Category: General News

Mixed reactions trail Nigeria’s 25 years of democratic governance – NAN Survey

Democracy
By Reporters
Umuahia, June 11, 2024 (NAN) Nigerians from different spheres of life in some parts of the South-East have expressed mixed feelings about how the country has fared in the 25 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.

While some spoke glowingly about the positives recorded within the period, others opined that the deliverables from the nation’s democracy so far were still a far cry from the yearnings of a larger majority of the citizenry.

They spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), while X-raying the performance of the country’s democracy in the last 25 years.

In Abia, some respondents argued that Nigeria’s democracy was yet to deliver the dividend of democracy to citizens in its 25 years of uninterrupted dispensation.

Mr Geoffrey Uzoagba, the President, Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA), said that democracy had failed to meet the expectations of many Nigerians.

“Where do we start from? Is it the troubled economy or the pervading insecurity or the lack of consideration for the citizens by their government?

“In Nigeria, I take it that we have not started the democratic journey.

“But for Abia, and some other states around, we are seeing some changes.

“For Abia, it was not this good the last couple of years but in the last 13 months so much appears to be happening and these are visible things no one can deny.

“For me, the way out of our doldrums is for a leader to be sincere and listen to advise and correct himself when adjudged not to be doing well. No one knows it all,” Uzoagba said.

According to him, a nation where presidential and governors’ media aides attack critics, instead of taking peoples’ feedback to their principals for needed changes, is not a democracy.

He said that Nigeria’s democracy was suffering “because self-interest overrides public interest, which is unhealthy for a democracy”.

Former Abia Commissioner for Finance, Mr Obinna Oriaku, said although Nigerians could jubilate because of 25 years uninterrupted democratic change of government, the country’s democracy is still frail.

“Our expectations have not been met but one major thing is that gradually Nigerians now look forward to a change of government every four years.

“That is the one good thing about our democracy but there are concerns that the wishes of the people do not reflect the outcome of the elections.

“We need to improve on those processes that would ensure that the wishes of Nigerians are reflected on our elections,” Oriaku said.

Referencing the historic loss of the majority seat in the Parliament by the South Africa’s ANC, he said it was not surprising because the process was clear.

“Nigerians expect that where political office holders have not done well, they will be voted out.

“The pace of development in this direction does not correspond with our expectations.

“For example, Constitutional Amendments should have by now been settled to make our elections smooth but unfortunately it appears the military fiat is better than what we are seeing,” he said.

He said that Nigerians expected to have smooth democratic processes activated through Constitutional amendments that could not be faulted in a law court.

Oriaku further said that the country had failed woefully to secure its territory, citizens and their property with insurgency, banditry, terrorism and general insecurity getting worse everyday.

He said that arresting insurgents and subjecting them through long trial processes would not discourage prospective insurgents.

“The unwarranted excesses of insurgents should be curtailed through making investigations and court processes smooth so that it does not take years to punish offenders,” he added.

An Aba-based journalist, Mr Ifeanyi Emmanuel, said that the country’s democracy failed in two key areas necessary for democratic progress.

He said: “For me, our democracy has failed in the area of electoral processes and transitions to the extent that till now, elections are openly manipulated and rigged and no one is punished.

“For anybody to still go against the electoral wishes of the people is not just a failure but a crime against the citizenry.

“Without a smooth transition process, marked by free, fair and credible elections, I don’t know what kind of democracy one would say we are practicing,” he said.

Emmanuel said that another area Nigeria’s democracy has failed is in the malfunctioning judicial system.

He said that “an incorruptible judicial system is expected to correct a frail electoral system where the electoral system is faulty.

“But when both are faulty, you discover that the country is completely finished.

“This is the reason a politician, who failed woefully in an election, would rig and get declared winner and now tells his opponent to go to court and when you do, you see why,” Emmanuel said.

On the flipside, an academic, Dr Stephen Unegbu, said that the present administration of President Bola Tinubu has done considerably well in promoting youth inclusiveness in governance.

Unegbu said that the Tinubu-led administration had evolved programmes and policies focused on empowering the youths to contribute to the growth of the nation.

