymen and women, as
their duly-elected President. There was an easier choice for him. It was to
forgo the justice of his cause and opt for the path of ease and capitulation in
the face of the tyranny of power. To his eternal credit and immortal glory,
Abiola said no. He demonstrated the time-tested eternal truth that there are
certain ideals and principles that are far more valuable than life itself. 8.
Everyday, on this day, down the ages we will recall the several other heroes of
democracy such as Kudirat Abiola, wife of Chief Abiola, who was brutally
murdered while in the trenches fighting on the side of the people. We remember
Pa Alfred Rewane, one of the heroes of our independence struggle and Major
General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (rtd) who were silenced by the military junta while
in pursuit of democracy. They gave their yesterday for the liberty that is ours
today. 9. The point is that we must never take this democracy for granted. We
must forever jealously guard and protect it like a precious jewel. For, a
people can never truly appreciate the freedoms and rights democracy guarantees
them until they lose it. 10. We have traversed the dark, thorny path of
dictatorship before and those who experienced it can readily testify to the
unbridgeable gap between the dignity of freedom and the humiliation and
degradation of tyranny. True, rancorous debates, interminable wrangling,
ceaseless quarrels, bitter electoral contestations may be perceived by some as
unattractive features of democracy. But they also testify to its merit and
value. 11. This year, we held the seventh in the cycle of elections that have
become sacred rituals of our democratic practice in this dispensation since
1999. 12. That the polls were intensely contested is in itself positive
evidence that democracy is well and alive in our land. It is only natural that
even as those who won and experienced victory in the various elections are
elated and fulfilled, those who lost are disenchanted and disappointed. But the
beauty of democracy is that those who win today can lose tomorrow and those who
lose today will have an opportunity to compete and win in the next round of
elections. 13. Those who cannot endure and accept the pain of defeat in
elections do not deserve the joy of victory when it is their turn to triumph.
Above all, those who disagree with the outcome of the elections are taking full
advantage of the constitutional provisions to seek redress in court and that is
one of the reasons why democracy is still the best form of government invented
by man. 14. For Chief MKO Abiola, the symbol of this day, in whose memory June
12 became a national holiday, democracy is eternal. 15. It is about rule of law
and vibrant judiciary that can be trusted to deliver justice and strengthen
institutions. It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary
illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be
tolerated. 16. The recent harmonization of the retirement age for judicial
officers is meant to strengthen the rule of law, which is a critical pillar of
democracy. The reform has just started. 17. The democracy that will yield the
right dividends to the people who are the shareholders means more than just
freedom of choice and the right to get people into elective offices. It means
social and economic justice for our people. To the winner of June 12, democracy
offers the best chance to fight and eliminate poverty. Thirty years ago, he
christened his campaign manifesto, ‘Farewell to Poverty’ because he was
convinced that there is nothing divine about poverty. It is a man-made problem
that can be eliminated with clearly thought out social and economic policies.
18. It is for this reason that, in my inauguration address on May 29, I gave
effect to the decision taken by my predecessor-in-office to remove the fuel
subsidy albatross and free up for collective use the much-needed resources,
which had hitherto been pocketed by a few rich. I admit that the decision will
impose an extra burden on the masses of our people. I feel your pain. This is
one decision we must bear to save our country from going under and take our
resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements. 19.
Painfully, I have asked you, my compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the
survival of our country. For your trust and belief in us, I assure you that
your sacrifice shall not be in vain. The government I lead will repay you
through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular
power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve the
quality of lives. 20. The democracy MKO Abiola died for is one that promotes
the welfare of the people over personal interests of the ruling class and one
where the governed can find personal fulfillment and happiness. That is the
hope MKO Abiola ignited throughout our country in 1993. 21. On this year’s Democracy
Day, I enjoin us all to rededicate ourselves to strengthening this form of
government of free peoples that has been our guiding light these past 24 years.
In particular, those of us who have been privileged to be elected into public
offices at various levels in both the executive and legislative arms of
government must recommit ourselves to offering selfless service to the people,
and delivering concrete democracy dividends in accordance with our electoral
promises. 22. On my part and that of my administration, I pledge anew our
commitment to diligently fulfilling every component of our electoral pact with
the people – the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda. 23. We shall be faithful to truth.
Faithful to equity. And faithful to justice. We shall exercise our authority
and mandate to govern with fairness, respect for the rule of law, and
commitment to always uphold the dignity of all our people. 24. On this note, I
wish us all a happy Democracy Day celebration and pray that the light of
liberty shall never be extinguished in our land. 25. Thank you all and may God
continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. TEXT OF DEMOCRACY DAY
NATIONAL BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU ON JUNE 12, 2023. Fellow
Nigerians, 2. It is exactly three decades today that Nigerians went to the
polls to exercise their inalienable right to elect a President of their choice
to lead the transition from military dictatorship to a representative
government of the people. 3. The abortion, by military fiat, of the decisive
victory of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola of the defunct Social
Democratic Party (SDP) in the June 12, 1993, presidential election, up to that
time, the fairest and freest election in the country’s political evolution,
turned out, ironically, to be the seed that germinated into the prolonged
struggle that gave birth to the democracy we currently enjoy since 1999. 4. In
rising to strongly oppose the arbitrary annulment of the will of the majority
of Nigerians as expressed in that historic election, the substantial number of
our people who participated in the struggle to de-annul the election signified
their fierce commitment to enthroning democracy as a form of government that
best ennobles the liberty, the dignity of the individual and the integrity as
well as the stability of the polity. The fierce opposition to the annulment of
the June 12, 1993 presidential election and the unrelenting pro-democracy
onslaught it unleashed was the equivalent of the battle against colonial rule
by our founding fathers that resulted in the gaining of Nigeria’s independence
in 1960. 5. Just like the anti-colonial movement, the pro-June 12 vanguard
demonstrated, once again, the enduring validity of the 19th century historian,
Arnold Toynbee’s eternal postulation, that civilization and societies
experience progress as they are forced to respond to challenges posed by the
environment. The unjust annulment of a widely acknowledged free and fair
election was a challenge that elicited resistance by a resurgent civil society,
leading ultimately to the attainment of our ‘second independence’ as
exemplified by the return of democratic governance in 1999. 6. Fellow
compatriots, we celebrate a day that has remained a watershed in our nation’s
history, not just today, but for every June 12, for the endless future that our
beloved country shall exist and wax stronger and stronger, generations of
Nigerians will always remind themselves that the democracy that is steadily
growing to become the defining essence of our polity was not gifted to us on a
silver platter. 7. We can easily recall the sacrifice and martyrdom of Chief
MKO Abiola, the custodian of the sacred mandate that was so cruelly annulled.
