Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume on Thursday reflected on Nigeria’s democratic dispensation in the last 26 years and noted that the country has not attained the heights envisioned.
While welcoming participants to the Democracy Day Lecture at the State House, Abuja, Akume said he was optimistic that the nation’s path is straight and may lead to a desired destination.
According to the SGF, it beats ones imagination that Nigeria is celebrating 26 years of unbroken democracy, when some African countries are falling back to dictatorship or military rule.
He recalled the antecedents that culminated in Nigeria’s democratic journey, regretting that many who struggled to install democracy have passed on, but thankfully one became the current President.
Akume said, “It is trite for me to start by congratulating all Nigerians on the occasion of the 26 years of unbroken democratic rule.
“At a period when many African Countries are sliding back into Military rule and dictatorship, Nigeria is powering forward in Democratic rule. Even though we have not attained the democratic heights envisioned, we are confident that our path is straight and will lead us to our desired destination.
“Todays celebration would not have been possible were it not for the commitment and determination of the ordinary Nigerian citizens who stood strong in the face of military oppression, brutality and rights denial. The June 12 struggle was a watershed as millions of our country men and women poured out on the streets from Lagos to Ilorin, Kaduna to Kano, Ibadan to Makurdi, Bauchi to Jos, Port Harcourt to Enugu. From the towns and villages, the cry to democracy and just coalesced into a movement, The June 12 movement. That movement birthed Nigeria’s new democratic journey.
“We are here today because many fought. Many died. Many were brutalized. Many disappeared. Many lost limbs. Many were Imprisoned. Many gave up all their resources and many never recovered. To all of them we owe a debt of gratitude.
“We can only immortalize them by ensuring that we guide and guard our democracy. That we work to bring development to Nigeria. Democracy without development is empty and is bound to fail.”
