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Tag: June 12

  • Fuel subsidy removal: I understand the hardship it brought, pls sacrifice a little more – Tinubu

    Fuel subsidy removal: I understand the hardship it brought, pls sacrifice a little more – Tinubu

    President Bola Tinubu has begged Nigerians to sacrifice a little more, saying that  he understands the hardship the subsidy removal has imposed on them.

    According to Tinubu, there is need for the general public to make little sacrifice for the betterment of the entire nation.

    The President made this known during his maiden Democracy day address to Nigerians on Monday, June 12.

    The president added that the temporal discomfort occasioned by the subsidy removal was necessary to save the country from going under.

    He said, “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.

    “I admit that the decision will impose an extra burden on the masses of our people. Painfully, I have asked you, my compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country”.

  • June 12: What Peter Obi said on Nigeria’s democracy

    June 12: What Peter Obi said on Nigeria’s democracy

    The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25 polls, Peter Obi has joined Nigerians to celebrate Democracy Day 2023.

    Nigeria celebrates Democracy Day on June 12 in commemoration of the annulled presidential election won by Chief MKO Abiola.

    In a Democracy Day message to Nigerians on Sunday, Peter Obi stated that the nation’s democracy is deeply troubled while Nigeria’s destiny remains uncertain and precarious.

    According to the former Anambra State governor, Nigerians should use the commemoration of June 12 as an occasion to return to the true virtues of a truly democratic nation.

    Read the full statement below:

    Today is June 12, June 12 marked in our dear country as Democracy Day . It is a historic day that deserves to be celebrated.

    On that day in 1993, we the people of Nigeria stated our unreserved preference for true democracy. Though under military rule, we freely chose a transparent voting method. Our votes reflected our true choice as a people. Our choice on that day defied divisions of ethnicity, religion and region.

    It is these qualities that added up to make June 12 special in our search for true democracy.

    Our collective choice of late Chief M. K.O AbIola as a worthy leader for nation was saluted by Nigerians and governments and peoples across the world.

    Therefore, June 12 underpins our long collective journey to nationhood as a true democracy.

    However, the current state of our politics tells a different story . Our democracy is deeply troubled while our nation’s destiny remains uncertain and precarious .

    We remain a nation in search of solutions to too many basic problems. One of these is the search for a credible electoral system that would command the trust, confidence and belief of ALL Nigerians just like June 12 did.

    We should, therefore, use the commemoration of June 12 as an occasion to return to the true virtues of a truly democratic nation. We achieved that feat on June 12, 1993.

    In the spirit of June 12, therefore, we need to emplace an electoral system that commands the trust of the people. This is in recognition of the tenets and core values of democracy, which rests on respect for the wishes of the people as expressed in their ballots.

    Above all, government must respect and protect the institutions of the democratic state by respecting the social contract with the people by meeting their needs, obeying their wishes and fulfilling the responsibilities of responsible governance as contained in the constitution. A cardinal responsibility of government in this regard is respect for the rule off law.

    Regrettably, we are now in an era where these foundational pillars of democracy are undermind by prevalent impunity and pervasive violence and bloodletting.

    The trust deficit between the leaders and Nigerians continues to expand. The deficits of trust and efficiency in our last elections demonstrate this malady quite boldly.

    The challenge of June 12 and a dedicated Democracy Day is to inspire us to correct the errors of our recent elections. This is the surest way to restore the confidence of our people in the future of our nation and the promise of true democracy.

    I however urge us all not to lose faith in the inbuilt design of our democratic system to self-correct.

    Personally, I remain committed and convinced that a New Nigeria is POssible. Our aspiration for a nation of equity, justice, security and peace can hardly be utopia. We are a nation blessed richly with human and natural resources. What we lack, are selfless leaders who are committed to national interest, sustainable development and innovative thinking that offers every Nigerian irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social strata, the freedom of choice of abode, and protection lives, property and ordered liberties. These aspirations are real and achievable; and I hereby reiterate my promise to Nigerians that we will not relent in our fight to bring about a leadership that will accord them the priority they deserve.

