Happy Democracy Day, Nigerians. Read GEJ's Democracy Day speech

Happy Democracy Day to all Nigerians. Read the Democracy Day national
broadcast by our president below...
Fellow Nigerians,

1.I greet and felicitate with you all, today, as we mark 15 years of
uninterrupted democratic governance in our beloved country.

2.Our dear nation, Nigeria, has certainly come a long way and made
notable progress since our first Democracy Day on May 29, 1999 when
the military finally relinquished power and handed over to a
democratically-elected government, marking the true beginning of a
government of the people, by the people, for the people."

3.Although I have ordered a low-key commemoration of this year's
Democracy Day in deference to the current mood of the nation, there
can be no doubt that the past 15 years, the longest period of
sustained democratic governance in our country, have been a blessing
to us, as a people.

4.As we commemorate 15 years of our Fourth Republic today therefore, I
believe that it is fitting that we pay tribute once again to all those
who played a part in restoring our nation to the true path of
democratic governance, built on the foundations of rule of law and
freedom of expression.

5.As a result of our collective efforts since 1999, democratic
governance is now entrenched in our nation and institutions. I
wholeheartedly believe that our people are the better for it. The
scope of fundamental rights and liberties enjoyed by our people over
the past 15 years has been expanded beyond measure.

6.On my watch, we have witnessed high national economic growth rates,
steady improvements and expansion of national infrastructure including
airports and roads, the restoration of rail transportation, the
efficient implementation of a roadmap for improved power supply, a
revolutionary approach to agricultural production, as well as advances
in education, sports, youth development, healthcare delivery, housing,
water supply and other social services.

7.In the oil and gas sector, our promotion of a sustainable local
content policy, continues to guarantee equity and better opportunities
for Nigerian entrepreneurs and skilled personnel.

8.Significant increase in mobile telephone and national broadband
penetration, making Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
one of the fastest growing sectors of the Nigerian economy. We have
also developed strong financial markets and regulatory institutions.
Our banks now have regional and global footprints.

9.Nigeria has also gained recognition as the largest economy in
Africa, the most preferred investment destination in the continent and
in terms of returns on investment, the fourth in the world. We are
pleased that the world has noticed, as global leaders converged in
Abuja early this month for the World Economic Forum in Africa.

10.The event not only witnessed a record attendance, it brought the
prospect of an additional flow of investment into the Nigerian economy
estimated at over $68 billion over the next few years.

11.In foreign relations, our country has equally done well within this
period, by establishing and strengthening strong partnerships with all
ECOWAS countries and the rest of the world. This has helped to deepen
Nigeria's leadership role in multilateral institutions including the
United Nations.

12.Furthermore, under this administration, we have made consistent
progress in improving the standard of elections in our country to
ensure that they are ever more credible and truly representative of
the people's free choice. The National Conference we initiated to
deliberate and make recommendations on the best ways of resolving our
current political and socio-economic challenges is on-going. It is our
expectation that its outcomes will help to further consolidate the
gains we have made from democracy in the past 15 years, and place our
dear nation even more firmly on the path to greatness.
Dear Compatriots,

13.It is a sad fact that as I address you today, all the gains of the
past 15 years of democratic governance in our country are threatened
by the presence of international terrorism on our shores. Our dear
country, Nigeria is facing a new challenge. A war has been unleashed
on us. Extremist foreign elements, collaborating with some of our
misguided citizens, are focused on an attempt to bring down our
country and the democracy and freedom we cherish and celebrate today.

14.The despicable abduction of school girls from Chibok in Borno State
has brought to the awareness of the entire world, the heartless
brutality of these terrorists who want to instigate a descent into
anarchy and balkanize our nation.

15.In recent years, terrorist attacks have claimed the lives of
several of our compatriots, many have been injured or maimed, whole
villages and communities have been destroyed and the economy of some
of our states is in jeopardy.

16.Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

17.Thank you and God bless Nigeria