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Former Nigeria President goodlock A Bellay Jonathan
has called on all political actors, especially

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in Nigeria to listen the voices of
their citizens goodlock A Villa. Jonathan also

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recalled how eighteen elders from Northern Nigeria
route a later to the non military junta

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General Sani Abacha, which the former
Health of State ignored. Former President Jonathan

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led the call while speaking as the
chairman of the Democracy Republic Lecture with the

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team twenty five years of Imburian Democracy
Prospects for the Future at the Old grandpet

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Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja on
Tunesday, June elevels goodlock A villag Jonathan

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stated that previous democratic periods were cut
showed by military interventions, but the restoration

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of democracy in nineteen ninety nine marths
in good beginning. Jonathan said that the

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past twenty five years upon interruptive democracy
in Nigeria marks a significant mouston vespite present

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challenges. According to him, Nigeria
has seen economic growth, infrastructural development,

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advancements in arts and sports, and
peaceful political transitions in the past twenty five

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years. Excerpts remarked by His Excellency
DOTTR. Goodlock a Belly Jonathan, President

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Federal Republic of Nigeria, twenty ten, twenty fifteen at the twenty five twenty

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four Democracy the Electure SI twenty five
years of endearing Democracy the Prospect for the

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Future, Abuja, June tenth,
twenty twenty four. I am pleased to

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join you all at these very significant
events. I found the Federal Government for

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inviting me to cheer the twenty twenty
four Democracy Day Anniversary public lecture, a

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momentous occasion to mark our nation of
twenty five years of uninterrupted democracy. Twenty

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five years ago. On May twenty
nineth, nineteen ninety nine, the Fourth

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Republic was birked and our national embound
on the historic journey that will for our

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share our country’s future. Against all
odds, we emerge from the shadows of

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military rule and ussher in the new
era of democratic governance. This achievement is

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a testament to the resilience, courage
and gron wavering the termination of the Nigerian

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people. At this point, let
me command General Abussolani or Bubaka, who

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stood against all temptations and pressure to
prolong military rule in Nigeria. Today,

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we look back with a sense of
gratitude to God and appreciation to many of

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the heroes of our nation who,
through self lessons and courage, work towards

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the democracy that we enjoy today.
When we mentioned June twelfth, we remember

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Chief mk or A Yola for his
contributions to the consolidation of our democracy.

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We also remember the firmous letters signed
by eighteen Northern Elders and delivered by Chief

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Solomon lah al Hajji Amuba Khaimi Malam
Adamuchi Roma and then Joda and Chief Soneyawuni

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to General Sani Abacha demanding the return
of Nigeria to democratic rule. The signator

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is to the letter where Chief Solomon
lah al Hajji Adamuchi Roma, al Hajji

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Lawal Kaita al Hajji Abubaka Remi,
the Liyochia Ayu, Professor Ambo Abdullahi dot

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To Suleman Kumar, Malam Lawan Dambazao
al Hajjairo Amuba Ka Da Lusa, al

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Hajji sule Lanlido, Professor Jerry Ghana, Colonel Abubaka Uma Retired Honorable Isaac Shahu

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dodtr Usman Buga Jay al Hajji Muhammad
Azaka. Dr Steve Achima, Professor Musayakumu

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Dodtr Farok Ablazei is considering our political
history as a country twenty five years upon

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working democracy is a Maleston body of
celebration as it shows we are making some

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progress in democratic governance despite the challenges
we friends in our journey of nation rude.

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Notably, the path towards democratic consolidation
has been a difficult one. The

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first sir called and tone republics of
our democratic experiment were abruptly ended by the

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military amid political crisis and social tensions
after the G eighteen. Later on the

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S nineteen ninety eight, members of
the G thirty four in a later signed

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by Doctor Alett’s Economy, the former
vice president had also owned General Abacha to

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reject his adoption as presidential candidate and
quit power. The return of democracy in

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nineteen ninety nine after many years of
military reign signaled an inference in our national

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journey and our short region of unity, peace and progress. In the last

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twenty five years, we have learned
modest progress in this regard amid sub challenges.

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As a nation, we built an
economy that was once the biggest in

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the African continent, experienced significant infrastructural
growths, nets tries in the arts and

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sports, and recorded many peaceful political
transitions at the national and subnational levels.

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Democracy has also brought about improved access
to governance, amplified silent voices, and

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reinforced the idea of sovereignty. Whenever
it into Nigerian TV stations, especially in

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the morning and sea, young men
and women discussing an interrogating contemporary political issues

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and holding leaders to account a itterme
God for democracy and appreciate the games may

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have heard over the years. Today, citizens have come to terms with the

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idea of representative governance as to have
over the years expressed their power to choose

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their leaders and demand accountable leadership and
good governance. Our civil express has largely

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flourished with a volgant civil society community, increased medial freedoms and an active praise.

