ABUJA, Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu declared on Monday, June 12, 2023, that court orders issued with the intent of truncating Nigeria’s democracy will no longer be condoned.
Democracy Day is annually celebrated on June 12 in honor of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale, MKO, Abiola, winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, and other champions of democracy.
President Tinubu emphasized that democracy’s essence lies in its inherent unpredictability, wherein today’s winners can become tomorrow’s losers and vice versa.
However, he denounced the practice of politicians manipulating the justice system to overturn opponents’ electoral victories or cause public confusion with conflicting court orders.
“For Chief MKO Abiola, the symbol of this day, in whose memory June 12 became a national holiday, democracy is eternal,” President Tinubu affirmed.
“It is about rule of law and a vibrant judiciary that can be trusted to deliver justice and strengthen institutions. It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary illegal orders issued to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated.”
Further, President Tinubu pointed to the recent harmonisation of the retirement age for judicial officers as a measure to strengthen the rule of law.
“The recent harmonisation of the retirement age for judicial officers is meant to strengthen the rule of law, which is a critical pillar of democracy. The reform has just started,” he said.
He concluded by highlighting that a true democracy should deliver not just the freedom to choose and elect people into office, but also social and economic justice for citizens.
“The democracy that will yield right dividends to the people who are the shareholders means more than just freedom of choice and right to get people into elective offices. It means social and economic justice for our people,” he stated.
