From Umar Dankano,Yola
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa state has threw a passionate aopeal to citizens in the state to rally round his second term administration for more devidends of democracy.
Governor Fintiri made the appeal while extending his felicitations to citizens of the State and country at large on the occasion of Democracy Day celebrations held yesterday.
In a press statement issued in Yola on Monday by the Fintiri’s Chief Press Secretary,Mr.Humwashi Wonosikou and made available to the media indicated that, the Governor who expressed delight over Nigeria’s unbroken democracy since the return to civil rule in 1999 described it as the triumph of freedom.
“Twenty-seven years ago, we witnessed a scene that had once seemed impossible — an election where, for the first time, the people of this nation had a choice-unanimously agreeing to ensure democracy thrives.”
Governor Fintiri noted that though it was thwarted, 1999 saw a new beginning as the event turned out to be a landslide victory for freedom as it ushered in the beginning of the end of military rule.
“And we have seen the extraordinary progress since that time. As Nigeria today is standing tall as proud democracies.
“Regrettably, despite our state being a peaceful one,the recent ugly happenings of the Adamawa election where some elements tried to subvert the will of the people.
“I am commending the resilience of those who stood to preserve democracy by ensuring the right thing is done.
“We must never forget that the spark for so much of this revolution, this blossoming of hope, was lit by you, the people of Adamawa. It was the culmination of the struggles of those who rose up and finally won and those who resisted enemies of democracy.
“History will remember you for standing for the truth. You are our heroes of democracy.
“This is the Nigeria we celebrate today. The free and democratic nation that our forebears and some who are here today dreamed of and fought for and, in some cases, died for.”The statement added.
While commending the spirit of oneness exhibited by Nigerians 27 years ago, Governor Fintiri urged for a return to that kind of spirit where a projected 14 million Nigerians – ignored tribe, religion, class, sectional propensity and even harsh conditions to elect their president with the hope of instituting representative governance and enjoying the dividends of democracy; a process that was, however, tragically annulled.
Governor Fintiri said that the people must learn to imbibe that spirit they were once known for and put away sentiments and see ourselves first as Nigerians for the much needed change.
Meanwhile, in commemoration of the 2023 Democracy Day, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has granted pardon to two prisoners in the state stressing that, the inmates were granted pardon based on their good conducts right from the different dates of their conviction.
“In the spirit of the 2023 Democracy Day, and in the exercise of the powers conferred on me as Governor in Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), after due consultation with The State Advisory Council On Prerogative of Mercy, I have granted various categories of pardon to two prisoners for their good conduct. The two Prisoners as aforementioned should have the remainder of their sentences remitted whole.”
