The newly-elected President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerians to make more sacrifices for the survival of the country.
He made this call on Monday in commemoration of June 12 when the election that saw to the victory of Chief MKO Abiola was annulled in 1993.
He commended Abiola for his patriotic defence of the ideals of democracy as symbolized in his choice, by his fellow countrymen and women, as their duly-elected President.
Acknowledging that Nigerians are suffering in the aftermath of the fuel subsidy removal, Tinubu promised “reward” their sacrifices with “massive investment” in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare, and other sectors that will improve quality of life.
“Painfully, I have asked you, my compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country. For your trust and belief in us, I assure you that your sacrifice shall not be in vain,” he said.
“It is for this reason that, in my inauguration address on May 29, I gave effect to the decision taken by my predecessor-in-office to remove the fuel subsidy albatross and free up for collective use the much-needed resources, which had hitherto been pocketed by a few rich.
“The government I lead will repay you through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare, and other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives,” he added.
Following his inaugural subsidy removal, there was an abrupt change in the price of fuel, a situation that put many Nigerians on a tightrope.
Speaking of the rule of law, the President said his administration will not condone conflicting and illegal orders that undermine Nigeria’s democracy.
He also described the bill he signed into law on June 8 for the harmonization of the retirement age for judicial officers as one of many policy reforms to come.
“It is about the rule of law and vibrant judiciary that can be trusted to deliver justice and strengthen institutions. It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated.
“The recent harmonisation of the retirement age for judicial officers is meant to strengthen the rule of law, which is a critical pillar of democracy. The reform has just started,” he said.
Speaking on the 2023 general election, he said: “This year, we held the seventh in the cycle of elections that have become sacred rituals of our democratic practice in this dispensation since 1999.
“That the polls were intensely contested is in itself positive evidence that democracy is well and alive in our land. It is only natural that even as those who won and experienced victory in the various elections are elated and fulfilled, those who lost are disenchanted and disappointed.
“But the beauty of democracy is that those who win today can lose tomorrow and those who lose today will have an opportunity to compete and win in the next round of elections.”
Tinubu continued: “Above all, those who disagree with the outcome of the elections are taking full advantage of the constitutional provisions to seek redress in court and that is one of the reasons why democracy is still the best form of government invented by man.”
He pledged his administration’s commitment to diligently fulfil every component of its electoral pact with the people, the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda.
“We shall be faithful to the truth. Faithful to equity. And faithful to justice,” he vowed.
