“Democracy Is in Distress” — NRM presidential candidate, Esther Okereke Marks June 12 with Call for Action
Presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Esther Okereke, has said June 12 should be more than a symbolic date, urging Nigerians to honour the sacrifices of the heroes of democracy through meaningful action.
In a Democracy Day statement, Okereke paid tribute to figures such as MKO Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, Gani Fawehinmi, Beko Ransom-Kuti, and other activists who fought for democratic rule in Nigeria.
According to her, these heroes did not make sacrifices for empty political rhetoric but for a nation where citizens can live, work, and thrive without fear.
“Democracy is in distress,” she declared, pointing to challenges such as poverty, inflation, unemployment, and declining public trust in institutions.
Okereke lamented that millions of Nigerians continue to struggle despite the country’s democratic journey, stressing that over 100 million citizens living in poverty represents a national emergency rather than a mere statistic.
Despite the challenges, she expressed optimism that Nigeria can recover through hard work, accountability, and collective effort.
She urged young Nigerians to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship, encouraged civil servants to serve with renewed dedication, and called on Nigerians in the diaspora to contribute to national development.
“The heroes of June 12 did not perish so that we could argue endlessly on social media. They sacrificed so that we could work together to build a better Nigeria,” she said.
