On June 12, 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed Nigerians on the 25th anniversary of uninterrupted democratic governance.
His Democracy Day speech highlighted the nation’s journey, honored the sacrifices of past heroes, and charted a path forward for Nigeria.
Here are 10 notable quotes from President Tinubu’s Democracy Day address:
- Celebration of Democracy: “My fellow Nigerians, let me begin by congratulating all of us for witnessing the celebration of another Democracy Day today, the 12th day of June 2024. This year also marks our nation’s 25 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.”
- Historical Milestone: “On this day, 31 years ago, we entered our rites of passage to becoming a true and enduring democratic society.”
- Honoring Past Heroes: “We 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.”
- Unforgettable Sacrifices: “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.”
- Media’s Role in Democracy: “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.”
- Power of the People: “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.”
- Democracy as a Way of Life: “Democracy is neither a foreign nor abstract concept devoid of real-life meaning for us. Neither can we afford to reduce or minimalize it to being nothing but the mere holding of periodic elections where one candidate and party outdo another.”
- Commitment to Economic Democracy: “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.”
- Economic Reforms: “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.”
- Future Vision: “The initial rays of a brighter tomorrow now appear on the early horizon. An abundant future and our capacity to achieve that future lie within our reach. Democracy and the institutions it begets offer to take us to our profound destination.”
President Tinubu’s address was a poignant reminder of Nigeria’s past struggles, a celebration of its present achievements, and a hopeful vision for the future. His call to action was clear: to continue building a democratic society that honors the sacrifices of its heroes and strives towards a prosperous future for all Nigerians.
