Leader of Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, has said Nigeria’s democracy and development was a work in progress requiring all hands to be on deck.
In a congratulatory message to mark Democracy Day on June 12, made available to newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday, Fasoranti said that the anniversary was to remind Nigerians that irrespective of ethnic or religious inclinations, they could work together in tackling the challenges facing the country.
The Afenifere leader said he was confident that with the right attitude, visionary leadership and patriotic citizenry, Nigeria could attain the heights envisioned by its leaders, who fought for independence.
He said that while the people celebrate sustained democratic rule in the country on this auspicious occasion, they should also be reminded that democratic practice remains a work in progress.
Fasoranti urged all compatriots, particularly the civil society groups, to collaborate with other progressive forces to deepen democratic practice and processes in Nigeria.
The Afenifere leader said deepening democratic practice in the county was for the benefit of this generation and generations yet unborn.
“As another Democracy Day is being observed on June 12, 2025, I, on behalf of Afenifere Worldwide, wish to heartily congratulate Nigerians on this momentous milestone.
“It is a milestone because it represents the day democracy and civil rule were reclaimed and restored in Nigeria, after a prolonged, destabilising military rule.
“Without doubt, the sustained and uninterrupted democratic rule since 1999, is a product of the sacrifices and commitment of our heroes and heroines in the civil society groups, and other well-meaning compatriots, who along with Afenifere, coalesced into the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) to constitute the vanguard of progressive forces that ensured the restoration of democracy and the birth of the fourth republic.”
Fasoranti said this year’s Democracy Day was the second in the life of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The Afenifere leader commended the President for embarking on road projects to further connect the country and ease economic growth.
He said that Tinubu not only ensured that the Lagos to Calabar Coastal Highway project, the long-awaited infrastructure, see the light of the day, but was fast-tracked and done with the best quality.
The Afenifere leader commended him for similar important road networks across the country such as Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano, 9th Mile-Otukpo Expressway, Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa Road, Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin Expressway, Ore-Owo-Akure Road, among others.
Fasoranti also acknowlesged the government’s institution of Students Loan Scheme, provision of tuition-free and free feeding for students of Technical Colleges and efforts to breath life into local governments by granting them autonomy.
The Afenifere leader further commended the efforts made by the President towards taming the menace which insecurity had become in the country.
He said: “We, in Afenifere, share the view of many other patriotic Nigerians that establishing State Police appear to be the panacea for this scourge that tends to be making living or travelling in certain parts of the country a nightmare.
“I am therefore seizing this opportunity to call on the federal and states’ governments to establish State Police along with Community Policing system forthwith.”
He said that this was to ensure an enduring framework for unity and progress in the county, while reiterating the group’s strong view, that Nigeria must be fully restructured.
