June 12, best display of nationhood maturity in Nigeria’s history — AA National Chairman
By Austine Emmanuel, Kaduna
National Chairman of Action Alliance for Democracy, Hon. Rufai Omoaje Adekunle has said that June 12 celebration is the best display of Nationhood maturity.
Hon Omo-Aje stated this in his message to Nigerians on the 31st anniversary celebration of June, 12 on Wednesday, saying that the incident signifies when Nigerians had the very first truly democratic election in the history of its nationhood.
The party leader, while congratulating Nigerians on this year’s anniversary celebration opined that although the country is basking in the euphoria of a peaceful transfer of power from successive democratically elected governments, yet democracy in the nation is not yet golden.
The election, according to him, which saw Chief MKO Abiola emerging as the winner (but never announced) was very unique, in that it respected the spirit of true democracy saying it was an election that was neither ethnic nor religiously inclined.
Omo-Aje added that it was also an election that didn’t give biased consideration to sectionalism, but gave consideration only to competence and acceptability of the best of our men as presented by the two political parties of the time. He urged Nigerians to think deeply about things that had held them back ever since that election as a country, and map out the way forward.
“Economic prosperity, Security, goodwill, and a sense of unity that are some of the hallmarks of the June 12 struggles should be seen as the building blocks of a true and enduring democracy.
“As the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is about to take off in full force; June 12 should continue to be the reference point. This should be reflected in appointments, putting aside ethnicity, religion, regionalism, or party affiliations.
“This should also cut across all the arms of government; The Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary.
“Indeed, June 12 should serve as a continuous reminder to Nigerians on the imperative of pursuing the cause of justice in all spheres of life as a necessary condition for peace, and progress,” he said.
Omo-Aje particularly thanks members of the Action Alliance across the country for their resilience through the period, “We were also struggling to ensure that the tenets of internal party democracy prevail in our party as well, as we battle the criminal incursion of external aggressors, and meddlesome interlopers.”
“Our party Action Alliance is finally exiting the moment of deterrent and stagnation to a new era of total livelihood as an independent national political party. As we transit closely to the stardom of rejoicing and rolling out the drum in celebration, we still covet your continuous loyalty in sincerity, perseverance, and commitment to making the party better, and stronger at our respective levels of leadership.
“The journey truly has been long, but we assure you all that the terminus is just at arm’s length at the moment. The doggedness of the national leadership of our party under my able self presiding, coupled with those of other leaders at the various levels capped with the grace of the Almighty God of justice has led us thus far. In no distant future from where we are right now God willing, we will sing out that the battle is over.
“We appreciate you all, and wish us all a peaceful and fulfilling celebration of our democratic experiment,” he said.
