
12/06/2025
My Reflections on Democracy Day!
As we commemorate Democracy Day, I am moved to reflect—first, on my personal journey, which began in the crucible of student activism and has since matured into a lifelong commitment to humanistic public service.
My tenure as President of the Students’ Union at Obafemi Awolowo University in 1998 remains a defining chapter. In those turbulent times, I led a fearless yet nonviolent resistance against the repressive regime of General Sani Abacha. Ours was a struggle not merely for the ballot, but for the sanctity of human life—for liberty, for dignity, and for the inalienable rights of every citizen to be heard.
That conviction, the belief in the inherent and equal worth of all people lies at the core of my humanist philosophy. It has continued to serve as the moral compass of my public life.
With the return to civilian rule in 1999, I was honoured to be appointed the pioneer Special Assistant on Youth and Student Affairs to President Olusegun Obasanjo—an historic recognition of the voice of young people in shaping Nigeria’s democratic renewal. In that role, which I held from 1999 to 2007, I championed progressive national youth policies; supported student reintegration into governance processes; and worked to bridge the divide between government and Nigeria’s dynamic, yet often marginalized, youth. It became a platform through which democracy began to deliver tangible dividends—not through rhetoric, but through inclusion, participation, and structural reform. After sustained advocacy, we succeeded in establishing the first Ministry of Youth Development.
In the House of Representatives, I remained committed to a people-centric vision of governance—one grounded in empathy, equity, and justice. To me, democracy is not merely a system, it is a solemn platform for service—a means of affirming the humanity in every citizen, and wielding public office as an instrument to uplift, not to marginalize; to heal, and not to divide.
Today, we honour the courageous men and women who stood firm against tyranny and illuminated the path toward freedom. We remember the martyrs of our democratic struggle—those whose sacrifices laid the foundation of our liberty. And we celebrate the heroes and heroines whose courage reminds us that democracy is not a final destination, but a shared and continuous journey.
May our democracy continue to thrive, and may it be effectively deployed to improve the lives of our people.
No doubt and indeed, people remain the oxygen of our democracy.
Happy Democracy Day!
- HKVA