June 12: ‘They Will Not Succeed’ — Tinubu Sends Message To Insurrectionists, Others

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said alleged plans by some persons or groups to set Nigeria back democratically will not succeed.

Tinubu said the unnamed people, whom he described as “violent and coldhearted”, do not care about the country’s progress and have embarked on a “different trek” to make the country ungovernable.

The APC leader, however, said such efforts “will not succeed” as the nation would not allow the sacrifices of those who died fighting for the country’s democracy to go in vain.

THE WHISTLER reports that Tinubu’s statement came amidst plans by some Nigerians to stage what they tagged the “#June12Protest” against bad governance.

He said, “There are many who care not for the journey we take. They embark on a different trek for they hold to a different concept of governance and of the relationship of government to the people.

“They do not believe in a nation where every person therein has substantive rights, freedoms and liberties as God intended for all of his human creations regardless of place of birth, ethnic origin, social station or religious creed. These people hate democracy and despise you for choosing democracy over them and their oppressive ways.

“They are violent and coldhearted. They love nothing, save the destruction of the happiness and peace of others. They will not go away quietly or in consideration of the compelling logic of democratic governance.

“Instead, they set us up in hopes of laying waste to the good society we seek to build. They levy terror against us in vain hope that their violent impositions might cause us to lose our way. They raze villages, destroy homes assault and kill innocent people. They even attack important symbols of a just society including religious institutions, schools of learning and INEC offices as if they can snuff out, through violence, mankind’s will to worship God, seek knowledge or engage in participatory governance.

“However, with all that they do, they will not succeed. In trying to pluck a democratic and just society from our hands they are as mistaken as they are evil.”

“Our democracy was not here established to be destroyed by the terrible likes of people such as these. Those who sacrificed their lives for democracy did not give of themselves so that we would be turned back by terrorists or by those who seek to tear the nation asunder just so they might imperially rule over some small part of it.”

Tinubu added that despite the challenges facing the country, the citizens must, “stand up for democracy lest we shall find ourselves falling to oblivion,” adding that only democratic good governance could solved the challenges facing the country.

He said, “…we stand against those who traffic in insurrection and violence. We stand against those whose commerce is bigotry and hatred. We contend against those who would render the people ignorant and poor.

“We stand for a better way. We celebrate Democracy Day not only because we have come far but to help give us the social fuel and encouragement to continue onward because we have farther to go and even greater things to achieve as one nation and one people.

“On this day, let us remember MKO Abiola whose victory in the June 12th 1993 presidential election was stolen from him. Yet he remained steadfast and surrendered his own life so that we all might enjoy the democratic victory that was taken from him. Without his historic effort and sacrifice, this day would not be democracy day. It would be a downcast and disappointing one. Let us also remember all others who also sacrificed so much to bring democracy to this land.

“We best honor these people not by reciting their names but by injecting the spirit and hope of democracy into our words and deeds. In becoming better democrats, we also become better at being Nigerians.”