By Christopher Sunday
June 12, 2025
As Nigeria commemorates another Democracy Day, Hon. Mark Okpanachi Ogah has extended his heartfelt congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing him as “a living symbol of Nigeria’s democratic struggle and triumph.”
In a goodwill message released on June 12, Hon. Ogah praised President Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to democratic ideals, especially during Nigeria’s darkest political seasons, when the clamour for justice and freedom was often met with brutality, exile, and silence from the political elite.
“President Tinubu did not just speak for democracy; he suffered for it. He gave up comfort, faced exile, and risked his life so that this country could have a future where power flows from the people, not from the barrel of a gun,” Ogah said.
Recalling the historic events surrounding the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely believed to have been won by the late Chief MKO Abiola, Ogah emphasized that the president’s role during that time remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s journey toward civil governance.
“Long before attaining the presidency, Tinubu was a torchbearer of resistance. As a key figure in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), he helped finance, organize, and sustain a movement that kept hope alive when hope was outlawed. That legacy should not be forgotten,” Ogah added.
The lawmaker noted that the significance of June 12 is not just about remembering the past, but about recommitting to the values of inclusion, justice, and equity—principles which President Tinubu has long embodied in both word and deed.
He called on Nigerian youths, political leaders, and civil society actors to draw inspiration from Tinubu’s political journey, reminding them that “democracy is not given, it is earned through courage, sacrifice, and unwavering faith in the people.”
Hon. Ogah concluded his message by wishing President Tinubu continued wisdom and strength as he steers the nation through its current challenges, affirming that the sacrifices of the past will continue to inspire the hopes of a better, freer Nigeria.
“On this Democracy Day, we celebrate not just an idea, but the men and women who fought to keep it alive. And in President Tinubu, we celebrate one of its fiercest guardians,” Ogah stated.