He said that the gesture was an indication that the present administration was committed to promoting youth inclusiveness and participatory democracy.

He also said that he was delighted that the nation had enjoyed uninterrupted democratic governance for the past 25 years.

Unegbu said that it was necessary for the government to make the provision of infrastructure in major sectors, such as education and health, a top priority.

He urged the government to uphold the principle of credible and accountable democratic processes by strengthening the independence of the various arms of government.

According to him, this will help immensely to strengthen our democracy by promoting the principle of checks and balances, which is the fulcrum of every democracy.

Unegbu also urged the government to promote free, fair and credible elections.

“To enhance the practice of democracy in Nigeria, government must institute measures that discourage electoral malpractices and ensure that the votes of the citizens count.

Also, a civil servant, who identified himself simply as Kalu, said that it was unfortunate that many Nigerians had not seen tangible benefits from the 25 years of democracy.

According to Kalu, this underscores the importance of addressing the issues that have bedevilled the nation’s democracy to ensure that it translates into meaningful improvements in people’s lives.

He said that the impact of democracy could only be felt when crucial things, such as leadership, morality, judicial independence and security are given adequate and priority attention.

He urged the Federal Government to tackle these issues to pave the way for a more robust democratic system and practice in the country.

He said: “The practice of democracy can be best enhanced through the election of competent, visionary and patriotic leaders into power.

“There is need for moral rearmament and regeneration. For instance, an incorruptible electoral officer is a force for enhancing our democracy.

“The relevant agencies should make concerted efforts to encourage judicial independence,” Kalu said.

He further advocated a constitutional review that makes it mandatory for all the post-election cases to be trashed out before duly elected officials are inaugurated.

He called for conscious efforts by government to provide adequate security of lives and property, promote gender equality and respect for the rule of law.

Dr Uchenna Onyeizu, the Abia Project Coordinator, Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise, Niger Delta, said that the country’s democracy had recorded some improvements and setbacks in the last 25 years.

Onyeizu said: “There have been some level of improvements and there have been a lot of mistakes and we have improved on some of them.

“However, democracy hasn’t addressed our major issue, which is corruption.

“People get elected and the first thing they think of is how to recoup the money they spent in the election.

“So, there has been a lot of improvements but it hasn’t been significant enough for the masses to benefit from it.

“The level of practice to cheat the system has increased tremendously.”

Also, an Umuahia-based businessman, Chief Johnson Nwakire, said that the country’s democracy was no longer nascent at 25 years, but has failed to grow as expected.

Nwakire blamed the country’s woes on leadership, saying that political leaders at various levels had not shown enough commitment to liberate the country from its quagmire.

“We are still practising autocracy, instead of democracy, because a few people still decide the fate of the masses.

“Today, one dollar is about N1481 and this has negatively affected businesses in the country.

“I advise the government to find solution to the astronomical rise in exchange rate, electricity tariff as well as fix our refineries,” Nwakire said.

A media practitioner, Mr David Maduako, said that there was little or nothing to celebrate.

According to Maduako, our refineries are gone, people are hungry and the unemployment level is very high, compounded by general insecurity.

In Imo, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) called for greater youth inclusion in governance as Nigeria marks its 25th Democracy Day anniversary.

The state Chairman of NYCN, Mr Humphrey Osuji, decried the “low level of youth inclusion in governance” and called for a radical change in the narrative.

“We want to take the inclusion of youths in decision-making process in governance very seriously.

“The dividend of democracy elude the youths as a result of their non inclusion in governance.

“Government should also see the welfare and empowerment of the youths as their right rather than a privilege,” Osuji said.

He added that the negligence of issues concerning the youths did not signal a bright future for them and wondered if the country’s youths could realistically celebrate the Democracy Day.

He urged government at all levels to step up efforts to provide basic needs and employment for the youths to enable them to properly key into the system.

“Youths must also be disciplined and responsible in their conduct both in their families and larger society.

“They should strive to be the change agent for the change they want to see,” Osuji said.

The Head of Department, Religion and Conflict Resolution, Imo State University, Prof. Sunday Iherue, said that democratic institutions and practices in the country had yet to deliver on transparent, free, fair and credible elections, 25 years after.

