The pan-Yoruba sociocultural group, Afenifere, has stated that Nigeria’s democracy and development are works in progress, requiring all hands to be on deck.
The leader of the group, Reuben Fasoranti, made this known on Wednesday in a congratulatory message to mark Democracy Day on 12 June.
Fasoranti noted that the anniversary serves as a reminder to Nigerians that, irrespective of ethnic or religious inclinations, they can work together to confront the challenges facing the nation.
Salient Times report that the Federal Government has declared Thursday a public holiday to commemorate Democracy Day.
The Afenifere leader expressed confidence that with the right attitude, visionary leadership, and a patriotic citizenry, Nigeria could yet attain the lofty heights envisioned by its founding fathers who fought for independence.
According to him, whilst the people celebrate the continued sustenance of democratic rule on this auspicious occasion, they should also bear in mind that democratic practice remains a work in progress.
He called on all compatriots, particularly civil society groups, to collaborate with other progressive forces to deepen democratic practice and processes in Nigeria.
Afenifere affirmed that entrenching democratic ideals in the country is for the benefit of the present generation and those yet unborn.
“As another Democracy Day is being observed on June 12, 2025, I, on behalf of Afenifere Worldwide, wish to heartily congratulate Nigerians on this momentous milestone.
“It is a milestone because it represents the day democracy and civil rule were reclaimed and restored in Nigeria, after a prolonged, destabilising military rule.
“Without doubt, the sustained and uninterrupted democratic rule since 1999 is a product of the sacrifices and commitment of our heroes and heroines in the civil society groups, and other well-meaning compatriots, who, along with Afenifere, coalesced into the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, to constitute the vanguard of progressive forces that ensured the restoration of democracy and the birth of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ndi Igbo Intellectual and Cultural Development Organisation (NIDO) has urged the Federal Government to immortalise the former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu.
NIDO, a pan-Igbo socio-political pressure group, said this in a statement by its Director of Communications, Mr Christian Afulike, to newsmen in Owerri, on Wednesday.
Afulike, who described the late Nwosu as the “unsung hero of Nigeria’s democracy”, said that it was imperative to honour the Anambra-born academician as a way to boost the morale of serving staffers of the electoral umpire.
He argued that failure to honour Nwosu would be double standards as the June 12, 1996 presidential election had already been acknowledged by the government to be credible and its outcome recognised, hence the adoption of June 12 as Democracy Day.
“It reeks of double standards to recognise the election as the most credible in the history of elections in Nigeria; recognise the outcome of the election and at the same time pretend to forget the brain behind the entire process.
“This is unacceptable and is surely at the heart of the abysmally poor performance of Nigeria’s electoral body in all other elections conducted in the country since then.
He called for the naming of a befitting national edifice after the late Nwosu.
He said this would encourage serving and future electoral umpires in the country to serve with diligence and integrity, thereby strengthening the nation’s democracy.
He also urged the Anambra government and other state governments, particularly those of the south east geopolitical zone, to ensure the immortalisation of the late Prof. Humphrey Nwosu as he was “a worthy Nigerian deserving of such honour.”
