ABUJA, NIGERIA – Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish a national museum dedicated to the memory of the June 12 democratic struggle, describing it as “a living archive” to preserve the sacrifices that led to Nigeria’s return to democracy.
Speaking during the 2025 Democracy Day celebration and the President’s State of the Nation Address at the National Assembly, Akpabio said, “Nations that forget their past lose the moral compass for their future.”
Recalling the annulled June 12, 1993 election, Akpabio said, “Nigeria did not just lose an election; she lost her innocence.” He added that the struggle that followed marked the beginning of Nigeria’s democratic rebirth.
He praised President Tinubu as “a symbol of democratic resistance,” noting his personal sacrifices and active role in NADECO during the military era. “While others chose silence or compromise, you chose courage,” Akpabio told Tinubu.
He emphasized that June 12 is not merely a day to recall political victories but to honor the “faith of the Nigerian people in democracy—a faith that survived betrayal, braved teargas, defied armored tanks, endured silence, and still chose the ballot over the bullet.”
The Senate President also highlighted legislative achievements under the 10th National Assembly, which marks its second anniversary this week. He noted that 844 bills have been introduced, with 96 passed and 52 signed into law by President Tinubu. “This is a record for any Nigerian Senate at this stage,” Akpabio said.
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Bills passed include reforms on education, local government autonomy, regional commissions, and tax policies. He added that 26 Executive Bills have been acted upon, and 80 public petitions received, 18 of which have been fully adopted, reflecting growing public trust in the institution.
Akpabio praised Tinubu’s economic policies, including the unification of the foreign exchange market, removal of fuel subsidies, and efforts to attract foreign investment. He said these reforms are gradually restoring investor confidence and laying the foundation for long-term growth.
“Democracy is not a gift,” Akpabio warned, urging youth not to treat it with apathy and the media to uphold accountability through responsible journalism.
Calling for stronger cooperation between government branches, he said, “Where governance is a partnership, progress follows. But where governance is a contest, the people suffer.”
He concluded by reaffirming the National Assembly’s commitment to policies that “uplift the poor, empower the youth, and defend the dignity of every citizen.”