    Let me, therefore, on behalf of Labour Party and the Obidient Movement across the globe wish all Nigerians a happy democracy day.

  • June 12: FG reels out activities for Democracy Day 2023

    June 12: FG reels out activities for Democracy Day 2023

    The federal government has reeled out activities to mark Democracy Day 2023, which the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume has said would be celebrated in low key with just two major events.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Senator Akume revealed the activities on Friday in Abuja at a World Press Conference on the programme of activities to mark the 2023 Democracy Day Celebration.

    Akume said the significance of the celebration as reviewed from May 29 to June 12 was to honour the heroes who championed the struggle and made sacrifices for the success of democracy in Nigeria.

    He assured Nigerians of the federal government’s commitment to ensure a brighter future of the country in spite of several challenges the citizens are going through.

    “The former president, Muhammadu Buhari decided in his wisdom as a patriotic Nigerian to right the wrong that has visited on this country with disastrous consequences by the military administration at that time.

    “Some Nigerians paid the supreme sacrifice and may be continued to be remembered by all of us for planting the seed of democracy that has germinated that today, we are celebrating 22 years of uninterrupted democracy.

    “May 29 remains the date for anniversary of handing over of power according to the constitution, but June 12 remains the date that gives us the opportunity to reflect on important and relevant of democracy. ”

    The SGF asked Nigerians both at home and in diaspora to assess where the nation has done well in its democratic dividends and suggest other ways for improvement.

    He expressed optimism that Nigeria would be better than its current position.

    “It is in the light of this that the theme of this year’s democratic celebration is ‘Hope Reassured’.

    “And, all of you know that societies are great, nations are great because the citizens have hope that tomorrow will be better than today.”

    He explained that the 2023 Democracy Day Celebration would be celebrated in low key with two major events of the World Press Conference and the presidential broadcast by President Bola Tinubu on Monday by 7 a. m.

  • June 12: Wole Soyinka, Femi Falana, other activists lay wreath on Abiola’s grave

    Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, Femi Falana and several others on Sunday, gathered to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the death of Chief Moshood Abiola.

    They gathered at his residence in Ikeja, Lagos for a wreath-laying ceremony even as they expressed concerns about the state of the nation.

    The late Chief Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, died on July 7, 1998, after spending years in detention in the fight for his mandate and for Nigeria’s return to democracy.

    Soyinka, as well as some others present at the ceremony, while paying tribute to Abiola lamented that Nigeria has not achieved his vision and Nigerians were still battling poverty and injustice among other things.

    The Nobel Laureate, who has repeatedly called for decisive action to combat insecurity in the country, drew attention to the rate of poverty in the country.

    “I am afraid. Just looking at the level of poverty scares me. I am afraid for this nation,” he said.

    “For the first time, in a very deep, visceral way, I really am afraid for this country.”

    Mr Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, recalled Abiola’s vision of the nation and called for unity.

    He said, “Abiola stood for justice for all. Abiola’s mandate was a reflection of the popular will of the people. That mandate, that election defied ethnicity, religion or any other primordial consideration.

    “Therefore, if we want to recognise June 12, if we want to celebrate Abiola, we must celebrate the unity of our people and not the disunity of our country”.

  • Democracy Day: Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun releases 40 inmates

    As part of activities to mark the June 12 Democracy day, Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun has approved the reversal of prisoners on death row to life imprisonment and also released 40 inmates who have exhibited good attitude while in prison.

     

    Abiodun made the pronouncement on Sunday while speaking at the June 12 commemorative anniversary and Nigeria’s Democracy Day, held at the M.K.O International Stadium, Abeokuta, Ogun state capital.

    He explained that the committal to life imprisonment and release of the convicted inmates is in accordance with the provisions of Sections 212 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended) and Sections 4 and 5 of the Ogun State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy (Establishment Law), Laws of Ogun State 2006.

    However, Abiodun urged Nigerians to take a cue from the 1993 general elections adjudged free and fair to make the forthcoming elections a thing of pride.

