Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday said decades after the June 12 debacle, providence returned the baton of MKO Abiola’s struggle for the soul of Nigeria’s democracy to one of his most trusted lieutenants, President Bola Tinubu.
He said that while hope was one thing they could not take or extinguish from the final account of Abiola’s life, faith in the promise of Abiola’s vision has renewed the nation’s hope.
Shettima made the observation during the Public Lecture Commemorating Nigeria’s 26th Democracy Anniversary held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Vice President affirmed, “It is this faith in the promise of Abiola’s vision that has renewed the hope of this nation. And in the great theatre of providence, history has returned the baton to one of Abiola’s most trusted lieutenants in the struggle for the soul of democracy in Nigeria: His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, GCFR.
“The ticket once denied Nigerians—the Abiola-Kingibe ticket—has found resonance and vindication in a second coming that mirrors it in composition and conviction, in President Bola Tinubu, a man who has kept the democratic flame alive through seasons of fire and storm. I am honoured to share in the weight of this history and the depth of this memory.”
Shettima described the late MKO Abiola as a patriot who surrendered all he had for the soul of Nigeria, and whose sacrifice became the compass of the nation’s democracy.
According to him, rather than dying in vain, the late Abiola’s dream became a collective covenant and unbroken resolve for Nigerians “to stand for what is right, to defend the sanctity of choice, and to honour the blood that watered the roots of” the nation’s democracy.
VP Shettima further observed that while Nigeria currently stands on the shoulders of unsung heroes and unheard voices, who sacrificed their comfort, freedom, and even their lives for the nation’s democracy, Nigerians, including him, will ever remain grateful to be “stewards of a government that listens to all.”
“And there is no doubt that President Tinubu has kept that covenant, extending a hand across political divides, ethnic frontiers, and generational gaps to build a Nigeria that works for everyone,” he added.
He maintained that the life and times of the late MKO Abiola are “a reminder that the burden of democracy is not to be carried by one man alone.”
Therefore, Shettima urged Nigerians to rise collectively and build a fortress around the nation’s democracy, describing it as “an impenetrable edifice that no force of anarchy can breach, not even in imagination.”
Canvassing unflinching support for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, he said, “Each of us here owes a sacred duty to support the President’s quest not just to renew hope, but to institutionalise governance, to deepen the roots of democracy, and to build a nation immune to the threats of regression.”
Earlier, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, acknowledged the heroes of Nigeria’s struggle for democratic governance, applauding their legacies, continuous contributions to the sustenance of democratic structures and transformation of the nation’s economy.
He urged stakeholders to rededicate themselves to the ideals of democratic rule by supporting the Tinubu administration in its task of guiding Nigeria on the path of prosperity, progress, peace and security.
In his keynote address, Prof. Samuel Egwu pointed out that the hallmark of democratic governance anywhere in the world is commitment.
However, he said that for the dividends of democracy to fully manifest across all levels of governance in Nigeria, all citizens and leaders must show commitment in words and deeds.
Egwu added that building on the gains of 26 years of democracy in Nigeria is a herculean task that requires political office holders to put the interest of all citizens and society above personal goals and aspirations.
On his part, the longest-serving diplomat and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Nigeria, the Cameroonian High Commissioner to Nigeria, HE Salaheddine Ibrahim, commended Nigeria’s unity regardless of the challenges.
The Cameroonian envoy urged leaders and all citizens not to relent in preserving democracy in the country.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, noted that the recognition and celebration of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day was not accidental, even as he said the collective will, effort and sacrifice of a people made the choice.
He urged active participation of all stakeholders across the country, including citizens, young and old, stressing that democracy does not depend on ceremonies and niceties alone.
Uzodimma drew attention to President Tinubu’s trajectory, legacies and current efforts, saying they are all examples of the courage and determination required to nurture a vibrant democracy.
The event’s high point was unveiling three books: Tinubunomics, Leading With Courage, and Turning Challenges into Opportunities, all of which examine the gains of the Tinubu administration.
