Shunning June 12 Democracy Day celebrations is the clearest indication that most of our past Presidents and Heads of States were only about their selfish goals and not about Nigeria. They will do everything possible to make Nigerians know they are sulking; this includes shunning Democracy Day celebration.

The skewed thinking of many Nigerians and their joy that former Presidents and Head of States did not attend the Democracy Day celebrations is a pointer to our problems. Not only is their joy misplaced, it is very ridiculous.

As past Presidents and Heads of States who have claimed at different times that the June 12 election was wrongly annulled, one would expect that even if they failed to declare June 12 as Democracy Day, they will at least grace the maiden celebration.

But not our past Presidents and Heads of States, they have their own agenda and they do not want to see Nigeria celebrate anything. What is more appalling is that some of them have claimed to be true democrats, how can this be?

Their actions and utterances show that they were never democrats, speak less, leaders. A leader is a person who defines and exhibits moral and ethical courage and sets an example for everyone else. What kinds of example have this lot set?

It is often said that true leadership is all about developing people and helping others reach their full potential, please how have our past Presidents helped Nigeria to reach its goals? The election is over, the case is in court, that does not mean that they should carry their hate and divisive embryo everywhere they go.

Nigeria is much more than an election and Nigeria is in dire need of true leaders, leaders who do not politicize everything. What is more painful is that African leaders graced the occasion that our own past Presidents shunned. What an irony, Nigeria who claims to be the ‘Giant of Africa’ displaying its problems in open glare.

I think it is a shame on all the past leaders save for General Yakubu Gowon who I believe was unavoidably absent. As for President Goodluck Jonathan who many applauded for his big heart in the 2015 election, I think he might be losing the plot. We know who Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is and we have seen how he is trying to drag Nigeria down because of selfish reasons.

Only yesterday Babagana Kingibe confirmed that Obasanjo was one of the architects of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
President Jonathan should not go down that route. He should not allow the same democracy that he preserved remember him in the negative. He is the reason why President Muhammadu Buhari can declare June 12 a Democracy Day.

Ladidi Mohammed in Abuja

ZomB

It is an open secret that those who lead these country at various capacities were not a patriot, rather an oppurnist who are after the interest of themselves and their God father's.

But to be honest, they were not missed.

I learnt that President Buhari was also not attending Council of State meetings prior to becoming president.

even if i share a fence with eagle square, i'd still not attend. what you had yesterday was just a show of hypocrisy!

Have you investigated to find out if they were officially invited?

Chimilito:
I learnt that President Buhari was also not attending Council of State meetings prior to becoming president.

he never attended any inauguration either... hypocrites!

June 12 democracy day is fraudulent. It is on record that an Abuja High court already cancelled the elections before it was held. It is on record that Association for Better Nigeria (ABN), got from a ruling from late Justice Bassey Ikpeme of Abuja High Court court on June 10, 1993 stopping the elections. That was a clear 2 days before June 12. That court order or decision was NEVER challenged nor set aside. IBB just obeyed the court order. Let us not overflog the issue. By law, there was no elections on June 12 as Bashir Tofar the candidate of the rights wing party stayed aloof in obedient to the court order.
Go an read the history of events preceeding the announcement. Even Buhari was part of the scheme

simonlee:
even if i share a fence with eagle square, i'd still not attend. what you had yesterday was just a show of hypocrisy!

hatred and selfishness will make people reason like yours.

True Democrats have nothing in common with Tyrants.

Kudos to the Past Presidents for expressing their utmost dissatisfaction by their absence.

First, a sitting president unleashed the full armed forces on innocent citizens during the elections, and so subverted the will of the people by fire-by-force. Lives were lost.

A lot of innocent Nigerians are being detained even against court orders and we say we are celebrating Democracy day.

The presidency should rather celebrate Tyranny day and you'll see Nigerians grace the occasion.

Until we begin to tell ourselves the truth, we would never have a working country.

Buhari wey no dey come council of state meetings when him still be opposition nko?

There is no need making noise about their absence because they do not have moral justifications to attend. Now, let's face it.

- Gen Ibrahim Babangida is the notorious villain in the June 12 narratives. So, he would be a fat head to show at such event where he would demonized the more.
- Abdulsalam Abubakar buried June 12 in Nigerian history when he took over as Head of State as a follow-up to what his 'distant Minna cousin' did. So, showing up is to accept that annuling June 12 1993 was a wrong action, which would translate to stabbing Babangida in the back.
- Chief Olusegun Obasanjo hated MKO Abiola for whatever reasons and naturally he was not expected to show up. And this is aside from official beef he has with Pres. Buhari and of course the fact that his June 29 Democracy Day legacy was being destroyed.
- Dr. Goodluck Jonathan rejected June 12 while in office and having been, in turn, rejected by SW, it will be stupid to show up. This is apart from the frosty relationship between him and Pres. Buhari.

So, you see why it is needless to make noise about their absence. In fairness, I am not even sure Buhari would have attended if he wasn't the president.

okeyfrank:
True Democrats have nothing in common with Tyrants.

Kudos to the Past Presidents for expressing their utmost dissatisfaction by their absence.

First, a sitting president unleashed the full armed forces on innocent citizens during the elections, and so subverted the will of the people by fire-by-force. Lives were lost.

A lot of innocent Nigerians are being detained even against court orders and we say we are celebrating Democracy day.

The presidency should rather celebrate Tyranny day and you'll see Nigerians grace the occasion.

Until we begin to tell ourselves the truth, we would never have a working country.

.



Very good.