June 12: Regionalism’ll make Nigeria realise its lofty dreams, says Gani Adams

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has urged President Bola Tinubu to fulfil the dreams of a prosperous country to Nigerians on the occasion of the country’s Democracy Day celebration.

Adams added that the democracy icon, the late Moshood Abiola, on whose name the day is commemorated, stood for ‘justice, freedom, equity, liberty and sustainability of democratic tenets.’

He spoke in Lagos, on Monday during an event to mark the 30th anniversary of the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential elections.

Adams said the death of Abiola would not be in vain because democracy has come to stay in Nigeria.

He, however urged the president to review the constitution and look towards regionalism for the country.

He added, “We cannot achieve much if our democracy is tied to the 1999 constitution that we are using presently in Nigeria.

“The 1979 and 1999 constitutions are tools that the military imposed on us to preserve their atrocities.

“The constitutions have always remained the bane of Nigeria. That is why we are where we are at the moment.

“Unless we embrace regionalism, and let the federating units develop at their own paces, Nigeria may find it very difficult to realise its lofty dreams.

“With a new administration in power, there is a need for President Bola Tinubu to come up with a policy direction that has a human face,” he said.

Also speaking, at the event, the President of the Women Arise Initiative, Dr Joe Okei Odumakin, harped on the need to continue to re-invent ‘the spirit of June 12 in the national consciousness of every Nigerian’.

“Nigerians who put aside the primordial influence and voted for the late MKO Abiola must never give up,” she added.