Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, has explained why President Bola Tinubu did not deliver a “state of the nation” address at the joint sitting of the national assembly.
Speaking on Wednesday before Tinubu entered the green
chamber, Abbas said all activities and speeches to mark Democracy Day would
take place on June 12.
BACKGROUND
The national assembly had said Tinubu would deliver an address on the “state of the nation” at the joint sitting of the senate and house of representatives.
The national assembly also said Femi Gbajabiamila, who
served as speaker of the 9th house from 2019 to 2023, would deliver a paper on
‘Reflections on the house’; while David Mark, president of the 6th and 7th
senate from 2007 to 2015, would speak on ‘Reflections on the senate’.
Abdulsalami Abubakar, former head of state, was also
expected to deliver a paper on ‘Reflections on the Journey to democracy’.
Bayo Onanuga, the presidential special adviser on
information and strategy, also corroborated the national assembly statement,
noting that Tinubu’s address at the parliament is part of the activities to
mark his one year in office.
However, in a separate statement, Ajuri Ngelale, special
adviser to the president on media and publicity, said Tinubu would not address
the national assembly.
“In view of public commentary concerning the President
delivering a speech before a Joint Sitting of the National Assembly tomorrow,
May 29, 2024, it is important to state that this information is false and
unauthorized as the Office of the President was not involved in the planning of
the event,” Ajuri said.
‘WE ERRED’
Abbas said the national assembly erred by inviting Tinubu to address a joint session on May 29.
“Mr president has other commitments after the national
assembly engagement. He is supposed to be at the commissioning of the light
rail station somewhere in town,” Abbas said.
“His presence here today will be lately to symbolise the
commencement of the use of the of the national anthem.
“He might not be able to give any speech. All the speeches
coming from us too are not going to take place. June 12 is supposed to be the real
Democracy Day, not May 29.
“It was an error from us. Mr president has acknowledged our
shortcomings in that regard and advised that whatever ceremony we have,
whatever speech we have should be reserved for June 12.
“That will be the day
that we will all convene to actually celebrate democracy. Distinguish senators
and honourable members; forgive us for this lapse.”
Former President Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 as
Democracy Day in 2018.
Before 2018, the nation’s Democracy Day was celebrated on
May 29, to mark the day Nigeria transitioned to civilian rule in 1999.
Buhari changed Democracy Day to June 12 to honour the
significance of the 1993 election.
Moshood Abiola, a businessman, was announced as the winner
of the presidential election in 1993 but was annulled by the then-military
government led by Ibrahim Babangida.
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