DEMOCRACY DAY 2022: President Buhari tells why he moved celebration from May 29 to June 12
*Wants election devoid of do-or-die affair
*As he says giving his last Democracy Day speech
*Congratulates political parties for free, fair primaries
“It is important for all of us to remember that June 12th, 2023 will be exactly 30 years from the 1993 Presidential elections. In honour and memory of one of our national heroes for democracy, Chief M.K.O Abiola, GCFR, we must all work together to ensure this transition is done in a peaceful manner.”
By KEMI KASUMU
President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, says his administration moved Democracy Day from May 29 to the June 12 in 2018 to remind all Nigerians of one free election after which the presumed winner, Alhaji Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola popularly called MKO Abiola, and Nigerians who voted him, were denied their rights and their choice.
“On June 12th 1993, Nigerians 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,” he said.
President Buhari, who spoke in what he called his last nationwide Democracy Day broadcast address on Sunday June 12, 2022, went on to urge citizens that they 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.”
The President called attention of citizen to the fact that by the time the next Democracy Day of June 12, 2023 will be coming when the June 12, 1993 most unifying presidential election of MKO Abiola will clock 30 years old when a new President will have been installed, and hoped that politicians will work hard and sincerely together to ensure that the transition programme, to make that experience great, is achieved.
On his part, he said he remains committed and determined to ensuring that the new President who will be giving the next Democracy Day speech after he will have vacated office is elected through a peaceful and transparent process.
“It is important for all of us to remember that June 12th, 2023 will be exactly 30 years from the 1993 Presidential elections. In honour and memory of one of our national heroes for democracy, Chief M.K.O Abiola, GCFR, we must all work together to ensure this transition is done in a peaceful manner.
“I am hopeful that we can achieve this. The signs so far are positive. Recently, all registered political parties conducted primaries to select their candidates for the 2023 general elections.
“These primaries were peaceful and orderly. Those who won were magnanimous in their victories. Those who lost were gracious in defeat. And those aggrieved opted to seek judicial justice as opposed to jungle justice.
“I followed the party primaries closely from the state level to the Presidential level. I was very impressed to see across all the political parties that, most candidates ran issued based campaigns. The language and tone throughout were on the whole measured and controlled.
“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.
“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.
“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,” President Buhari said.
