FORMER president Goodluck Jonathan has continued to recognise May 29 as democracy day, despite the act of parliament that affirms democracy as June 12 in commemoration of the election considered to be freest and fairest in Nigeria.
In his tweets hours ago, he wrote that May 29 marks the introduction of democractic rule in Nigeria and ‘signalled the end of a long spell of military dictatorship.’
“Our celebration of democracy is, therefore, a mark of our commitment to the virtues of liberty, justice and the people’s freedom to daily engage government on how best to achieve our national goals.
“Democracy has come to stay. So let us stay in the creed and virtues of justice, equity, and love which makes democracy a solid ground of freedom, good governance, peace and hope. Happy Democracy Day Nigeria,” he tweeted Wednesday morning.
However, the incumbent government led by Muhammadu Buhari had last year June 2018 declared that Democracy Day would henceforth hold on June 12th of every year.
The pronouncement was later approved in the Senate by an act of parliament after the lawmakers considered the bill seeking to amend the Public Holiday Act six months after the president’s declaration.
The pronouncement was made in honour of the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election–the late Chief Moshood Abiola with posthumous conferment of the highest national award, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic on the deceased.
Even with the new amendment, it seemed the former president, Jonathan, would rather acknowledge May 29 as Democracy Day. He further urged Nigerians to stand firm as a nation and continue to strive for improvements in the electoral processes in the series of messages he shared on social media.
7. Democracy has come to stay. So, let us stay in the creed and virtues of justice, equity, and love which makes democracy a solid ground of freedom, good governance, peace, and hope.
Happy Democracy Day Nigeria!
-GEJ— Goodluck E. Jonathan (@GEJonathan) May 29, 2019
“There is a need to deepen the gains so far attained by advancing frontiers of credible electoral processes, fidelity to the rule of law and adherence to constitutionalism.
“A credible electoral process is no doubt fundamental to making democracy work for us as a people, as it sufficiently empowers citizens to freely choose or reject their political leadership, thereby serving as an incentive for good governance,” Jonathan wrote.