PRESS TEXT ISSUED BY HIGH CHIEF DR SELKY KILE TORUGHEDI (AKA GENERAL YOUNG SHALL GROW)ON THE OCCASSION OF THE JUNE 12TH 2021 DEMOCRACY DAY CELEBRATION

Gentlemen of the Press,

It gives me joy as a patriotic Nigerian to always contribute my quota to the development process of the Nigerian State. Despite not being a political office holder, it becomes very necessary to add my voice to the democratization process.

The memories of June 12th 1993, to many Nigerians represents electoral responsibility, it represented the image of a working, workable, transparent, free and fair electoral process of the 1990s. It also represents the power of resilience and the unity of purpose demonstrated by Nigerians in collectively ensuring peaceful electioneering process.

In recent years, President Muhammadu Buhari went on to declare that Chief MKO Abiolo was the rightful winner of the June 12th 1993. The President went further to confer the highest National Title on the Late Chief MKO Abiola, despite the fact that he was never sworn in.

It was a good thing that President Buhari took that decision, and later assented to the bill to move Nigeria’s Democracy Day Celebration from May 29th, the date the military handed over to civil rule in 1999, to June 12th. His motives were largely good and the June 12th proposal has come to stay as Nigeria’s New Democracy Day. It is a welcome development, the thoughts are not far from the fact that the Nigerian State did her citizens the greatest disfavour of denying them the opportunity of having a winner and a substantive democratically elected President in 1993. President Muhammadu Buhari apologized to Nigerians, the Yoruba nation and the Family of Chief MKO Abiola for what happened.

My fellow Nigerians, we have come a long way in the struggle for the development of our democracy. And like all emerging democracies, there are attendant challenges in the quest for growth and development of strong democratic institutions which will continue to deliver on the mandate of producing good leaders as a catalyst for Nigeria’s development. There is need to consolidate on our gains and face our challenges squarely.

We are confronted with security challenges which has led to the loss of thousands of lives in every part of the country. From Boko Haram in the North East, Banditry in the North West, continuous attacks by suspected armed herdsmen in Central Nigeria, South West and parts of South South and the activities of unknown gunmen in the South East. The gallant officers and men of the Nigerian security forces have been gaining grounds in diminishing the capacities of these enemies of our Commonwealth. Many challenges avail, hence as a duty, we must not shy away from pointing out areas of improvement.
May I use this opportunity to sympathize with the families of all those who lost their loved once to all forms of insecurity across the country. May their souls rest in peace.

Our corporate existence as a Nation is once again being threatened. The plethora of National challenges the Federal and State Governments are confronted with have hampered meaningful resolutions of pressing lingering issues that have continued to hunt the Nigerian State. More practical efforts must be made by all critical stakeholders including the Federal Government to ensure that all sections of Nigeria are carried along and given a sense of belonging. Nigeria is the only Country which our ancestor fought so hard to to maintain its unity, and as a responsibility, we must ensure that our children inherit a united, working and productive nation. We must unite with purpose to address these National challenges and ensure that Nigeria works for all Nigerians irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliations. Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians.

My fellow Nigerian Youths, our exploits across the world is a testament of our capacity, resilience and continuous increase in strength in over powering the world’s challenges. Our future depends on our ability to unite against the enemies of our future. Nigeria is workable, critical reforms are requires to ensure the workability of the system for all Nigerians. The current state of the system is in serious need of redress, and like all democracies, structural reforms are subjected to constitutional processes that will institutionalize the desired changes as a legacy for future generations.

Dear Nigerian Youths, our voices have been heard and our freedom of expression can not be denied. However, we must desist from criminal activities and the vandalization of our common infrastructure. We must help security agencies protect our hospitals, schools and other structures put in place to deliver of the social contract of governance. This will provide the necessary peaceful environment required for our businesses to thrive, leading to economic prosperity. We must demonstrate the same resilience we demonstrated in overcoming the economic hardship inflicted by the deadly COVID-19. Nigeria will survive!

Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!

Sign,
High Chief Dr Selky Mile Torughedi (General Young Shall Grow)
Grand Commander Nigerian Youths, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN)
Turakin Matasa, Northern Youth Assembly of Nigeria (NYAN).

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Democracy Day: High Chief Dr. Selky Kile Calls on Nigerians to Demonstrate Resilience to Tackle Economic Hardship