Vice President Kashim Shettima has remarked that history has handed the baton of Nigeria’s democratic struggle back to one of the late Moshood Abiola’s closest allies, President Bola Tinubu, decades after the annulled June 12, 1993, election. Speaking yesterday at a public lecture marking Nigeria’s 26th Democracy Day at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, Shettima described Tinubu’s ascendancy to the presidency as a poetic continuation of the vision and sacrifices championed by Abiola. Representing President Tinubu at the event, Shettima stated: “Hope was one thing they could not extinguish from Abiola’s life.
It is this abiding faith in Abiola’s vision that continues to renew our national hope in the great theatre of providence.
History has returned the baton to one of Abiola’s most trusted lieutenants in the struggle for Nigeria’s democracy, President Tinubu,” he declared. He described Abiola as a patriot who dedicated everything—including his life—to restoring democratic rule in Nigeria, and emphasized that “his legacy continues to shape the nation’s political conscience.” Shettima stressed that Abiola’s dream did not die with him but lives on as a collective resolve to uphold truth, justice, and the sanctity of the ballot.
The ticket once denied to Nigerians—the Abiola-Kingibe ticket—has found resonance in the Tinubu-Shettima presidency.
Tinubu has kept the democratic flame alive through fire and storm,” Shettima said.
He has kept faith with the covenant of building a Nigeria that works for all, reaching across political divides, ethnic lines, and generational barriers.” Acknowledging the contributions of many unsung heroes, Shettima called for collective effort:
The burden of democracy is not one man’s alone. We all must rise to defend it, build a fortress around it—an edifice no force of anarchy can breach, even in imagination.” He urged Nigerians to support Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing that deepening democratic institutions and good governance “requires broad-based commitment.” Earlier, SGF Sen George Akume paid tribute to Nigeria’s pro-democracy icons and their sacrifices, urging stakeholders and citizens to recommit to democratic ideals for a more prosperous, peaceful, and secure Nigeria.
In his keynote, Prof. Sam Egwu highlighted the importance of sustained commitment from leaders and citizens alike to consolidate Nigeria’s democratic gains, stating: “Democracy requires dedication. Nigeria must prioritize the collective good over personal ambition to reap its dividends.
The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Amb. Salaheddine Ibrahim of Cameroon, praised Nigeria’s resilience and unity, calling for vigilance in defending democracy. Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, emphasized June 12’s importance as a symbol of Nigeria’s democratic evolution, calling on all citizens to actively participate in nation-building beyond mere ceremonies.
The event concluded with the unveiling of three books—Tinubunomics,Leading with Courage*, and Turning Challenges into Opportunities—highlighting the reforms and leadership principles of the Tinubu administration.
PRO’LEE9JA ⛱️MEDIA
