Isyaku Ibrahim
Today, the wider citizens within the country and beyond remembered the day light robbery perpetrated on their votes as early as June 12 1993.when the votes they cast after they defied the scorching sun where annulled courtesy of former president Ibrahim Babangida for a reason best known to the military junta
Rightly speaking,June twelve will remain in the annals of history as it was the first Nigerians regardless of their political and religious differenences merged and vote for single candidate in the person of Chief Mko Abiola and his running mate Ambassador Babaganar Kingibe but painfully their dream was quashed as they were access to the seat of power popularly known as Aso Rock
In this regard, accolades should be heaped to former president Muhammadu Buhari if not for anything, for redeeming his pledge in renaming the June 12 to Democracy Day going by debacle ensued during the SDP’NRC era that spilt over to the time of General Sani Abacha and Absulsalam Abubakar that later saw the emergence of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as president
The Celebration will accord right thinking countrymen and women the ample time to discuss thoroughly on the intricacies faced before and after actualizing the yearnings and aspirations of enthroning a government of their wish rather than that of iron fist
Painfully or otherwise as it has been the order of the day since before the occasion was legalized, there were cream of individuals that fought bitterly in ensuring the ends justify the means in the crusade against military dictatorship
Tragically, among them some have loss their lives in the cause of of the crusade while others survived with injuries others detained and the luckiest fled the country
These heroes and heroines as one may call them include late Pa Alfred Rewane and Hajiya Kudirat Abiola and Shehu Musamman Yar’adua
The rest among whom have attained political offices in the present political terrain ,comprise President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,Senator Shehu Sani, Uba Sani, Sule Lamido,
Other encompass Femi Falana,Gani Fawehinmi, Solomon Lar, Abubakar , Balarabe Musa, Wole Soyinka,Alex Ibru and hundreds of others numerous to mention
It is our fervent hope that the role they played with remain fresh in the memories of the citizenry
As the country has been enjoying Democratic Governance the first for the past twenty five years which is far better than military regime no matter how flexible it is, the question is there is any progress achieved within the period or otherwise is the case?
Democracy based free explanation is about providing fruit to the larger constituent this include infrastructure, empowerment and protection of lives and properties of the greater majority
In this iinstance, we have to look upward and backward on the traits right from 1999 to date
Devoid of contemplation, from the regime of Chief Obasanjo to the present administration of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu,alot of challenges have been witnessed in the course of improving the well-being of the general
But yet hands need to be put on deck aimed at ensuring happiness of one and all across the length and breadth of the society going by how things are skyrocketing
Which resulted to public out cry over the exorbitant cost of living which is becoming more unbearable by the day despite the fact that Nigerians are the most patient people the world over according to a statistics
The situation which is becoming so pathetic, across the country, has made thousands into indulging into criminality, others turned into scavenging and hundreds to roaming about major streets and roads begging and for alms and assistance and syncophancy, back biting and mischief all in the name of earning daily bread
While on the sad note, others dying for starvation and hunger
While university and school graduates that are supposed to be in public and private offices were sitting idle at home moving from one shed to the other all at a time when civilian administration is in action
But the side of the story is all this were coming when elected political officers were busy at Abuja or state capitals dividing what they described as national cake for themselves their cronies and children
It was laughable that despite the huge amount most of them with the exception of few were diverting they have took not a final stand on national minimum wage and other relevant issues that would help in easing the much tension ordinary citizens have been facing more than ever before
As the Democracy is being celebrated those on corridors of power have to sit down and rethink how the hard earned Democratic governance was achieved and how best it would be sustained for years to come
The effort made by past leaders improving the quality of life if the greater majority should not be left to go like that
It is simple and clear that with determination, commitment, honesty which is described as best policy in a proverb, sacrifice, dedication, humility and resoluteness the dream of ensuring a better Nigeria where life is affordable will be realized
as it is crystal clear that the generality are fed up with number of broken promises being made by political offices during electioneering campaigns on boosting their lots
Certainly nothing is impractical