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Our journey to democratic consolidation has not
been an easy one. It has

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been a mixed round of gains and
losses, progress and pay. Within these

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twenty five years, we have continued
to deal with the issues of insecurity,

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social equality, on employment, as
well as electoral disputes and violence. Despite

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the challenges associated with democracy. The
general feeling is that citizens prefer democracy to

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any other form of government. As
a nation, our result has been challenged

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many times, but through shelfare and
unity, we have continued to march on.

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We must understand the fact that democracy
is a journey and not a destination.

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Our democracy, those still young,
has weathered storms, overcome challenges,

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and promonates and gave orrants. It
has become a beacon of hope, not

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just for our nation, but for
the entire African continent. In these twenty

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five years, two four power transitions
from one president to another, including the

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deaths of the citant president, we
have sent the gradual strengthening of our democratic

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institutions, the expansion of civil liberties, and the active participation of our citizenry

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in the political process. This progress, while commendable, also reminds us that

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our work is far from dawn.
It is therefore try to rend those journey

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similars through good citizenship, patriotic service, as well as superficial and exemplaries towardship.

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We must continue to boom upon the
foundations led deepen our democratic roots and

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then show that the dividends of democracy
are felt by all Nigerians, regardless of

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their social, economic, or geographic
status. For democracy to yield its desired

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dividends, the political class and the
lads must lead by example and work with

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the unity of purpose to guarantee pees
and social justice to the citizens. We

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must work together despite our political differences, accommodate our diversity and prioritize policies that

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will impact the lives of our citizens. As we project towards celebrating the goal

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jubili of our uninterrupted democracy, it
is imperative to state that we need to

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work assiliously towards for the strengthening state
institutions so that we can withstand the shots

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that threatens democratic gobalance. Democracy as
a form of government is uncaught on sets

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of promises in line with the nation’s
development and growth aspirations. The fulfillment of

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these promises reinforcing the citizens’ trust and
first in the government. As we celebrate

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twenty five years of on working democracy, we move to the future with the

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hope that democracy has come to stay
and that democracy will continue to tell fun

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holds in our nation and we will
have cause to celebrate a centenary of uninterrupted

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democratic gobalance to attend such a feat. The political actors and everyone at the

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helm of affairs in this country must
listen to the voices of the citizens.

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The lifestyle of the political class should
reflect the current realities in our land.

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As I round off, let me
say that we need to come up with

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a model of democratic practice that will
be more inclusive and reinforce social opreation.

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The zero is some kind of politics
where a winner takes it all has not

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helped to foster unity and political justice. A political party that scores up to

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thirty percent of the in an election
at federal or states should not lose everything.

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We need to come up with innovative
solutions that will address the challenge of

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political exclusion that utually comes up after
elections. Zeros on politics has over the

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years promoted desperation, agitations and disunity. We need to work out a model

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that guarantees political inclusion and promotes unity
and tolerance in the quality. Let me

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conclude by saying that together we can
forge a Nigeria where every citizen has a

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voice, where opportunity is about,
and where the promise of the Vetter tomorrow

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is not just a dream but a
tangible reality. Let us THEREFO celebrate this

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milestone with pride and renewed determination.
Let us ensure that the next twenty five

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years of our democracy are even more
transformative, more inclusive, and more prosperous

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for all. In line with the
wardens of our national anthem to handle out

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to our children a banner without staying, we must not handle out to our

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children. A democracy built on politics
of region and religion. Democracy built on

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ethnicity does not endule, It will
continue to warble. I believe this program

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and others commemorating this landmark will point
the way to that glorial’s future and prepare

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the nation for a and centinary celebrations
entering democracy. I thank you all.

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He has a military ring signal a
new phase in our national journey and a

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sheer vision of unity, peace and
progress. In the last twenty five years,

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we ad made more as progress in
this regard amid some challenges PASCI nation.

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We built an economy that was once
the biggest in Africa and the African

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continent. We experienced significantly infrastrctural groith, mixed rights in the acts and sports,

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and recorded many peaceful political transitions at
the national and subnational levels. Democracy

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has also brought about improved assets to
governance, amplified violent voices, and reinforced

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the idea of sovereignty. Whenever I
tuned to Nigeria television stations, especially in

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the morning, and I see young
men and women discussing and interrogating susual issues

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and holding government accountable, I always
appreciate democracy. Today citizens have come to

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terms with the idea of representative governance
as they have over the years expressed their

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power to choose their leaders and demand
accountable leadership and good governance. Our civic

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e spress has largely flourished with a
vibrant civil society community, increased media freedoms

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and very very active press. Our
journey to democratic consolidation has not been an

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easy one. It has been a
mixed bag of gains and losses, progress

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and pain. We have continued to
deal with the issue of insecurity, to

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00:10:03,480 –> 00:10:11,080
shoal inequality, unemployment, as well
as electoral disputes and violence. Despite the

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challenges associated with democracy, the general
feelings is that citizens prefer democracy to any

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other form of government, not only
in Nigeria but almost across the world as

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a nation. I resolved has been
challenged many times, but Ruscia, faith

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and unity. We have continued to
mention and we will continue to mention womtion.

