A Chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Osita Opara has congratulated Nigerians “on their doggedness in defence of democracy”, saying the recent peaceful conduct of APC Presidential primary election was a testament of the country’s commitment to democracy.
Opara, a one-time Chairman of Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo stated this in an interview with journalists on the occasion of the country’s democracy day in Abuja on Sunday.
He commended Nigerians for their resilience and commitment to democratization process.
He said Nigeria had since inception of the present democracy affirmed renewed determination to preserve and protect the process.
“Nigerians treasured democracy so much and guarded it jealously, irrespective of the challenges and brazen shortcomings.
“We are not where we are supposed to be but we are at least somewhere better than where we were before,” he said.
He explained that Nigerians would continue to uphold the tenets of democracy aimed at elongating the democratization process.
“The worst democracy is better than the best military regime,’’ the APC chieftain said.
He, however, saluted the leadership qualities of President Muhammadu Buhari and other heroes of democracy in efforts to preserve the country’s democracy.
Buhari had in 2018 declared June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, in place of May 29.
Similarly, two young men trekked 205kms to drum support for the governorship candidate of the APC in Bauchi State, retired Air Marshal Saddique Abubakar.
They are Abu Samaila, 35, and Abubakar Yusuf, 25 and had walked from Azare in Katagum Local Government Area of the state to Bauchi, the capital city, within three days.
They said that they trekked to celebrate the victory of Abubakar at the recent APC primary election.
Abubakar, a former Chief Air Staff (CAS), defeated seven others to pick the gubernatorial ticket of the state.
According to them, the trekking was part of their love for the candidacy of Abubakar and in appreciation of his past contributions to national development.
They explained that it was their idea to embark on the trekking without consulting anybody or announcing their intention.
The two men said Abubakar had done much for the state and the country, adding that he brought several developments to the state to deserve such celebrations at elections.
