Tinubu’s response to one-party state accusations, real masterstroke – Sajoh

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Ahmad Sajoh, former Adamawa Commissioner for Information and Strategy and Public Commentator, has described President Bola Tinubu’s response to the Issue of enthroning a one party state on the polity as real masterstroke.

Sajoh stated this in his reaction to Tinubu’s Democracy Day address at the National Assembly on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that the president was both forceful and diplomatic in addressing the issue.

“While displaying his democratic credentials as a defender of multi-party democracy, the president was quick to acknowledge the fact that he was elected under the banner of a political party whose fortune he will gladly advance.

“That was a real masterstroke. It is now left for political leaders to read in between the lines of the presidential pronouncements in order to put their acts together in defending our multi-party democracy,” he said.

Sajoh said that one of the most significant aspects of the speech was the assurance by the president to respect freedom of speech, saying it was a fundamental prerequisite for a democratic culture.

According to him, democracy is about freedoms, and freedom of speech is a prime freedom.

He said it was important to note that such an assurance coming from President Tinubu was absolutely believable, adding that no one in Nigeria today is in jail as a result of the adverse comments he or she made against the president.

“By using the National Assembly to make this important declaration the President is sending a very strong message not just to the legislators but to all elected and appointed leaders.

“The president reminded them to note that public office attracts adverse comments, it’s always part of the package.

“One area I find very interesting is how the President who was once a member of the National Assembly went down memory lane to eulogize the National Assembly as defenders of our democratic ideals.

“He recalled the botched third term agenda and the role of the peoples representatives in foiling it.

“He spoke of the doctrine of necessity and of course the earlier attempt by the National Assembly to which he belonged to defy the Military.

“Many younger persons today may not realize how significant these courageous steps were unless reminded as the president did,” he added.

Sajoh commended the president for ensuring that state governments do not owe their workers salaries and do not borrow to pay, saying it was a monumental achievement often taken for granted.

According to him, the posthumous honours awards are equally commendable and the families of the awardees must be proud that a fellow pro-democracy activist had deemed it fit to remember those he was in the trenches with for such recognition.

“They may not be around today, but their memories mean a lot for the democracy we enjoy today.

“On the whole the address was befitting of the occasion and remains one of the most important state of democracy speeches presented by the President,” he said. (NAN)