The June 12 democracy day speech delivered by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has generated diverse reactions from Nigerians. While many are carefree about it others are hopeful that things will get better.
Meanwhile, some have channelled their reactions towards the harsh economy and the uncertainty that surrounds the minimum wage, others maintain that there is still hope for Nigeria.
The President on Wednesday while delivering the democracy day speech addressed diverse issues bedeviling the country.
Here are 6 striking things to note from the president’s speech.
1. The Heroes of Democracy
From his speech, the President recalled how Nigeria lost great heroes and heroines along the way, while honouring the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, late Chief MKO Abiola as the most significant symbol of our democratic struggle. He also honoured his wife, Kudirat, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and Pa Alfred Rewane, among others who sacrificed their very lives.
The President also paid tribute to all the heroes of democracy who resisted the military regime in their pursuit of a democratic government.
2. The Sacrifice For Democracy
Tinubu reminded Nigerians of the great sacrifice paid by some of our fallen heroes and those that are still alive in the fight for democracy noting the democracy that Nigeria has enjoyed since 1999 was hard earned and not freely given. He praised the sacrifices of General Alani Akinrinade, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Professor Wole Soyinka, Chief Ralph Obioha, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, among many others, should never be forgotten. For at least six years, they bore the pains and difficulties of life in exile.
3. Democracy as a way of life:
President Tinubu emphasized that democracy is more than just holding elections; it is a way of life that includes freedom of speech, liberty, and peaceful transitions of power.
He stated that democracy does not assume some false or forced unity of opinion but it affords us the liberty to think as we want, live where we want, and pursue whatever legitimate endeavor that suits us. He noted that the nation exited the yoke of military rule in 1999 to become the most populous democracy on African soil, the beacon of democratic self-determination for the black race and one of the largest democracies in the world.
4. The Pro-democracy Activists
Tinubu through his speech acknowledged the contributions of pro-democracy activists, journalists, and media establishments in fighting against military dictatorship.
He said Nigeria could not have won the battle against military dictatorship without the irrepressible Nigerian journalists who mounted the barricades along with the pro-democracy activists.
5. Commitment to Democracy
Tinubu vowed to protect the rights, freedoms, and liberties of Nigerian citizens and pledges to cement democracy as the nation’s way of life.
He noted that Democracy is neither a foreign nor abstract concept devoid of real-life meaning for us. Neither can they afford to reduce or minimize it to being nothing but the mere holding of periodic elections where one candidate and party outdo another.
6. The minimum wage
Tinubu spoke about the negotiations with organized labour on a new national minimum wage, emphasizing the importance of cooperation over conflict in resolving disputes.
He noted that no one was arrested or threatened. Instead, the labour leadership was invited to break bread and negotiate toward a good-faith resolution.
In all the president used the occasion to urge Nigerians to embrace the challenges of the future and to continue moving forward together toward progress and prosperity.
