Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said there is no basis to compare the Muhammadu Buhari’s three years administration to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s 16 years rule.
According to him, those coming the ruling party to the previous party that ruled for 16 years were just confirming that the current administration has done very well.
The Vice President said this at the Democracy Dinner/Gala Night meant to draw to a close the week long activities to mark the nation’s 19 years of uninterrupted democratic rule as well as President Buhari’s third year in office.
Osinbajo said the event was an occasion to thank God for the journey so far especially after three years in office.
He said he never knew he would be in politics because of the baggage that comes with it.
Osinbajo said the administration has recorded great successes. He said for those who had been in government for 16 years comparing themselves to an administration that is just three years shows that the administration has done very well so far.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, described the evening as ‘auspicious’ in the sense that it was the third year of the Muhammadu Buhari administration and 19 years of democracy.
He said as the administration steps into its fourth year in office, Nigerians should expect good things to happen.
“As we go into the fourth lap of this administration, good things is about to happened.”
According to the SGF, the democracy lecture delivered by former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, on Monday, was one that would be discussed for a long time.
According to Mustapha, “Jega spoke truth to power across all divides and that the time has come for Nigerians to begin to tell themselves the truth if the country must experience the desired change.
“The truth Prof. Jega spoke at the lecture will be discussed for a long time. He spoke to all divides, executive, judiciary and legislature. I believe it is high time we teold ourselves the truth if we must experience the desired change.”
The event also had cultural troupe presentations as well as special documentary on dividends of democracy 2015-2018 and reception of Team Nigeria that went to the 21st Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast 2018, Australia.
Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, said the athletes made Nigeria proud at the Games both as athletes and ambassadors, in disciple and conduct.
He said the team finished ninth of 53 countries with nine Gold medals, nine Silver medals and six Bronze medals and was the second African country on the medals’ table after South Africa, despite the fact that funds were released late for the Games.
The Democracy Dinner/Gala Night was poorly attended.
Apart from Osinbajo, who represented President Buhari at the event, other notable personalities present were, a former Chief of General Staff, Gen. Oladipo Diya (rtd) and Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (rtd), National Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun and a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Alfa Belgore. No former Head of State or ministers were present.
The event was mainly attended by civil servants, presidential aides and a handful of members of the diplomatic corps.