The Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, has called on Nigerians to maintain their confidence in democracy as a means of constructing a stronger and more united nation. In a statement commemorating 2023 Democracy Day, Aribasoye observed that June 12 had become Nigeria’s most crucial landmark of democracy and a platform that recognizes the people’s right to vote for their leaders.
The Speaker reiterated that it is meaningful that the 30th anniversary of the June 12, 1993, presidential election that was won by business mogul and champion of popular democracy, Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, which was regarded as the freest and fairest election in the history of Nigeria, is being celebrated at this time when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, another hero of democracy, has recently taken office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Aribasoye urged Nigerians to keep up the defence of their hard-won democracy, which he maintained was watered with the blood of Chief Abiola, his wife, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, and many of their compatriots who fought against the military’s annulment of the election.
The Speaker also employed the occasion to pay homage to other heroes of June 12, both living and dead, for their dedication to ensuring democracy was restored and fully entrenched in Nigeria. He called on Nigerians to imitate these patriots’ determination and zeal by participating in governance, exercising their franchise, joining political parties of their choice, embracing democratic principles, and building institutions that foster democracy.
Aribasoye appealed to the people of Ekiti State, irrespective of their political affiliation, to support Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who had elevated good governance to a higher level, with evidence to demonstrate that the mandate given to him in the 2022 governorship election was not an error.