Iherue asked, “When people we did not vote for assume office and behave as they like, where is the democracy?

“Our leaders take decisions without reference to the people. They don’t care how we feel. People are frustrated daily.

“The celebration of Democracy Day is a mockery of what it stands for,” he added.

He lamented that, in spite of the abundant resources in the country, many Nigerians have taken to recklessness as a means to survive due to frustration.

He blamed the prevailing insecurity, conflicts and religious crisis in the country on “the mismanagement of the country’s resources.

“We will continue to ask for peace but our leaders must help us by doing that which is right.

“We should be conscious of those we give our mandates and when we don’t give you our mandate do not force yourself on us,” he emphasised.

Also contributing, the Imo state Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, Dr Chidi Obiesi, said that Nigeria was not where it should be, especially in the health sector, to celebrate Democracy Day.

Obiesi argued that during the military era, under the then Minister of Health, Prof. Ransome Kuti, there were functional health centers across the country.

“Today, you can barely see a functional health centre as people in the rural villages are suffering.

“The focus has been more on the General Hospitals, teaching hospitals or Federal Medical Centers, which is not good for the country’s health system.

“Government’s apathy towards the health sector is generally poor and must be reviewed to cater for infrastructure, incentives, security and welfare of the health workers to to deal with brain drain,” he added. (NAN)(wwwnannews.ng)

Reporters/USO
Edited by Sam Oditah

Tinubu congratulates Sam Amuka-Pemu on birthday

Congratulation

By Salif Atojoko

Abuja, June 12, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Mr. Sam Amuka-Pemu, the Chairman and Publisher of Vanguard Media Ltd, on the occasion of his birthday.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

“President Tinubu joins family, friends, and the Nigerian media community to celebrate a pacesetter, an inimitable man of letters, and a bastion of journalism.

“The President salutes Pa Amuka-Pemu for his service to the nation through the artistry of his pen and intellect, and for his contributions to the media and beyond,” Ngelale said.

Ngalele said the President also commended the elder statesman for his courage and unbending disposition to the pristine values of truth and justice.

He acknowledged his role and efforts in the pursuit of a greater Nigeria.

“The President prays for many more years in good health for the esteemed journalist and his family,” he said (NAN) (www.nannews

.ng)

SA/BHB

Edited by Buhari Bolaji

Ex-lawmakers seek Tinubu’s attention, request outstanding benefits

Democracy
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, June 12, 2024 (NAN) Members of the House of Representatives in the botched Third Republic have appealed to President Bola Tinubu not to allow heroes of democracy in the country to die in penury.

The appeal is contained in a statement signed by Mr John Fasogbon, the Spokesperson for the former lawmakers, on Wednesday in Osogbo.

According to him, the mother of the present democratic dispensation in Nigeria is the Third Republic, led by late MKO Abiola.

Fasogbon said that actors in the struggle for full fledged democracy, currently being enjoyed in the country, were wallowing in abject poverty.

“We, members of House of Representatives in the Third Republic, contested and won our elections, which was adjudged as the most free and fair in the history of the country.

“But, unfortunately, after we were sworn in, we were sacked by the Military junta without any benefit.

“Today, June 12 is being celebrated with the heroes of democracy dying in anguish and penury.

“Many of us have died without any benefits, while those of us alive are living in poverty.

“In the spirit of national reconciliation, we appeal to the president to assist us in the payment of our entitlements between 1992-1993, when we were at Federal House of Representatives”, he said.

Fasogbon, who represented Ife Federal Central Constituency, appealed to the president to honour the former lawmakers in the same way his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, honoured Chief MKO Abiola and his running mate, Baba Gana Kingibe.

He congratulated the president and Nigerians on the celebration of 25 years of uninterrupted democracy. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
VE/IKU

Edited by Tayo Ikujuni

Democracy

By Deborah Coker

Abuja, June 12, 2024 (NAN) Prof. Benjamin Okaba, President, Ijaw National Congress (INC), has urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to restore the confidence and genuine hope of Nigerians in the country.

