By Mohammed Bello Doka
In a heartfelt statement released today, the All Progressives Congress (APC) extended its congratulations to all Nigerians on the occasion of Democracy Day. This milestone marks 25 years of uninterrupted civilian democracy since the end of military rule in 1999. The APC's message emphasized the significance of this achievement and paid tribute to the patriots whose sacrifices laid the foundation for the democratic governance the nation enjoys today.
The APC underscored the importance of democracy, highlighting its role in empowering citizens to choose their leaders freely and hold them accountable through periodic elections. Despite acknowledging the imperfections and challenges inherent in any democratic system, the APC stressed that Nigeria's democratic journey has set the nation on a path toward building a strong, vibrant, and resilient country.
The statement highlighted the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, praising his longstanding advocacy for democracy and his vision for the nation. Since taking office just over a year ago, President Tinubu has made notable progress in several key areas. His administration has revamped infrastructure to support economic expansion, implemented multi-sector reforms to address longstanding policy issues, tackled insecurity, and revitalized the country's security architecture. Additionally, resources have been directed towards social investments and poverty alleviation initiatives, and efforts have been made to engage with stakeholders to improve wages and living standards.
The APC pointed to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) recent forecast, which projects that Nigeria's economy will reach nearly $2 trillion by 2029, as a validation of President Tinubu's ambitious target of building a $1 trillion economy within a few years. This forecast, according to the APC, is a clear indication that the Renewed Hope Agenda is on the right track and that better days are ahead for Nigeria.
President Tinubu's administration has faced criticism for the economic hardships resulting from necessary policy reforms. However, the APC praised his courage in addressing these challenges head-on rather than opting for easier, short-term solutions. The party reaffirmed President Tinubu's commitment to delivering a better, safer, and more prosperous Nigeria, and assured citizens that measures are being taken to mitigate the temporary hardships caused by these reforms.
In conclusion, the APC expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their unwavering support of President Tinubu's administration and the party's efforts. The statement conveyed optimism that the democracy celebrated today will lead to economic freedom and a brighter future for all citizens.
The message ended with a patriotic note: "… And so with peace and plenty, Nigeria may be blessed. Happy Democracy Day, dear Nigerians!"
The press statement was signed by Felix Morka, Esq., National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Read the full statement below
ABUJA, FCT
JUNE 12, 2024
PRESS STATEMENT
*DEMOCRACY DAY: APC CONGRATULATES NIGERIANS, ASSURES OF BETTER DAYS AHEAD*
The All Progressives Congress (APC) heartily congratulates Nigerians on the occasion of Democracy Day. We remember and celebrate our illustrious patriots whose conviction and sacrifices bequeathed to us the democracy that we celebrate today.
Following protracted military rule, civilian democracy was restored to our dear nation in 1999, and has now endured for 25 years, uninterrupted, and with strident hope for a future of democratic consolidation and prosperity for our people. All Nigerians must take pride in this remarkable achievement.
Embedded in the idea of political democracy is the intrinsic and instrumental value of the sovereign power that it bestows on citizens to choose, of their own free will, those who govern as well as the power to hold them accountable through periodic elections and other constitutionally enshrined mechanisms.
However, like with every human device and agency, democracy is not without its imperfections and challenges. Our country has had its fair share of setbacks, pain and disappointments. These are inevitable and inescapable by-products of democratic construction. But importantly, it has set us, irreversibly, on course to build a strong, vibrant and resilient nation. Democracy provides us the opportunity of essential freedom to harness our finest human and material resources, under the participatory authority of our people, for beneficial and sustainable governance.
On the occasion of democracy’s silver jubilee, it is remarkably auspicious that our country is under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a veteran advocate and defender of democracy, an exemplary progressive and visionary whose contributions to the enthronement of democracy and nation building is simply monumental.
In just over one year in office, President Tinubu administration has made impressive gains revamping our infrastructure to support the massive expansion of the Nigerian economy, implemented multi-sector reforms to remove age-long debilitating policy distortions and contradictions in the economy, tackled insecurity and revitalized the country’s security architecture, channeled resources to important social investments and poverty alleviation initiatives, initiated constructive engagements with relevant stakeholders aimed at achieving better wages and living standards for citizens.
President Tinubu’s bold target of building a $1 Trillion economy for Nigeria in a few short years received amplified validation by the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) with its recent forecast that Nigeria’s economy would be nearly $2 trillion by 2029. There can be no better indication that the Renewed Hope Agenda is right on course, and that our best days are ahead.
Being a clear-sighted democrat, President Tinubu is fully conscious of the existential challenges confronting our good people, particularly the unintended economic hardship of necessary policies that he has enacted to reset our economy for sustainable growth and development. This President, like others before him, could have taken the easy and convenient road, doing more of the same while our nation’s economic malaise festers.
Demonstrating courage, President Tinubu decided to walk the difficult path and tackle those challenges at their roots. He remains steadfast and committed to delivering a better, safer, stronger and more prosperous country while taking deliberate and necessary measures to mitigate transient reform attendant hardships.
We thank Nigerians for their unwavering support of President Tinubu’s administration and our great Party. We are confident that the democracy we celebrate today will usher in an era of economic freedom and secure a brighter future for our highly deserving citizens.
… And so with peace and plenty, Nigeria may be blessed.
Happy Democracy Day, dear Nigerians!
Signed:
*Felix Morka, Esq.*
National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)
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