By Juliana Uzoka

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his address to the nation on the 25^th anniversary of Democratic rule says democracy extends beyond elections, inferring on the arduous journey of the nation attaining a steady democratic society.

Addressing the nation on June 12 as Nigeria marks 25 years of Democracy Day in memory of late Moshood Abiola aka MKO Abiola, whose mandate was truncated by the military junta led by General Ibrahim Babaginda, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu remarked on various themes that encompasses democratic structure, he noted that democracy incorporates a broader way of life that allows for diverse perspectives and opinions.

“Democracy does not assume some false or forced unity of opinion. In fact, democracy assumes that conflicting ideas and differing opinions shall be the order of the day. Given the diversity and variety of the human experience, there must be diverse perspectives and viewpoints.

“What democracy demands is that we do not resolve differences through force and repression. But we make allowance for the legitimacy of views that differ from our own.

“Where other forms of government impose against the will of the people, democracy aims to make leaders sufficiently humble that they conduct themselves as servants of the common good, not as viceroys of the narrow interests of the mighty.” He said.

President Tinubu decried the economic challenges faced in Nigeria and pledged to effect a more favourable reform policy that would address the myriad of the chaotic state of the nation which had plunged millions of Nigerians into abject poverty.

“I understand the economic difficulties we face as a nation.

“Our economy has been in desperate need of reform for decades. It has been unbalanced because it was built on the flawed foundation of over-reliance on revenues from the exploitation of oil.

“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.” He noted.

He also announced plans to send an executive bill to the National Assembly to enshrine a new national minimum wage agreed upon with organized labor.

“In this spirit, we have negotiated in good faith and with open arms with organized labour on a new national minimum wage. We shall soon send an executive bill to the National Assembly to enshrine what has been agreed upon as part of our law for the next five years or less. He added.

The president  also paid tribute to the heroes of Nigeria’s democratic struggle, highlighting the sacrifices of Chief MKO Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, and Pa Alfred Rewane, among others.

 “They bravely surrendered their futures, so that our nation might have a better one,” Tinubu said, urging Nigerians to honor their memories.

He acknowledged the contributions of numerous pro-democracy activists, both those who operated in exile and those who continued the fight at home.

Tinubu also celebrated the resilience of Nigerian journalists and media establishments like The Punch, Guardian, National Concord, and others, who faced severe repression for championing free speech and civil liberties.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s progress, Tinubu stated, “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.”

In his concluding remarks, President Tinubu called for continued commitment to democracy and economic development. “Let’s continue to keep the fire of democracy burning. Let’s keep the torch lit for generations to come,” he urged.

President Tinubu’s address marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s democratic history, celebrating past achievements while laying out a vision for the nation’s future.