By Baron Ike
National leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for recognising the importance of June 12 in the democratic journey of Nigeria, and for shifting the major ceremonies for his swearing in to June 12.
Information Minister, Lai Mohammed said that the swearing in of Buhari on May 29 will be low-key as most of the invitations had been sent out to world leaders for June 12.
Last year, Buhari formally recognised and declared June 12 as a public holiday.
Tinubu is very grateful to the president on the position he had taken on June 12.
Tinubu said: “President Muhammadu Buhari deserves our thanks and congratulations for taking another important step towards fully recognising June 12 as Democracy Day in our country. The government moved the second term inauguration ceremonies to June 12 while events on May 29 would now be low-key swearing ceremonies in order to comply with the constitutional requirements covering the length of term for elected office-holders.
“By this wise yet visionary decision, the president has scored double: first he has accorded respect to the Constitution, which recognises May 29 as the date to inaugurate new terms of office while at the same time ensuring the country moves on the rightful path to formalising June 12 as new Democracy Day. This decision soundly balances current legal requirements with the quest for political justice.
“For this feat in moving the country in the right direction, President Buhari and the Federal Government deserve commendation.
“June 12 represents an important milestone in the annals of Nigeria’s democratic journey. It was the day Nigerians shunned ethnicity and religion to vote for that leader of their choice in an election adjudged clearly free and fair.
“To complete this process, that the president has started via Executive Order, we hope that the National Assembly act with reasonable dispatch in cooperation with the presidency to assure that the requisite constitutional amendments are enacted to fully establish June 12 as Democracy Day.
“As Nigerians we have a role to play: rededicate ourselves to democracy, peaceful co-existence, togetherness and the hope for a greater future, all of which June 12 represented.”