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That’s called the fact that democracy is
a journey and not a destination.

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Our democracy true, our democracy don’t
still young. As a way that storms

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overcome challenges and proving its endurance.
It has become a beacon of hope,

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not just for an was for the
entire continent in diffent five years. Through

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for power transition from one president to
the other. I’m not talking about the

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election, but like King Gibby said, to president handover to themselves. But

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were four situations where presidents hand over
to another president, even in the case

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where a sitting president died. These
are challenges that could have brought this republic

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to another end, but we survived
it. Democratic institutions have been expanded.

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This progress will while this progress,
while commendable, also remind us that our

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work it’s not yet done. We
still have more to do. It is

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there for time to make this journey
seamless through goods, reship, patratic service

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as well as sacrificial and exemplary still
worship who must continue to build upon the

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Foundation’s leads a democratic to roots and
ensure that the dividends of democracy are felled

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by all Nigerians, regardless of the
economic status, or social status or geographical

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status. For democracy to yield is
the Zaire dividends. The publical class.

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The publical class and elite must lead
by example and work with humunity of purpose

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to guarantee peace and social justice to
the citizens. And our lifestyle must reflect

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that we’re elected people. A situation
where children of political office holders go to

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parties and start sprying dollars is not
the kind of democracy we want to witness

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in this country. We must work
together despite our political differences, accommodate our

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diversity, and prioritize policies that will
impact the lives of our citizens. As

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to project towards celebrating a golden jubilee
of o unentire plate democracy, which I

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believe with will we are celebrating twenty
five years will also celebrate the golden jubilee.

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It’s imperative to state that we need
to work assidiously towards for the strengthening

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state institutions so that they can withstand
the shops that threaten democratic governance. Democracy

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as a form of government is anchored
on sets of promises in line with the

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nation’s development and great aspilations. The
fulfillment of these promises reinforces the citizens’ trust

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and fit in the government. As
we celebrate in five years of unbrooking democracy,

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we look to a dificial with the
hope that democracy has come to stay

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and that democracy will continue to take
film roots in our nation, and we

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will have cause to celebrate a centenary
of uninterrupted democratic governance. Of course,

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we wish our grandchildren luck to celebrate
that to attend source a fee. The

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political actors and everyone at the helm
of affairs in this country must listen to

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the voices of the citizens. As
a Randolph, let me say that we

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00:14:39,159 –> 00:14:43,840
need to come up with a model
of democratic practice that would be more inclusive,

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00:14:45,720 –> 00:14:52,480
reinforces social coercion. The zero some
kind of politics where winner takes it

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all has not helped to foster unity
and political justice. The political for example,

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does go up to thirty percent of
votes during an election, either at

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the national or sub national levels,
so have something to go home with.

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I’m not clearly recommending for a personal
represented station, but different governments come up

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with models of democracy that sue them. After all, the presidency we’re talking

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about all presidents of this country.
What presence of the world don’t image to

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the sim process Nagither we elect a
president directly, No other countries’ presence are

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elected indirectly. The powers of the
presidents are defined by different constructions, and

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so on and so forth. So
our National Assembly can also look at models

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that would suit us. The zero
sum that a party to give you sometimes

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get forty percent of votes at especially
at the state levels, will have nothing

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give rise to this do or die
politics. That is awsome approach I think

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is synemical to console the digital streateling
a democracy. Let me conclude by saying

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that together we can fall in Nigeria
where every citizen has a voice, where

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opportunities are bound, and where the
promise of a better tomorrow it’s not just

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a dream but a tangible reality.
Let us therefore celebrate this milestone with pride

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and a new determination. Let us
ensure that the next twenty five years of

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our democracy are even more transformative and
inclusive and more prosperous for all of us,

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in line with rewardings of our national
anthem. Thinks the second Stanger to

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hand over to our children a banner
with our sting. We must not found

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over to our achievedren A democracy built
on politics of reigion. Religion, a

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democracy duel ethnicity does not endeal.
It will continue to warbble. So for

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the Wonderbood, Vice President, the
represent also the President for me, we

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are hoping that you build more infrastructure
for us, improve the quality of education,

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health facilities, et cetera, et
cetera. But one key thing that

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for the next twenty five years you
will need wife because you are starting the

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next one five years, is to
build a democracy that will reduce friction.

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The advalance of litigations that follow every
land of election in Nigeria is very embarrassing

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and because of the kind of democracy
we practice. The democracy build on all

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kinds of sentiments, either the way
you worship your God or from the map

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of the country you come from.
You will have to gradually make sure that

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in the next and five years this
is diluted if we must have a solid

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and enduring democracy. And I know
you and the President Bolamet who was the

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Ortune twelve crisis, have the capacity
to navigate through that process. I believe

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this program and others commemorating this landmark
will point the way to that glorious sisure

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and prepared the nation for a golden
and stendary celebrations of enduring democracy. I

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thank you all, lady in a
morggital