There was no celebration of Democracy Day in Borno and Yobe states, yesterday. Nigeria celebrates every May 29 as Democracy Day, after years of military rule.
Governors of the two states did not line up any activity, either.
“We aren’t marking Democracy Day because we feel the suffering our people have gone through in the last six years does not warrant any clebration,” an aide to the Borno governor, even though he was not authorised to speak told Daily Sun, yesterday.
Maiduguri and Damaturu, the two states’ capitals were quiet just as most of the highways were largely deserted.
Democracy Day was last celebrated in Borno in 2012.
Regardless, in Lagos State, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, has identified combined investments of his administration in security and efforts of security agencies to the peaceful atmosphere for residents and visitors.
The governor described the state as the safest in Africa. Ambode said this during the commissioning of a Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Army in Epe, on Monday.
Ambode, who lamented the inglorious days of kidnapping, cultism and other security challenges in Ikorodu and Epe axis,
“As I mark my own three years in office, I can say significantly that if there is anything that I have actually achieved in these three years is the security and safety of lives and property in Lagos State.
“There is no way that could have been possible and that is why I say it quietly and openly if not for the support and cooperation of all the security agencies and most significantly the efforts of the Nigerian Army which is actually hidden underground but visibly seen by everything that is going on here,” he said.
Meanwhile, Organised Labour hailed Nigerians for nurturing uninterrupted democratic process for 19 years, and added that regardless of the numerous current challenges of governance, the task is to deepen democracy.
Member of the Nigeria Labour Congress National Executive Committee, Comrade Issa Aremu, declared that “never, again, should Nigerians and, indeed, all Africans allow any unelected or military adventurers rule them without their mandate”.
In Anambra, there was no Democracy Day celebration either.
The state government said it wanted residents to seize the day to reflect on the state-of-the-nation, rather than engaging in lavish celebrations.
Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C-Don Adinuba, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, in Awka, yesterday.
Adinuba said instead of the usual merry-making, dinning and wining that characterised the event in the past, the state government wanted residents to have sober reflection on the journey so far.
“We reasoned that it was not good enough for the state to get involved in another round of celebrations. It was not worth it…’’
-Sun
Comments are closed.