The battling camps within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday reflected on the June 12 Democracy Day.
While the leadership backed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, urged Nigerians not to despair about the future and lose faith in democracy despite the significant political and economic challenges, the Governor Seyi Makinde-backed leadership, lambasted the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the lessons of June 12 has not been learnt.
Both camps gave their positions in separate statements. The Wike-camp, in a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Hon. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, said, “As the nation marks this important national milestone, the PDP urges Nigerians not to surrender to despair but to remain hopeful and steadfast in the democratic process.
“While our nation continues to face significant political and economic challenges, the party urges Nigerians not to lose faith in democracy or despair about the future of our country. Democracy remains our strongest guarantee for accountable leadership, national development, and the protection of citizens’ rights.”
The spokesman added that the challenges confronting the nation are temporary and surmountable, adding that through responsible leadership, strong democratic institutions, and the collective resolve of the people, the nation can overcome its present difficulties and achieve lasting peace, prosperity, and progress.
On its part, the Makinde-Backed PDP, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said under the APC government the lessons of June 12 have not been learnt.
The statement said, “Thirty-three years later, the lessons of June 12 ring out more resoundingly than ever, calling on the Federal Government to act responsibly to uphold democracy, to guarantee civil rights such as the right to peaceful assembly and protest, and to protect the democratic rights of the
opposition. They remind the electoral umpire of its critical role in the survival of democracy, a role that demands transparent impartiality and unimpeachable fairness, not as aspirations, but as minimum standards.
“Reality check, however, provides damning evidence that under this APC-led Federal Government, the lessons of June 12 remain painfully unlearnt. Today, of all days-a day set aside to honour the blood of democratic martyrs, peaceful protesters were teargassed and assaulted in Abuja.
“Omoleye Sowore was reportedly injured and hospitalised for doing nothing more than demanding the immediate release of schoolchildren and teachers held hostage across different parts of the country.
“This Tinubu administration unashamedly prioritises optics over action, propaganda over policy, and dwells in a dangerous utopian self-delusion. Their disposition to governance has reduced this sacred day to a mere historic remembrance, rather than being a celebration of democratic consolidation.”
While he added that this year’s democracy day will serve as a reminder to every citizen on the importance of vigilance ahead of the 2027 elections, the party spokesman said the sacrifices of the past must not be reduced to ceremonial memory.
“They must be active warnings, that this country must never again travel the path of state-engineered anti-democratic actions,” he added.
