Let’s Immortalise Heroes of June 12 by Guarding Our Democracy, Declares Akume

OlawaleAjimotokanin Abuja

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has appealed to Nigerians to re-dedicate themselves to the ideals of nation-building and the rule of law, ensuring that democracy was guarded as a way of immortalising the heroes of June 12 struggle.

He made the entreaty yesterday on the occasion of the public lecture of Nigeria’s 26th Democracy Day celebration, at the State House, Abuja.

The SGF noted that democracy became a reality in the country because many people either fought, disappeared, or died, were brutalised, imprisoned or lost limbs for the struggle.

He said the country owed those victims a debt of gratitude, adding that Democracy Day celebration would not have been possible were it not for the commitment and determination of the ordinary Nigerian citizens, who stood strong in the face of military oppression, brutality and rights denial.

“The June 12 struggle was a watershed as millions of our country men and women poured out on the streets from Lagos to Ilorin, Kaduna to Kano, Ibadan to Makurdi, Bauchi to Jos, Port Harcourt to Enugu.

“From the towns and villages, the cry to democracy and just coalesced into a movement, The June 12 movement. That movement birthed Nigeria’s new democratic journey.

“We are here today because many fought. Many died. Many were brutalized. Many disappeared. Many lost limbs. Many were Imprisoned. Many gave up all their resources and many never recovered. To all of them we owe a debt of gratitude.

“We can only immortalize them by ensuring that we guide and guard our democracy. That we work to bring development to Nigeria. Democracy without development is empty and is bound to fail,” Akume said.