He sacrificed his life in unyielding, patriotic defense of the ideals of
democracy as symbolized in his choice, by his fellow countrymen and women, as
their duly-elected President. There was an easier choice for him. It was to
forgo the justice of his cause and opt for the path of ease and capitulation in
the face of the tyranny of power. To his eternal credit and immortal glory,
Abiola said no. He demonstrated the time-tested eternal truth that there are
certain ideals and principles that are far more valuable than life itself. 8.
Everyday, on this day, down the ages we will recall the several other heroes of
democracy such as Kudirat Abiola, wife of Chief Abiola, who was brutally
murdered while in the trenches fighting on the side of the people. We remember
Pa Alfred Rewane, one of the heroes of our independence struggle and Major
General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (rtd) who were silenced by the military junta while
in pursuit of democracy. They gave their yesterday for the liberty that is ours
today. 9. The point is that we must never take this democracy for granted. We
must forever jealously guard and protect it like a precious jewel. For, a
people can never truly appreciate the freedoms and rights democracy guarantees
them until they lose it. 10. We have traversed the dark, thorny path of
dictatorship before and those who experienced it can readily testify to the
unbridgeable gap between the dignity of freedom and the humiliation and
degradation of tyranny. True, rancorous debates, interminable wrangling,
ceaseless quarrels, bitter electoral contestations may be perceived by some as
unattractive features of democracy. But they also testify to its merit and
value. 11. This year, we held the seventh in the cycle of elections that have
become sacred rituals of our democratic practice in this dispensation since
1999. 12. That the polls were intensely contested is in itself positive
evidence that democracy is well and alive in our land. It is only natural that
even as those who won and experienced victory in the various elections are
elated and fulfilled, those who lost are disenchanted and disappointed. But the
beauty of democracy is that those who win today can lose tomorrow and those who
lose today will have an opportunity to compete and win in the next round of
elections. 13. Those who cannot endure and accept the pain of defeat in
elections do not deserve the joy of victory when it is their turn to triumph.
Above all, those who disagree with the outcome of the elections are taking full
advantage of the constitutional provisions to seek redress in court and that is
one of the reasons why democracy is still the best form of government invented
by man. 14. For Chief MKO Abiola, the symbol of this day, in whose memory June
12 became a national holiday, democracy is eternal. 15. It is about rule of law
and vibrant judiciary that can be trusted to deliver justice and strengthen
institutions. It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary
illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be
tolerated. 16. The recent harmonization of the retirement age for judicial
officers is meant to strengthen the rule of law, which is a critical pillar of
democracy. The reform has just started. 17. The democracy that will yield right
dividends to the people who are the shareholders means more than just freedom
of choice and right to get people into elective offices. It means social and
economic justice for our people. To the winner of June 12, democracy offers the
best chance to fight and eliminate poverty. Thirty years ago, he christened his
campaign manifesto, ‘Farewell to Poverty’ because he was convinced that there
is nothing divine about poverty. It is a man-made problem that can be
eliminated with clearly thought out social and economic policies. 18. It is for
this reason that, in my inauguration address on May 29, I gave effect to the
decision taken by my predecessor-in-office to remove the fuel subsidy albatross
and free up for collective use the much-needed resources, which had hitherto
been pocketed by a few rich. I admit that the decision will impose extra burden
on the masses of our people. I feel your pain. This is one decision we must
bear to save our country from going under and take our resources away from the
stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements. 19. Painfully, I have asked you, my
compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country. For
your trust and belief in us, I assure you that your sacrifice shall not be in
vain. The government I lead will repay you through massive investment in
transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare and
other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives. 20. The
democracy MKO Abiola died for is one that promotes the welfare of the people
over personal interests of the ruling class and one where the governed can find
personal fulfillment and happiness. That is the hope MKO Abiola ignited
throughout our country in 1993. 21. On this year’s Democracy Day, I enjoin us
all to rededicate ourselves to strengthening this form of government of free
peoples that has been our guiding light these past 24 years. In particular,
those of us who have been privileged to be elected into public offices at
various levels in both the executive and legislative arms of government must
recommit ourselves to offering selfless service to the people, and delivering
concrete democracy dividends in accordance with our electoral promises. 22. On
my part and that of my administration, I pledge anew our commitment to
diligently fulfilling every component of our electoral pact with the people –
the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda. 23. We shall be faithful to truth. Faithful to
equity. And faithful to justice. We shall exercise our authority and mandate to
govern with fairness, respect for the rule of law, and commitment to always
uphold the dignity of all our people. 24. On this note, I wish us all a happy
Democracy Day celebration and pray that the light of liberty shall never be
extinguished in our land. 25. Thank you all and may God continue to bless the
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
