The Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebration, now on June 12 is not only a democratic fulfillment, but the sustainability of the democratic virtues championed by the late Chief MKO Abiola and ensuring his vision remains a living force in Nigeria’s governance.
In a chat with journalists on Thursday, Mrs. Ngozi Chinyelu, the Clerk of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, commended President Tinubu for ensuring that late Abiola lives on.
Chinyelu emphasized the symbolic and practical resonance of June 12, calling it a testament to national unity.
Reflecting on the annulled 1993 election widely deemed Nigeria’s freest and fairest, Chinyelu noted how Abiola, a Yoruba Muslim, secured unprecedented cross-ethnic and religious support.
“Nigerians unanimously voted for their preferred candidate… because of his goodwill and generosity,” she stated, praising Abiola and his late wife, Kudirat, who fought and died for democracy’s actualization .
She singled out Tinubu’s youth-focused policies as transformative, aligning with Abiola’s ethos of opportunity and inclusion.
“The president’s focus on youth empowerment remains a master stroke,” she declared, highlighting initiatives like the 3MTT digital skills program and a $2 billion fiber-optic expansion to drive job creation.
The clerk also commended Tinubu and the National Assembly for ensuring direct fiscal autonomy to local governments. “Local government chairmen now receive allocations to directly serve their communities,” she noted, predicting this would accelerate grassroots economic development and accountability .
Madam Chinyelu urged Nigerians to remain patient, asserting that the administration is determined to turn things around for increased benefits of all the citizens.
Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while addressing the joint session of the National Assembly reaffirmed his resolve to safeguard and build Nigeria’s democracy and to fulfil its primary purpose of protecting and ensuring that all citizens have equal access to participate in the political process and influence decisions that affect their lives.