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National Democracy Day will be quietly observed in 2023, according to the Nigerian government.
This was revealed during World Conference Day by George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for the 2023 National Democracy Day.
During the commemoration, he added, heroes who championed the cause and made extraordinary sacrifices to establish democracy in Nigeria from 1999 to the present will be honored.
He claims that the struggle started earlier than 1999.
"Taking stock of how the country has done thus far and evaluating the benefits that democracy has brought about as well as areas where we need to make adjustments is prudent for both citizens and outsiders alike. Because of this, "Hope Reassured" is the subject of this year's celebration of democracy.
"It is pertinent to state that activities to mark the June 12, 2023, Democracy Day will be low key having had an elaborate Presidential inauguration this year," he said.
In response to inquiries from reporters, Dele Alake, a personal friend of President Bola Tinubu and the former Commissioner of Information and Strategy in Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, indicated that the event was planned to be celebrated subduedly in accordance with the President's Cost Cutting Policy.
"Finding causes for it is hardly rocket science. Even though we recently celebrated the inauguration, as someone once noted, the real significance of it lies in how it serves as a symbol and signal for the administration's cost-cutting strategy. The commemoration of Democracy Day, which marks a crucial turning point in Nigerian history, is the only site that matters as a starting point," according to Alake.
"And there isn't a more important place to get started than by commemorating Democracy Day, which marks a crucial turning point in Nigerian history," Alake added.
The 2023 National democracy day will be celebrated with the following two major activities:
World Press Conference
Friday, 9th June 2023
Rotunda Hall, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
3:00 pm
Presidential Broadcast
Monday, 12th June 2023
7:00 am
The events will be broadcast live on all major stations and streamed on various social media platforms.
The theme for the 2023 National Democracy Day, is Hope Reassured.
