President Muhammadu Buhari has harped on a free, fair and transparent electoral process that will usher in new governments across the country in 2023.
Buhari in his 11-minute democracy day broadcast that was televised on TV, Sunday morning, also expressed total commitment to a peaceful transition to another central government next year.
The President who hailed parties and politicians for embracing issue-based campaign during the just concluded primaries conducted by various political parties ahead of next year’s general elections, said Nigerians must embrace peaceful polls in 2023 in honour of late Chief M.K.O Abiola, the winner of the presidential poll which held on this day in 1993, exactly 29 years ago.
Recall Nigeria’s democracy day celebration was moved from May 29 to June 12 in honour of the late business mogul and philanthropist, as well as several comrades who played active role, with some paying dearly with their lives to uphold democracy in the country throughout that tumultuous era in history in the face of military aggression and theatrics.
Buhari started his last Democracy Day speech in office this way “Fellow Nigerians, this is my last Democracy Day speech as your President. By June 12, 2023, exactly one year from today, you will already have a new President. I remain committed and determined to ensure that the new President is elected through a peaceful and transparent process.
“It is important for all of us to remember that June 12, 2023 will be exactly 30 years from the 1993 Presidential elections. In honour and memory of one of our national heroes of democracy, Chief M.KK.O Abiola, GCFR, we must all work together to ensure this transition is done in a peaceful manner. I am hopeful that we can achieve this.
“The signs so far are positive. Recently, all registered political parties conducted primaries to select their candidates for the 2023 general elections. These primaries were peaceful and orderly. Those who won were magnanimous in their victories. Those who lost were gracious in defeat. And those aggrieved opted to seek judicial justice as opposed to jungle justice.
“I followed the party primaries closely from the state level to the presidential level. I was very impressed to see across all the political parties that most candidates ran issue-based campaigns. The language and tone throughout were on the whole measured and controlled.
“I am promising you a free, fair and transparent electoral process. And I am pleading with all citizens to come together and work with government to build a peaceful and prosperous nation.”
President Buhari urged all candidates contesting various positions in next year’s poll to shun violence and do-or-die politics as he implored them to only speak to issues affecting the generality of Nigerians as campaigns officially kick off in September.
“As we move into the general election campaign season, we must sustain this mature attitude to campaigning and ultimately, voting. We must never see it as a do-or-die affair. We must all remember democracy is about the will of the majority. There must be winners and losers.
“I will therefore take this opportunity on this very special day to ask all candidates to continue running issue-focused campaigns and to treat opponents with dignity. As leaders, you must all showcase high character and never forget that the world is watching us and Africa looks up to Nigeria to provide example in governance. The tone you set at the top will surely be replicated in your followers,” Buhari said.
According to the President, “significant investments to reform and enhance our electoral laws, systems, and processes to safeguard votes,” have been made in the last seven years.
He added, “On this special day, I want us all to put all victims of terrorist activities in our thoughts and prayers. I am living daily with the grief and worry for all those victims and prisoners of terrorism and kidnapping. The security agencies and I are doing all we can to free those unfortunate countrymen and countrywomen safely.
“If we all unite, we will be victorious against these agents of terror and destruction. I will conclude this Democracy Day speech, my last as President, by assuring you of my commitment to protect Nigeria and Nigerians from all enemies from within and outside.”
