By Francis Nansak, Lafia
Contrary to the belief of many Nigerians on the elaborate celebration of June 12 as Democracy Day, Sam Mallam, the Nasarawa State Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has towed a differing line by revealing what he says led to the shift from May 29.
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent on Friday, he said although the change of date was to acknowledge the contributions of NADECO heroes who fought to entrench democracy, and to remember when democracy was aborted through the military annulment by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
Mr. Mallam further revealed that while the change of date became imperative, it was not done in good faith by the APC-led administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
He described it as an enactment designed to disparage and discredit the achievements of then President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007.
In his words: “Yes, to my opinion I see nothing wrong with the new date against the usual celebration of May 29. But on the other hand, the shift from my view was an act of mala fide, simply to make a mockery of the PDP-led administration under OBJ. My reasoning is not far-fetched because then President Obasanjo benefited from the struggles of NADECO leaders.
“However, no matter the inadequacies in democracy, it is still the best and better than military rule. That is why many argue that the substitute for democracy is more democracy, and that is why I personally subscribe to it,” he posited.
Adding his voice to the current spate of insecurity, he said the matter has reached an unprecedented crescendo, such that there is hardly a community in this country that can say it sleeps with its two eyes closed. He insisted that government and citizens alike must put their hands on deck.
He called on the present administration to do all it can to restore Nigerians’ hope in democratic leadership. “Nigerians are tired of speeches made in the media with claims of being on top of insecurity. The more government makes such claims, the more insurgency rises, making it a recurring decimal,” he quarrels.
On the upcoming 2027 general election, Mr. Mallam expressed dismay at the way the institution charged with prosecuting a credible process operates. “INEC is too fragile and lacks independent operation. Until the system is tightened, the outcome of our elections will remain the same full of malpractices and inappropriate certification of winners,” he said.
The Nasarawa State APGA chairman boasted of his party’s friendliness and concern for family development, pointing out that it is the best option for Nigerians to deliver the dividends of democracy. According to him, with the support being given to APGA, especially in Nasarawa State after the primaries where candidates have emerged, he is sure of victory come 2027.