    He thereafter advocated stringent punishment for violators of due process in elections, declaring that
    people’s ballots  must count and be respected at the polls.

    The governor noted that the struggles of June 12 as orchestrated by late MKO Abiola gave birth to the seamless democracy Nigeria has enjoyed in the last 29 years, emphasising that “only by upholding the tenets of democracy and ensuring its sustainability that we can truly honour the memory of those ideals that Chief MKO Abiola and others stood and died for”.

    The governor appealed to the people of Ogun and Nigerians entirely to freely exercise their franchise, adding that for the 2023 general elections to be a huge success, every eligible Nigerian must register to vote and actually take part in voting on the day of election.

     

    “While it is heart-warming to note that in the last 29 years, we have enjoyed seamless civilian-to-civilian transition, it is only by upholding the tenets of democracy and ensuring its sustainability that we can truly honour the memory of those ideals that Chief MKO Abiola and others stood and died for. People’s ballots must count and be respected, while violators of due process in elections ought to be dealt the full wrath of the law.

    “If the ideals matter to us, religion and ethnicity too should not become campaign issues or determinants of who gets what, when, how in our body-politic or become primary considerations in our leadership recruitment and governance processes. I can envision how these Nigerians who gave their all would be cringing in their graves seeing us celebrating divisive vices and our do-or-die politicking”, the governor stated.

    He urged political leaders and followers to keep hope and fairplay alive in democracy, tasking them to fashion a way to ensure that will make democracy in Nigeria a means to an end, not an end in itself.

    Abiodun further charged Nigerians to internalise democratic values and tenets of the late MKO Abiola and other heroes and heroines on democratic principles and practices.

    “Our schools should teach them and we should hold them in our hearts and not our mouths. We labour in vain if we claim to have laid the ghost of June 12 to rest as long as Nigeria still experiences banditry, insurgency and ethnic champions still hold sway. Rather than all these, we should restore our country back to true federalism and ensure that powers are properly devolved”, he added.

    The governor, however, assured that his administration would continue to deliver on its electoral promises and fulfill the dreams of Ogun founding fathers.

    “As our administration is in the final year of our first term in office, we will not drop the baton. We will continue to deliver on our mandate. In fact, the people of Ogun State should expect a faster pace in the actualization of our electoral promises. We are determined that Ogun State shall fulfill the dreams of our founding fathers.

    “As we reflect on the unquantifiable, selfless sacrifice and contributions of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and other democratic legends towards the development of our fatherland, I enjoin us all to rededicate ourselves to the service and unity of our great nation. Beyond this celebration, I enjoin you all to shun all acts that could be an albatross against the democratic success we have made and continued to sustain in our dear State in the last 36 months. This is the only way we can make progress and achieve our collective dream”. Abiodun submitted.

     

  • June 12: Sani berates president Buhari over democracy day speech

    Former lawmaker and  sociopolitical activist, Shehu Sani who represented Kano Central district  has criticized president Buhari over his 2022 democracy day speech.

    Sani posited that Buhari’s speech has been the same, full of “promises with delivering”.

    According to Sani, the President’s speech is coated with empty promises just as those of previous years

    One of the key points of Buhari’s speech was when the President said he lived daily in grief and worry over victims of terrorists attacks in Nigeria and this was not the first time he has expressed grief over the security situation of the country with little or nothing done to bring it under control.

    Buhari concluded his speech, being his very last as President, by further assuring of his commitment to protect Nigeria and Nigerians from all enemies from within and outside.

    He also promised Nigerians a free, fair and transparent electoral process come 2023.

    And in reacting, the former lawmaker, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District at the Senate, tweeted, “The President’s democracy day speech is not different from all his previous speeches, other than this one is the last; full of assurances and promises and empty in delivery.

    Anyway,this time he was shy to blame ‘16 years of misrule’.”

  • The ultimate goal of democracy is to improve lives of the people – Sanwo-Olu

    Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has stated that the ultimate goal of democracy is to improve the lives of the people.

    Sanwo-Olu said this in his Democracy Day message on Sunday.

