The All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated Nigerians on the occasion of Nigeria’s Democracy Day, with an optimism that there are better days ahead.
The party also remembered and celebrated illustrious patriots whose conviction and sacrifices bequeathed to Nigeria the democracy being celebrated.
The National Publicity Secretary of APC, Felix Morka, in a statement also said President Bola Tinubu’s “bold target” of building a $1 trillion economy for Nigeria in a few short years has been validated by the International Monetary Fund.
Morka started, “Following protracted military rule, civilian democracy was restored to our dear nation in 1999, and has now endured for 25 years, uninterrupted, and with strident hope for a future of democratic consolidation and prosperity for our people. All Nigerians must take pride in this remarkable achievement.
“Embedded in the idea of political democracy is the intrinsic and instrumental value of the sovereign power that it bestows on citizens to choose, of their own free will, those who govern as well as the power to hold them accountable through periodic elections and other constitutionally enshrined mechanisms.
“However, like with every human device and agency, democracy is not without its imperfections and challenges. Our country has had its fair share of setbacks, pain and disappointments. These are inevitable and inescapable by-products of democratic construction.
“But importantly, it has set us, irreversibly, on course to build a strong, vibrant and resilient nation. Democracy provides us the opportunity of essential freedom to harness our finest human and material resources, under the participatory authority of our people, for beneficial and sustainable governance.
“On the occasion of democracy’s silver jubilee, it is remarkably auspicious that our country is under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a veteran advocate and defender of democracy, an exemplary progressive and visionary whose contributions to the enthronement of democracy and nation building is simply monumental.
“In just over one year in office, President Tinubu administration has made impressive gains revamping our infrastructure to support the massive expansion of the Nigerian economy, implemented multi-sector reforms to remove age-long debilitating policy distortions and contradictions in the economy, tackled insecurity and revitalized the country’s security architecture, channeled resources to important social investments and poverty alleviation initiatives, initiated constructive engagements with relevant stakeholders aimed at achieving better wages and living standards for citizens.
“President Tinubu’s bold target of building a $1 Trillion economy for Nigeria in a few short years received amplified validation by the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) with its recent forecast that Nigeria’s economy would be nearly $2 trillion by 2029. There can be no better indication that the Renewed Hope Agenda is right on course, and that our best days are ahead.
“Being a clear-sighted democrat, President Tinubu is fully conscious of the existential challenges confronting our good people, particularly the unintended economic hardship of necessary policies that he has enacted to reset our economy for sustainable growth and development. This President, like others before him, could have taken the easy and convenient road, doing more of the same while our nation’s economic malaise festers.
“Demonstrating courage, President Tinubu decided to walk the difficult path and tackle those challenges at their roots. He remains steadfast and committed to delivering a better, safer, stronger and more prosperous country while taking deliberate and necessary measures to mitigate transient reform attendant hardships.
“We thank Nigerians for their unwavering support of President Tinubu’s administration and our great Party. We are confident that the democracy we celebrate today will usher in an era of economic freedom and secure a brighter future for our highly deserving citizens.
“… And so with peace and plenty, Nigeria may be blessed.”
Friday Olokor, Abuja
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