Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, North Central Nigeria has urged Nigerians to reflect on the country’s democratic journey and honour the heroes who paid the supreme price for the restoration of civil rule in Nigeria.
In a statement he issued to commemorate Democracy Day, AbdulRazaq, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, said June 12 remains a symbol of sacrifice, courage, and the enduring spirit of the Nigerian people in the face of repression.
“I join Nigerians to reflect on our democratic journey as a nation-state. This day is a tribute to the men and women who lent their voices to the struggle for democracy when it was impolitic to do so.
“It is a remembrance of the ultimate sacrifice of those who lost their lives,” he added.
AbdulRazaq described democracy as a system that thrives on dialogue and the exchange of diverse views, noting that Nigeria has demonstrated resilience in maintaining a platform for robust civic and political engagement.
“The feature that stands out in a democracy, whether established or evolving is that it allows for robust engagements among different stakeholders to forge the way forward at all times.
“To the credit of all, as attested to by the divergent views of citizens on various topics, our democracy stands shoulder high in this regard,” he said.
While acknowledging the country’s developmental challenges, the governor maintained that Nigeria has recorded measurable progress in critical areas.
“I hold the view that behind our search for a better society are measurable and scalable achievements so far in critical infrastructure, indices of soft power, and other areas of human advancement,” he said.
He however warned against actions that could undermine the gains of democracy and called on citizens to continue working together to build a stronger and more united Nigeria.
“We should not lose sight of these gains or do anything to undermine them in any way, even as we work together as a people to build a stronger nation,” he said.
AbdulRazaq also congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the leadership of the National Assembly, the judiciary, the media, and civil society actors for their roles in strengthening democratic institutions.
“I congratulate His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the leadership of the National Assembly, the bench and the bar, the media, and the esteemed citizens in the civic space whose contributions to democratic engagements are an important component of our journey.”
Democracy Day, observed every June 12, commemorates the annulled 1993 presidential election believed to have been won by the late Chief MKO Abiola and celebrates Nigeria’s return to civil governance after years of military rule.