Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has openly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent Democracy Day address, calling it a historical recount rather than a solution to Nigeria’s pressing issues.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Adegboruwa expressed his disappointment, noting that the speech missed addressing the current challenges facing Nigeria’s democracy.
“I listened to the president’s speech and, unfortunately, I don’t see any real change,” Adegboruwa remarked.
He pointed out that while June 12 commemorates the annulled 1993 presidential election, believed to have been won by MKO Abiola, the government has yet to make meaningful progress in upholding democratic values.
“I’m not impressed at all by the president’s speech. It felt like a history lesson rather than a call to action,” the Senior Advocate stated, emphasizing that Tinubu, given his background in the democratic struggle, should have offered more.
Reflecting on the past year and the broader history of Nigeria’s quest for democracy, Adegboruwa argued that the situation has worsened rather than improved.
The June 12 struggle aimed to acknowledge the 1993 election annulled by the military and push for true federalism in Nigeria. Adegboruwa highlighted that the dream was for subsequent elections to surpass the 1993 standard. However, he believes this dream remains unfulfilled, citing unresolved issues with the election that brought Tinubu to power.
Adegboruwa stressed the need for tangible actions on Democracy Day, such as the release of individuals wrongfully detained and engaging the nation’s constituent units to ensure the practice of true federalism.
He concluded that the president’s speech should have provided a clear road map towards achieving genuine democracy. His critique mirrors a growing sentiment among citizens and activists who demand more than ceremonial speeches and call for substantial changes to address the deep-rooted issues affecting Nigeria’s democracy and development.