    He said that since 1999, successive governments in Lagos state had worked hard to meet the yearnings of the people, who had consistently given them their mandate.

    ”The ultimate goal of a democracy is to improve the lives of the people. As your elected government, we do not take this responsibility lightly at all.

    ”We are grateful to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for kickstarting this journey and laying the foundation for a truly modern and prosperous Lagos state.

    ”In education, healthcare, housing, transport, environment, technology, security, and many other areas, Lagos has continued to live up to its ”pacesetter” status,” he said.

    The governor said that as the present administration begun the final year of its first term in office, the focus would be on completing the many laudable programmes and projects it started.

    According to him, even as this period will overlap with campaign season, the people of Lagos state can rest assured that government will never allow politicking to get in the way of governance.

    He said that the work for a “Greater Lagos” would continue, even as the administration sought for the mandate for a new term in office.

    Sanwo-Olu thanked his cabinet members, the Lagos State Civil Service; Traditional Rulers, and the leadership of the Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), for their immense dedication to the vision of a Greater Lagos.

    ”On this auspicious occasion of Democracy Day 2022, we celebrate all your efforts and commitment to the development of Lagos state, and to the strengthening of our democratic ideals.

    ”Let me also thank the leadership and members of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), for providing a platform for the manifestation of truly progressive ideas and solutions.

    ”To all Lagosians, our entrepreneurs, students, workers, homemakers, transport and market unions, religious and civic leaders, members of the civil society, and everyone else, thank you for your support,” he said.

    He urged redidents of the state to allow Democracy Day be a reminder of the importance of joining hands to build a solid future.

    “Twenty-nine years ago on this day, Nigerians trooped enthusiastically to the polls, defying stereotypes of ethnicity and religion to prove to ourselves and the world that a new Nigeria is possible.

    ”Regrettably, the powers-that-be at the time truncated that dream. But it was merely a delay, not a denial.

    ”We have since been blessed with a new opportunity to build on the hope and the potential of June 12, 1993. That responsibility is now in our hands, and posterity will not forgive us if we squander it,” he said.

  • Gov. Mohammed says democracy is the best system of government

    Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state has stated that Democracy is the best system of government.

    This was contained in a goodwill message to mark the 2022 Democracy Day, in Bauchi on Sunday.

    Speaking on Democracy, gov. Bala said it gives the people the right to choose who to govern them and how they want to be governed.

    He added that it is this democratic right of choice that makes governments accountable to the people and make them liable to be voted out for incompetence.

    “It is my pleasure to address you today on the occasion of the 2022 Democracy Day to mark the 23rd anniversary of the return of our great country, Nigeria to democratic rule.

    “As you all know, Democracy Day used to be observed annually on May 29. The Federal Government changed the date to June 12 in 2018, however, in honour of late Chief MKO Abiola.

    “Abiola was the acclaimed winner of the presidential election of June 12, 1993, an election annulled by the then military government.

    “That we are today celebrating the 23rd Democracy Day is a testimony to the fact that democratic governance has not only been firmly rooted but has also come to stay in Nigeria,’’ he said.

    Gov. Mohammed, who highlighted some of the achievements of his administration since inception, reiterated its commitment to the provision of more dividends of democracy for people of the state.

    He called on the people of Bauchi State to continue to support and cooperate with his government to enable it to deliver more dividends of democracy.

  • Buhari to Candidates: Treat your opponents with dignity

    Buhari to Candidates: Treat your opponents with dignity

    President Muhammadu Buhari has urged political parties candidates to continue running issue-focused campaigns and to treat opponents with dignity, saying politics should never be seen as ”do-or-die” affair.

    The president made the appeal in his 2022 Democracy Day broadcast to the nation on Sunday in Abuja.

    The Nigerian leader commended the leaderships of the nation’s political parties for the smooth conduct of their parties’ primary elections.

    ”I will therefore take this opportunity on this very special day to ask all candidates to continue running issue-focused campaigns and to treat opponents with dignity.

    ”As leaders, you must all showcase high character and never forget that the world is watching us 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,” he said.

