The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has urged President Bola Tinubu to fulfil the dreams of a prosperous country to Nigerians on the occasion of the country’s Democracy Day celebration.
Adams added that the democracy icon, the late Moshood Abiola, on whose name the day is commemorated, stood for ‘justice, freedom, equity, liberty and sustainability of democratic tenets.’
He made this appeal in Lagos, on Monday, during the 30th anniversary of the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential elections.
Adams noted that the death of Abiola would not be in vain because, according to him, democracy has come to stay in Nigeria.
He added that although there are challenges that have threatened the foundation of this democracy, things could be better with a ‘proper approach’.
“We cannot achieve much if our democracy is tied to the 1999 constitution that we are using presently in Nigeria.
“The 1979 and 1999 constitutions are tools that the military imposed on us to preserve their atrocities.
“The constitutions have always remained the bane of Nigeria. That is why we are where we are at the moment.
“Unless we embrace regionalism, and let the federating units develop at their own paces, Nigeria may find it very difficult to realise its lofty dreams.
“With a new administration in power, there is a need for President Bola Tinubu to come up with a policy direction that has a human face,” he said.
Also speaking, at the event, the President of the Women Arise Initiative, Dr Joe Okei Odumakin, harped on the need to continue to re-invent ‘the spirit of June 12 in the national consciousness of every Nigerian’.
“Nigerians who put aside the primordial influence and voted for the late MKO Abiola must never give up.
“Identity Politics is not really bad but it has been demonised here in Nigeria. All over the world, identity politics is practised. So, we must work on the unity of this country. When there is unity there is peace.
“I am appealing to President Tinubu for the de-annulment of June 12. Abiola must be recognized as one of our past presidents. He died for our collective struggle,” she stated.
