President Muhammadu Buhari says the importance of June 12 in the nation cannot be overemphasized as it connotes freedom and unity of the country.
The President made this known in a nationwide broadcast on Sunday to mark Democracy Day.
Buhari recalled that from 1999, the democracy day was” consistently celebrated to mark the end of military rule and return power and control into the hands of those freely elected by the people”
According to him, the need to remind Nigerians of a free election in 1993, after which the presumed winner along with Nigerians were denied their rights and their choice informed his administration in 2018 to move Democracy Day to June 12.
” On June 12th 1993, we saw the best in our citizens as we all went out to vote peacefully. By June 24th 1993, we also saw the worst of our leadership as the elections were annulled.
” We must never forget the sacrifices of the heroes of Nigeria’s democracy during 1993. Their patriotism and peaceful struggle should guide our actions especially when it comes to electing our leaders and holding them accountable, now and in future.”
Buhari who stated that this year’s democracy Day speech was his last in office stressed the importance of a peaceful transition to remember June 12th 1993 and immortalize presumed winner Chief MKO Abiola adding “June 12th 2023 will be exactly 30 years from the 1993 Presidential elections”.
The president expressed optimism in the electioneering process so far as he remarked” Iam hopeful that we can achieve this. The signs so far are positive. Recently,all registered political parties conducted their primaries to select their candidates for the 2022 general elections.
“These primaries were peaceful and orderly. Those who won were magnanimous in victories. Those who lost were gracious in defeat.And those aggrieved opted to seek judicial justice as opposed to jungle justice.
He commeded the participation of women and youths in the political process saying” it augurs well for the future” and clearly shows the level of maturity our democracy has reached.
The President however called on all candidates to be exemplary and maintain issue based campaign towards the 2023 election as he noted that” the world is watching and Africa looks up to Nigeria to provide example in governance. The tone you set at the top will surely be replicated in your followers.
For the electorates,he assured that government at all tiers had made “significant investments to reform and enhance the electoral laws, systems and processes to safeguard their viotes.”
Buhari spoke on the issue of insecurity in the nation and said that it his administration is not relenting to ensure a crime free nation but advised Nigerians to be alert and report suspicious movements to law enforcement agencies.
