George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, marked Nigeria's Democracy Day with a pointed message: the ballot, not the bullet, must be the way forward for the country.
Speaking in the spirit of June 12, Akume called on Nigerians and political stakeholders to draw lessons from the historic struggle for democratic rights that the date represents. His remarks centered on the idea that government must genuinely reflect the wishes of the people, not sidestep them.
With 2027 general elections already on the horizon, Akume went further to demand that the process be credible, transparent, and truly representative. The call is a timely one, coming from a man at the heart of the federal government's administrative machinery.
Whether those words translate into action between now and the next election cycle is the question Nigerians will be watching closely.
Originally published by BusinessDay.