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Democracy Is Alive In Nigeria After 2023 Elections — Tinubu

Published

3 years ago

June 12, 2023

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In his first address to Nigerians on the occasion of the 2023 Democracy Day, on Monday June 12, President Bola Tinubu said the “intensely contested” 2023 general elections showed that democracy is “well and alive” in Nigeria.

Democracy Day is celebrated yearly on June 12 in honour of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola and other heroes of democracy.

Addressing Nigerians on Monday, Nigeria’s newly inaugurated President said the heroes of democracy paid the supreme price for the gains enjoyed in the country currently.

Tinubu said the 2023 general elections showed that democracy is well alive in Nigeria.

According to him, the beauty of democracy is that winners today can lose tomorrow and losers today can later win elections.

The President said, “This year, we held the seventh in the cycle of elections that have become sacred rituals of our democratic practice in this dispensation since 1999.

“That the polls were intensely contested is in itself positive evidence that democracy is well and alive in our land. It is only natural that even as those who won and experienced victory in the various elections are elated and fulfilled, those who lost are disenchanted and disappointed. But the beauty of democracy is that those who win today can lose tomorrow and those who lose today will have an opportunity to compete and win in the next round of elections.

“Those who cannot endure and accept the pain of defeat in elections do not deserve the joy of victory when it is their turn to triumph. Above all, those who disagree with the outcome of the elections are taking full advantage of the constitutional provisions to seek redress in court and that is one of the reasons why democracy is still the best form of government invented by man.”

Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) came out tops in 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states, and secured significant numbers in several other states to claim the highest number of votes — 8,794,726, almost two million votes more than his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Atiku, 76, who has now run for president six times, got 6,984,520 votes, while Peter Obi of the Labour Party, who, in less than a year, galvanised young voters in a manner some have described as unprecedented finished the race with 6,101,533.

Both Atiku and Obi are challenging Tinubu’s victory in court, alleging electoral fraud.

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I’m Proudly Nigerian, says Fashola

Former Lagos State Governor and immediate past Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja during his keynote address at the Nigeria Reputation Summit 2026, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, where he spoke extensively on national identity, migration, patriotism and Nigeria’s global image.

Published

4 hours ago

January 20, 2026

OCHEFA

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” I remain firmly Nigerian by choice, conviction and identity.”

He stressed the need for Nigerians, at home and abroad, to take collective ownership of the country and its problems.

“I don’t think we own Nigeria enough. So, I heard some of our colleagues and our compatriots who, by virtue of the 1999 Constitution, have dual citizenships. But I have only one,” said Fashola.

“And when they talk to me, they say, your country. I say, stop. It’s our country. Your problem is our problem. There must be a common ownership on every platform. If we have common ownership, we will solve it. So, from my childhood experience, I tell people I’m not just a proud Nigerian, I’m an arrogant one. I’m arrogant about my country.“I tell people that I have not received one day’s education outside this country.

All my education was here. So, proudly made in Nigeria. Arrogantly, too. So everything, every inch that we think that we have lost, we can get back if we decide to,” he stated.

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Opral Benson is alive, safe and not missing – AREF , Family

AREF confirms that Mrs. Benson is currently in Liberia, her presence there is voluntary and known.

Published

5 hours ago

January 20, 2026

OCHEFA

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The African Refugees Foundation (AREF) and family source said that its president, Opral Benson, popularly known as the Iya Oge of Lagos, is alive, safe and not missing.

Her family earlier said that the 90-year-old was last seen on January 13 and had not returned home since then.

However, a statement , titled, Dear Friends, RE: My Mum, signed by her daughter, Bimbo, confirmed that Benson was in Liberia.

Also, the chief executive officer of AREF, Olujimi Olusola III, Said that Benson is hale and hearty, and there is no cause for concern.“

AREF confirms that Mrs. Benson is currently in Liberia, her presence there is voluntary and known.

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Lagos urges residents to prepare for 64 days traffic from Lekki Phase 1–Ajah Bridge as reconstruction begins

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Olufemi Daramola, said that the rehabilitation works on Sections 2 and 3 of the expressway will commence on Sunday, 25 January 2026, and last for an estimated 64 days.

Published

8 hours ago

January 20, 2026

OCHEFA

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• Sangotedo – Bogije section of Lekki -Epe expressway / Ohibaba.com

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday announced a 64-day traffic diversion for the reconstruction of the Ajah Bridge to Admiralty section (inbound Lagos) of the Lekki–Epe Expressway.

Daramola said that the project will follow a traffic management plan, with work carried out intersection by intersection rather than along the entire corridor at once.

Construction will be carried out both day and night to accelerate completion.

He explained that though a stakeholder meeting had been held late last year with plans to begin work, the project was postponed due to the yuletide festivities.

The festivities are over, and the state government has instructed the contractor to move to site to commence work on Sunday,” he said.

Intersections will be worked on at night to maintain better traffic flow.