President Bola Tinubu has described himself as a die-hard democrat who was bruised, protested on the streets, detained and went into exile for the sake of the restoration of democratic governance in Nigeria.
This was as he identified himself as one of the founders of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) which resisted and waged a campaign against the military junta of the late General Sani Abacha.
Tinubu spoke on Wednesday at an inter-faith breaking of fast with members of the national working committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) at the presidential villa in Abuja.
Top Society reports that IPAC comprises national chairmen and secretaries of all registered political parties in Nigeria.
According to a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, his special adviser on information and strategy, Tinubu observed that himself and several Nigerians suffered for the country’s democracy, adding that on his watch, there will be no threat to any democrat.
He told his guests, “I am glad we are all democrats. And we all subscribe to this democracy voluntarily, willingly, and we’ve been at it selflessly in the last 26 years.
“Some of us had been bruised struggling for it. We were detained, we protested, we had street demonstrations, we went into exile and all of that.
“We formed National Democratic Coalition. I followed the leadership destiny that God has chosen for me. There’s no doubt about it. I am a die-hard democrat.”
While expressing his commitment to sustaining democracy and the rule of law, the President stated that the unity and stability of the country rest on the pillars of good governance and assured that his administration will uphold these principles for posterity.
“I followed that belief wholeheartedly, committed to a united Nigeria, and that principle and the philosophy will live and die with me,” he said, adding that in any democracy, the rule of law must prevail and the majority and minority will have their way.
“There’s no threat from any democrat under my watch. The rule of law must prevail in any democracy. The majority will have their way, and the minority will have their say and their way. I must not stand in their way. That is the sweetness, the essence of democracy,” he asserted.
Tinubu also assured party leaders of his commitment to free and fair elections but vowed to remain loyal to the APC.
“I am a registered voter. I am on the same platform as you. I’m going to stick to my platform. When it was against me years ago, I toed the line. I was in opposition without a threat to any human being except the military junta.
“I want democracy, and since democracy is back here, there’s a fundamental voluntariness that is enshrined, and I am extremely glad to listen to you,” the President said.