    The president particularly noted with delight the significant increase in women and youth participation in the primaries, saying this trend should be sustained and improved upon in forthcoming electoral exercises, inluding the 2023 general elections.

    ”Another positive that came from the 2022 party primaries was the significant increase in women and youth, particularly across all parties. I was very pleased to see this development.

    ”This augurs well for the future. These trends clearly show the level of maturity our democracy has achieved in the last 23 years.

    ”As we move into the general election campaign season, we must sustain this mature attitude to campaigning and ultimately, voting. We must never see it as a ‘do-or-die’ affair.

    ”We must all remember democracy is about the will of the majority. There must be winners and losers,” he maintained.

    The Nigerian leader reassured voters that adequate measures had been put in place to safeguard their votes during the forthcoming elections in the country.

    He said his administration had made significant investments to reform and enhance nation’s electoral laws, systems and processes to safeguard their votes.

    The president, therefore, expressed the commitment of the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary to ensure the successful implementation of the ongoing reforms of the electoral laws.

    ”For the voters, I am pleased to inform you that in the last 7 years, our government across all tiers, has made significant investments to reform and enhance our electoral laws, systems and processes to safeguard your votes.

    ”The Executive, Legislature and Judiciary were and still remain united and committed to ensure these reforms are fully implemented in the 2023 general elections.

    ”Fellow Nigerians, your right to choose your government will be preserved and protected.”

  • 2023: Again, Buhari pledges free, fair, transparent electoral process

    2023: Again, Buhari pledges free, fair, transparent electoral process

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday reassured Nigerians that he would ensure a free, fair and transparent electoral process in the country.

    The president stated this in a nationwide broadcast as part of the activities to mark the 2022 Democracy Day in Abuja,

    ”I am also promising you a free, fair and transparent electoral process. And I am pleading with all citizens to come together and work with government to build a peaceful and prosperous nation,” the president said.

    Buhari also expressed his administration’s commitment to protect Nigeria and Nigerians from all enemies from within and outside.

    The president revealed that the Federal Government had reformed the nation’s security structure with the hope of achieving the desired goals.

    ”I know many of us are concerned with the rise in insecurity due to terrorist activities in parts of the country.

    ”As a government, we are working hard to contain and address these challenges. And ensure that the 2023 general elections are safe and secure for all Nigerians.

    ”To achieve this however, we must all contribute. It is not the job of government alone.

    ”I ask all citizens to support and cooperate with our security agencies by reporting any suspicious characters and activities to law enforcement agencies.

    ”We can only have a safe country if we are able to prevent crime not after the crime has been committed,” he said.

    Buhari called on citizens to offer special prayers for all victims of terrorist activities across the country.

    He said: ”On this special day, I want us all to put all victims of terrorist activities in our thoughts and prayers.

    ”I am living daily with the grief and worry for all those victims and prisoners of terrorism and kidnapping.

    ”I and the security agencies are doing all we can to free those unfortunate countrymen and countrywomen safely.”

    Buhari further disclosed that the nation’s cyber security and surveillance systems had been upgraded to further enhance the ability to track and trace criminal elements across the country.

    He said: ”We have reformed some of our security structures. Some of the defence assets we procured three years ago have arrived and have been deployed.

    ”Our cyber security and surveillance systems are being upgraded to further enhance our ability to track and trace criminal elements.”

    The president annouced that the Federal Government had also embarked on recruiting and training new personnel across all the nation’s security and intelligence agencies to strengthen the country’s over-all security.

    On those who had lost their lives as a result of the daredevil activities of terrorists and other criminals, the president pledged that his administration would continue to seek justice for their families against the perpetrators.

    He enjoined all citizens to support, unite and cooperate with security agencies in the ongoing fight against agents of terror and destruction in the country.

    ”For those who have lost their lives, we will continue to seek justice for their families against the perpetrators.

    ”For those currently in captivity, we will not stop until they are freed, and their kidnappers are brought to justice.

    ”If we all unite, we will be victorious against these agents of terror and destruction.”