APC, Ihedioha seek protection, defence of nation’s democracy

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha have urged Nigerians to protect and defend Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy, as the country celebrates its democracy day.

APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Oninu, gave the party’s charge in a statement in Abuja yesterday as it joined in celebrating the country’s first Democracy Day on June 12.

He urged Nigerians to continue to appreciate the importance and significance of the event, by guarding the country’s democracy, while nothing that many compatriots paid the ultimate price.

Democracy Day in Nigeria is being celebrated on June 12 this year for the first time instead of May 29 endorsed by President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

The change is symbolic for the country as it experienced more years of military rule than democratic government.

President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Democracy Day Bill into law on June 10, specifying that June 12 now replaced May 29, which was introduced in 1999 as the official Democracy Day.

By this piece of legislation, the new date would also henceforth be recognised as national public holiday by the Federal Government.

Following the signing of the law, May 29 would only be marked as handover and inauguration day of incoming administrations in the country.

“Today’s celebration is not only significant in the annals of our political history, but also momentous in all ramifications.

Besides, Ihedioha has advised Nigerians to stand firm, defend and uphold the country’s democracy at all times.

He made the call in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Chibuike Onyeukwu yesterday on the sidelines of the June 12 as Democracy Day, stressing that his and other people’s involvement in returning Nigeria to civil rule, made it necessary for all Nigerians to help protect it.

Ihedioha also stressed the need to institutionalise the day as a national public holiday and urged Nigerians to uphold and defend the significance of the day as a national holiday.