By Bolanle Lawal
Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti has urged Nigerians to keep faith in democracy as a platform for deepening citizens’ participation in governance and advancing national development.
Oyebanji made the call in a statement issued on Friday in Ado-Ekiti by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, to mark the 2026 Democracy Day celebration.
The governor said Democracy Day provides an opportunity for sober reflection on the nation’s democratic journey and a renewed commitment to sustaining democratic ideals for a stronger state and a more prosperous nation.
He described June 12 as a watershed in Nigeria’s political history, noting that it commemorates the June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as the freest, fairest and most peaceful election in the country’s history.
The governor noted that the election, won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, symbolises the collective resolve of Nigerians to uphold democracy and the sanctity of the ballot.
Oyebanji paid tribute to the late Chief Abiola, his wife, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, and other heroes and heroines of democracy who sacrificed their lives in the struggle against military rule.
He also acknowledged the contributions of pro-democracy activists who fought for the validation of the June 12 mandate and the eventual return to democratic governance in 1999.
The governor specifically commended President Bola Tinubu, describing him as one of the pillars of the democratic struggle, and lauded former President Muhammadu Buhari for officially recognising June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.
Oyebanji recalled that June 12 demonstrated Nigerians’ willingness to set aside ethnic, religious, linguistic and cultural differences in pursuit of democratic governance where the people’s mandate is respected.
The governor, while admitting that democracy may not be perfect, maintained that it remains the best form of government because it provides citizens with opportunities to participate in decision-making and determine their leaders through the ballot.
He stressed that every Nigerian citizen has a role to play in strengthening democracy through adherence to constitutionalism, the rule of law and support for strong institutions capable of delivering good governance.
Oyebanji congratulated Nigerians and the people of Ekiti State on the occasion of Democracy Day and 27 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, describing it as the longest democratic experience in the nation’s political history. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)