“We finally had a
return to democracy in 1999 after 16 years of sometimes benevolent, most often
brutal military dictatorship. We have since then recorded 25 years of unbroken
democratic governance,” Tinubu said.
“We have learnt through bitter experience that the worst
form of democracy is far better than the best form of military autocracy.
“Specifically, in Nigeria, we have learnt that the cure for
bad democratic governance is more democracy.
“As one of our most
profound intellectuals, the late Professor Claude Ake once famously opined,
‘the people must learn to become their own political messiahs from bad
governance’.
“This can only be done through the instrumentality of
democracy.”
The president said the democratic system should not be
espoused to be politically correct, but because it provides responsible
governance.
“We do so because we believe that the ultimate purpose of
democracy must be to provide good, honest, and responsible governance that will
promote the greatest good for the greatest number of our people,” Tinubu said.
“Many times, such
evils as corruption, nepotism, inefficiency, and socio-economic difficulties
erode the trust and confidence of people in democracy and make military
dictatorship attractive.
“But the superior merit of democracy over authoritarian
regimes is that it offers the mechanism for peaceful change through the ballot
box.”
He said Africa has come of age and should “begin to fulfil
her historic destiny”.
“Africa can no longer afford to be the doormat of the world
— a continent of street beggar economies that perennially hold out begging
bowls for loans or aid,” Tinubu said.
“It is time for Africa to truly come of age and begin to
fulfil her historic destiny for the good of her people and the benefit of
humanity.”
