Democracy Day presents opportunities to reflect on prospects over challenges - Amb. Tukur

By Lanre Oloyede

Renowned diplomat and one time Nigeria’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, London and Equatorial Guinea, Ambassador Hassan Ardo Tukur, has advised Nigerians to utilize the opportunity of the June 12 Democracy Day celebration not only to reflect on the challenges encountered by the country in the journey to nationhood but rather focus more on the enormous prospects awaiting the nation in the future.

In a statement to newsmen in Abuja, Amb. Tukur stated that in the wake of the celebration, Nigeria will be presented with choices: “to start a pity-party about our socio-political challenges (which everyone already knows), to weep over all of our missed opportunities or we will be presented with the choice of re-writing the wrongs and weaving together a future that posterity will be grateful for; a future that we will be a part of as much as the kind that is solid enough to support the dreams of the next generation.”

He admonished Nigerian leaders on the need to build a better future for the incoming generations, stressing that we “need to get our acts together and join the league of Nations who are on the forward march which is where we deserve.”

In his words, "We will roll our sleeves and build together -- leaders and citizens alike. We will use all of the tools of developments that we can muster and leverage technology to leap-frog in our forward march.

According to Tukur, great men plant trees whose shade they know that they wouldn’t seat under and the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, but the next best time is now.

Commenting on the mandate of the URNI Initiative, the former Ambassador who has served under various capacities as diplomat reiterated that the initiative is set to mobilize a mass of change agents and leverage on the scaling effect of technology to push for a positive renaissance of nationhood.

“We will tell our story in a way that fosters hope and emphasizes the positives and hopefully create a new narrative that will contribute towards making our nation a desirable one to live in.

He further noted that URNI has lined up activities and events leading up to Nigeria’s 60th Independence Day celebration in October, which will precede the official flag-up of the Unveiling and Rebranding Initiative billed for October 3 2020 in Abuja Nigeria.