By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq has stressed the need for Nigerians to deeply reflect on the country’s democratic journey as a nation-state, saying the “Democracy Day is a tribute to the men and women who lent their voices to the struggle for democracy when it was impolitic to do so”.

“It is a remembrance of the ultimate sacrifice of those who lost their lives,” the Governor said in a statement personally issued by him on the occasion of the country’s 2025 Democracy Day celebration.

“The feature that stands out a democracy  whether established or evolving  is that it allows for robust engagements among different stakeholders to forge the way forward at all times. To the credit of all, as attested to by the divergent views of citizens on various topics, our democracy stands shoulder high in this regard.

“Notwithstanding our developmental challenges, I hold the view that behind our search for a better society are measurable and scalable achievements so far in critical infrastructure, indices of soft power, and other areas of human advancement.

“We should not lose sight of these gains or do anything to undermine them in any way, even as we work together as a people to build a stronger nation.”

AbdulRazaq also congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, leadership of the National Assembly, the bench and the bar, the media, and the esteemed citizens in the civic space whose contributions to democratic engagements are an important component of the country’s journey.