Okaba made the call in his democracy day message made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

He noted that June 12 was worth celebrating considering the relative human rights and freedom Nigerians are enjoying under civilian administrations and the need to consciously immortalise the Iconic democrat, Chief M.K.O Abiola.

According to him, the return to democratic rule has at least given Nigerians some level of opportunity to choose their political leaders and to some extent, advance the exercise of citizen’s right.

“No doubt, the worst democratic government is far better than any military regime, at least judging from our past experiences as a nation.

“However the current Federal Government should take urgent steps to overcome the hardship facing Nigerians.

“The federal government should also take steps to restore confidence in the masses who are battling with various livelihood and life threatening challenges such as insecurity, inflation, unemployment and criminality.

“Nigerians are becoming increasingly hopeless and helpless with each passing day,” he said.

The INC president also noted that Nigeria’s 25th Democracy Day celebration was a significant milestone which had raised a number of expectations from the government at all levels.

This, he said included dealing with issues of peace and peaceful coexistence, mutual tolerance, economic growth and stability, improved security of lives and properties, advancement of educational and healthcare services.

Other areas of expectations he said included economic empowerment, job creation, good governance, strategic anti-corruption efforts and an all inclusive decision-making processes.

“The Nigerian citizens are in dare need for tangible progress that would translate into positive change for all, irrespective of class, gender, creed and ethnic differences.

“The oil and gas rich Niger Delta region, which is a critical component of Nigeria’s economy, expects the current administration to without any further delay, address the multifaceted challenges facing it.

“This is in terms of infrastructure development, environmental remediation, economic empowerment, good governance and security,” he said.

Okaba also said that the Ijaw people who were one of the four largest ethnic nationalities and major producers of oil and gas resources in the country expected greater commitment from President Tinubu’s administration.

According to him, this is to deal with her peculiar and persistent problems and concerns of resource injustice, lack of political inclusion, and representation in key political positions and decision-making processes as well as environmental degradation.

“The Ijaw quest for true federalism is rooted in their desire for greater autonomy, resource control and self-determination that would enable them to manage their affairs more effectively and promote their overall well-being.

“We wish to express our satisfaction with President Tinubu’s stance on restructuring.

“While we appreciate the need for more efficient management of our local government councils, which are the 3rd tier of government, we wish to caution those seeking local government council autonomy to first and foremost tackle a more fundamental injustice.

“This injustice is the one created by the wide disparity in the number of local government areas per state, where Kano for instance has 44 and Bayelsa at the other extreme has only 8.

“It is on this note that I implore the federal government led by President Bola Tinubu to take critical steps that will restore confidence and genuine hope in Nigerians.”

He reiterated that citizens also have pivotal roles to play in taking the country out of the conundrum.

“Moving forward, let us make a commitment to remain patriotic and united as one people, as well as be good ambassadors of Nigeria,” he added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

DCO/EMAF
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Edited by Emmanuel Afonne

We made our democracy expensive, says Obanikoro

Democracy

By Aderonke Ojediran

Lagos, June 12, 2024 (NAN) A  former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, has called for review of the budgets of the Senate and House of Representatives as a strategy to reduce cost of governance.

Obanikoro made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos in commomeration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

NAN reports that Nigeria’s Democracy Day is now celebrated on June 12 to remember the sacrifices of the winner of the 1993 Presidential Election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale  (MKO) Abiola.

It used to be celebrated on May 29 annually, but was moved to June 12 by the administration of  retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Nigeria operates a bicameral legislature made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

“Democracy doesn’t have to be this expensive, that is one thing we don’t get right.

“It is expensive  because we have made it so. Let me give you a good example because we borrowed this system from America.

“In America they don’t provide accommodation for lawmakers, they fend for themselves when it comes to that, they live basically on salary and very small fringe benefits,” Obanikoro said.

He said that Nigeria could also work toward that, and make the budget of the National Assembly more transparent.

“When the budget is more transparent, and people can go online and see what is allocated to every member of the National Assembly and can also input into the process, I do believe that will make the process or the institution less expensive,” he said.

Obanikoro added  that if the budget of the two legislative houses would be made  transparent, the recent calls for parliamentary system of government would have been avoided.

