MIXED MOOD ON DEMOCRACY DAY IN BORNO.

By: Inuwa Bwala

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his nationwide broadcast, may have captured the essence and historicity of June 12, as a day worth celebrating across Nigeria.
He captures the mood of the nation, as one which prefers democratic rule: no matter it’s shortcomings, to Military dictatorship.
And of course having been in the trenches for the actualization of June 12 during the regency era, the President is in the best position to lecture Nigerians on how that fateful 12th June. 1993, with it’s attendant troubles, has crystalized into a day of national significance.
Of course, Democracy Day is not just about celebrating the conduct, cancellation and attendant struggles culminating inti what we have today, but also celebrating what we have been able to do for ourselves and our country under democracy.
That being the case: we have more cause to celebrate democracy day in Borno than any other, because of what we have experienced and benefited under democratic rule.
Across Nigeria people are celebrating June 12 in different ways. While others were rolling out the red carpets, amidst pop and pegeantry, it was an admixture of happiness and sorrow in Borno: making it low key.
The atmosphere was serene and somber, even when we have much more to celebrate than every other part of the country, having lost an illustrious son, around whom such celebrations ought to oscillate.
The Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum had to step down the celebrations, as a mark of respect by the Government and the people of Borno state, to the late Usman Jidda Shuwa.
But even if we had gone ahead to celebrate like others our moods could still betray that mournful state of affairs, following the death of the chief Scribe, Usman Jidda Shuwa, who passed on last week.
In that admixture of sorrow and celebrations, one may be tempted to transpose the inauguration speech of the Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum which suffices at this June 12 day celebrations.
On inauguration day, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum paid glowing tributes to all citizens of Borno state for keeping faith with him and other elected officials: which was a testimony of democratic expressions.
In praising the relentless spirit of the people in choosing their leaders without any form of manipulation. Governor Zulum recalled the horrendous days, when Borno was a virtual hostage in the hands of Boko Haram.
According to him; that hundreds of thousands of Nigerians could converge on Borno, without any fear of security breaches, was perhaps the greatest testimony that peace has returned and indeed the beauty of democracy.
Professor Zulum: in reeling out his scorecard attributed everything to the support he enjoyed and indeed the ruling All Progressives Congress. APC, in Borno and the country at large.
That a citizen could traverse the width and breadth of Borno today, without any fear of attack or abduction by terrorists, calls for celebration, which by extension is a benefit of democracy.
In promising to do much more: if only as a payback for the support he enjoyed, Governor Zulum stressed the need for greater citizen involvement in governance, so as to maximize the benefits of democracy.
Certain things his government did and plans to do could not have been possible without democracy: which brought him to limelight and power, just as the state could not not have attained it’s present status without democratic rule.
While we mourn our beloved son, hence the low key celebrations on democracy day in Borno, this is to wish Nigerians happy democracy day.

MIXED MOOD ON DEMOCRACY DAY IN BORNO