Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a distinguished Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent June 12 Democracy Day speech, describing it as a mere historical account that fails to address the pressing issues of the present.
Adegboruwa expressed his disappointment, emphasizing that the speech did not effectively tackle the critical challenges plaguing Nigeria’s democracy.
“After listening to the president’s speech, I regret to say that I cannot agree that anything has changed,” Adegboruwa asserted.
He argued that despite commemorating the significance of June 12, which marks the annulled 1993 presidential election believed to have been won by MKO Abiola, the government has made little progress in upholding democratic principles.
“Unfortunately, the President’s speech is merely a recitation of history. I am sorry, but I am not at all impressed by it,” the Senior Advocate remarked, highlighting the expectation for more substantial contributions from someone like Tinubu, who played a prominent role in the democratic struggle and now holds a position of power.
“In my opinion, looking at the past year and our collective history since the inception of our democracy, things have worsened, and nothing has truly changed,” the rights activist emphasized.
Adegboruwa noted that the June 12 struggle aimed to recognize the annulled 1993 election and to establish true federalism in Nigeria.
He expressed disappointment in the prolonged delay in realizing these aspirations, pointing out that even the elections that brought Tinubu to power raised numerous unanswered questions.
“On a day like this, all Nigerians who are wrongfully held in custody should be released,” Adegboruwa stated, expecting that constituent units of the nation should engage in discussions to determine if Nigeria’s current practices align with the principles of a true federation.
The Senior Advocate emphasized that the June 12 commemoration should provide Nigerians with a roadmap for achieving genuine democracy, an essential aspect that he believes was lacking in the President’s speech.
Adegboruwa’s remarks echo the growing sentiment among citizens and activists who believe that substantive changes are needed beyond ceremonial speeches to address the deep-rooted issues undermining Nigeria’s democracy and development.
