Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that history has returned the baton of Nigeria’s democratic struggle to President Bola Tinubu, whom he described as one of the late Chief MKO Abiola’s most trusted lieutenants.
Speaking on Thursday at a public lecture held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to commemorate Nigeria’s 26th Democracy Day, Shettima, who represented Tinubu at the event—said Tinubu has honoured Abiola’s legacy by working to build a Nigeria that serves all its people.
He stated, “It is this faith in the promise of Abiola’s vision that has renewed the hope of this nation. And in the great theatre of providence, history has returned the baton to one of Abiola’s most trusted lieutenants in the struggle for the soul of democracy in Nigeria: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
He added that Tinubu, like Abiola, had remained steadfast through “seasons of fire and storm”, and described him as a leader who has “kept the democratic flame alive.”
Referencing the annulled June 12, 1993 election in which Abiola and Babagana Kingibe were denied their mandate, Shettima said the 2023 Tinubu-Shettima ticket echoes that historical pairing in “composition and conviction.”
He praised the sacrifices of Nigeria’s democratic heroes, known and unsung—emphasising that democracy must be a collective responsibility.
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“The burden of democracy is not to be carried by one man alone,” he said. “We must rise to build a fortress around it—an impenetrable edifice that no force of anarchy can breach.”
He said Tinubu had extended “a hand across political divides, ethnic frontiers, and generational gaps” in pursuit of a nation that works for everyone.
Shettima also called on Nigerians to support the Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that the duty of deepening democracy rests on all citizens.
Earlier, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, paid tribute to the heroes of Nigeria’s democratic journey and urged continued support for the Tinubu administration’s efforts to build a peaceful, secure, and prosperous nation.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Samuel Egwu argued that commitment—both in word and deed, is essential to sustaining democracy.
He called on office holders to place national interest above personal ambition, describing the task of deepening 26 years of democracy as “herculean.”
Also speaking, the Cameroonian High Commissioner and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Nigeria, HE Salaheddine Abbas Ibrahim, commended Nigeria’s democratic resilience despite its challenges.
He urged both leaders and citizens to remain steadfast in preserving the democratic ethos.
Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, said the recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day was no coincidence but the result of national struggle and sacrifice.
He called for greater civic participation, particularly among the youth, and applauded President Tinubu’s democratic legacy and leadership.
The event also featured the unveiling of three books chronicling President Tinubu’s political and economic contributions: “Tinubunomics,” “Leading With Courage,” and “Turning Challenges into Opportunities.”
