President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Thursday, reiterated his administration’s dedication to democratic values and the rule of law on Thursday while receiving the Letter of Credence from new US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr, at the State House, Abuja.
Tinubu, a former pro-democracy activist, reflected on his experiences participating in peaceful protests against military dictatorship during Nigeria’s transition to democracy. He emphasized the importance of maintaining 25 years of unbroken democracy while acknowledging the role of demonstrations in a democratic society.
However, the President drew a clear line, stating that his administration will not support protests aimed at wreaking destruction. Instead, he emphasized promoting peaceful expression and protecting lives and property.
Tinubu praised the US-Nigeria relationship, citing shared goals and democratic values. He expressed gratitude for the support of previous US ambassadors during Nigeria’s transition to democracy.
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”Our relationship with America is rich. We believe in democracy and freedom. Some of your predecessors worked hard during our transition to democracy, and we remember the likes of Ambassador Howard Jeter.
“We look forward to Nigeria and the United States continuously working to expand cooperation on shared goals and democratic values.
“During the military era, we made our voices heard against dictatorship, and I was part of the group that engaged in peaceful protests without resorting to the destruction of property.
”We have worked hard to ensure 25 years of unbroken democracy and I will continue to maintain this democracy.
In as much as we believe that demonstrations are part of democracy, we will never encourage any protests that lead to the destruction of lives and property,” the President stated.
The President’s statement comes amidst growing concerns about protests and demonstrations in Nigeria. Tinubu’s administration has vowed to strike a balance between allowing peaceful expression and preventing destructive protests that threaten lives and property.
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