In his Democracy Day speech on Sunday, Lagos governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu says opportunity has arisen “to build on the hope and the potential of June 12, 1993.”

“Twenty-nine years ago on this day, Nigerians trooped enthusiastically to the polls, defying stereotypes of ethnicity and religion to prove to ourselves and the world that a new Nigeria is possible,” said Mr Sanwo-Olu. “Regrettably, the powers-that-be at the time truncated that dream. But it was merely a delay, not a denial.”

Former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu was an active lieutenant to MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, whose mandate was truncated.

Mr Tinubu emerged the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress at its special national convention on June 8 and is now in line to become Nigeria’s president in 2023.

”We have since been blessed with a new opportunity to build on the hope and the potential of June 12, 1993. That responsibility is now in our hands, and posterity will not forgive us if we squander it,” Mr Sanwo-Olu said. 

The Lagos governor in his speech extolled Mr Tinubu, saying he laid the foundation for a “modern and prosperous Lagos State” that residents are now enjoying.

Mr Tinubu governed Lagos in the advent of the Fourth Republic (between 1999 and 2007). He has since become the state’s kingmaker, exerting stranglehold in the emergence of successive governments in the state.

”The ultimate goal of a democracy is to improve the lives of the people. As your elected government, we do not take this responsibility lightly at all,” Mr Sanwo-Olu said in his statewide broadcast. ”We are grateful to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for kickstarting this journey, and for laying the foundation for a truly modern and prosperous Lagos state.”

Mr Sanwo-Olu says the state government will continue to improve the lives of the people, as such remains  the ultimate goal of democracy.

He said that since 1999, successive governments in Lagos state had worked hard to meet the yearnings of the people, who had consistently given them their mandate.

”In education, healthcare, housing, transport, environment, technology, security, and many other areas, Lagos has continued to live up to its ”pacesetter” status,” he said.

The governor said that the work for a “Greater Lagos” would continue, even as the administration sought for the mandate for a new term in office.

Mr Sanwo-Olu thanked his cabinet members, the Lagos State Civil Service; Traditional Rulers, and the leadership of the Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), for their immense dedication to the vision of a Greater Lagos.

”To all Lagosians, our entrepreneurs, students, workers, homemakers, transport and market unions, religious and civic leaders, members of the civil society, and everyone else, thank you for your support,” he said.

He urged residents of the state to allow Democracy Day to be a reminder of the importance of joining hands to build a solid future.

NAN