May 29 remains Nigeria’s Democracy Day ―Akeredolu

Contrary to the argument that June 12 and not May 29 every year should be regarded as Democracy Day, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, on Monday insisted that May 29 of every year is the most suitable and proper day to mark and celebrate Democracy Day in the country.

Akeredolu who stated this while speaking in Akure on the occasion of the 2017 Democracy Day, said though June 12 was the date Nigerians across all divides freely chose their leader and unequivocally affirmed the unity of the country, added that the democracy being celebrated today came into being on May 29, 1999.

He, however, said that the state would celebrate June 12 in honour of the the Late Chief MKO Abiola, who died in the course of actualising a mandate believed to have been given to him by electorates and people of the country.

He said, “We are not running away from the sacrifice that Abiola made for democracy in this country.

“We cannot also run away for the fact that democracy returned to Nigeria on May 29.”

Akeredolu therefore stated that every June 12 would be a work free day in the state, just as he called on the people to honour Abiola and other who sacrificed their lives for democracy.

Speaking on the lecture entitled “Democracy And Development In Nigeria: Issues, Challenges And The Way Forward”, delivered by a human rights lawyer, Dr Tunji Abayomi, Akeredolu noted that though Nigeria needs a new constitution but several considerations would not give room to a new constitution.

While he agreed with the lecturer that the current 1999 Constitution, was not made by the people, he said political, ethnic,  religious and other considerations would make the making of new constitution difficult if not possible.

The governor who pitched his tent with those calling for restructuring of the country said the act must be all encompassing irrespective of how if affects various components and issues.

He said all stakeholders must be ready to make sacrifice in order to achieve the desired restructuring and not by mere advocating or calling for restructuring.

Abayomi in his lecture, said there is only one way to develop the country and make the nation great by creating out of Nigeria a constitutional democrat

He said “a constitutional democracy yet be founded on a freely negotiated constitution among the people of Nigeria.

“Nigeria is a unique nation where peoples or as some call it ethnic nationalities are divinely separated by language,  culture and even geographical location but there is nothing wrong in building a united nation of Nigeria ”