” This clamour that the bicameral system of legislature should be jettisoned will reduce if the budget is reduced, because the idea is that there are some budgetary provisions that should never be in our books and we must be bold enough to expunge them.

“We cut the budget size of the National Assembly to a reasonable level that an average Nigerian can live with,” Obanikoro,  a former High Commissioner to Ghana, said.

On Nigeria’s 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, the one-time gubernatorial  aspirant told NAN that the country had persevered.

“We have fared very well because even life itself is a work in progress; so, our democracy too is a work in progress.

“We have to keep working on it and ensure we have a democracy that can serve as a shining example to the West African region and Africa at large.

Obanikoro told NAN that ensuring a more credible electoral process would be a good starting point for Nigeria to stand out in democracy.

” One of the things is to ensure that we have a transparent electoral process,  a process that cannot be easily manipulated by anybody so that it can be credible.

“Once an election is credible, all the litigations surrounding elections will go down, and people will happily contest and when they lose, they go home.

” This is the only aspect of our democracy that we need to invest heavily in and ensure that it works, because once a process loses credibility, there is a problem,” Obanikoro said.

On immortalising Abiola, the politician said that the Federal Government could do more.

“Let me say this, government has really tried, because there was a time that  government did not even want to acknowledge the contributions of MKO.

“To have moved from denial to the reality that Abiola  contributed and sacrificed his life for this democracy is a welcome and commendable development.

” However, I believe more can be done. Democratic institutions can be named after him, and we have declared today  Democracy Day, not MKO day.

“Some people can say it is synonymous but I will want more landmark buildings in Nigeria named after him across the six geo-political zones.

“That way, at every corner of the country you look, you can visibly know how we got to where we are,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

OAF/IGO

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Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

We’ve steadied the course of democracy, says Tinubu

Democracy

By Salif Atojoko

Abuja, June 12, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria has steadied the course of democracy since exiting the yoke of military rule in 1999 to become the most populous democracy on African soil.

He also said Nigeria had become the beacon of democratic self-determination for the black race and one of the largest democracies in the world.

Tinubu made the remarks in his national broadcast on the 25th anniversary of unbroken democracy in Nigeria on June 12, Democracy Day.

“This change stands as a pivotal moment in human history. From this change, we shall never turn, nor shall the annals of mankind’s progress forget the sublime meaning of this great moment. 

“Today, 25 years later, we celebrate the silver anniversary of our journey in democracy.   

“Democracy is neither a foreign nor abstract concept devoid of real-life meaning for us. Neither can we afford to reduce or minimalise it to being nothing but the mere holding of periodic elections where one candidate and party outdo another,” he said.

According to the President, while elections attract dramatic attention, they are but one aspect of democracy.

“Democracy is a way of life that encompasses a broad outlook of which elections are but a part. As such, a nation can have elections without being democratic. But a nation cannot be truly democratic without holding elections.   

“That we have established a tradition of holding transparent, open, and fair elections gives credence to our democratic bearing. That we have experienced peaceful transitions of government affirms our democratic temperament,” he said.

According to him, true democracy shines its light into the daily lives of the people who live under its nurturing wings.

“It affords us the freedom and liberty to think as we want, live where we want and pursue whatever legitimate endeavour that suits us.

“Democracy does not assume some false or forced unity of opinion. In fact, democracy assumes that conflicting ideas and differing opinions shall be the order of the day.

“Given the diversity and variety of the human experience, there must be diverse perspectives and viewpoints.

“What democracy demands is that we do not resolve differences through force and repression. But we make allowance for the legitimacy of views that differ from our own,” the President appealed to Nigerians.

He said no matter how complicated democracy may be, it is the best form of governance in the long run.

“We must also be aware that there are those among us who will try to exploit current challenges to undermine, if not destroy, this democracy for which so much has already been given. 

“These people do this not to make things better but to subject all other people and things to their control and dominance until the point that, if you are not counted among their elite, then your life will be small and no longer owned by you,” he said.

Tinubu honoured those who laid down their lives and sacrificed everything to pave the way for the nation. 

“We lost great heroes and heroines along the way. In this struggle, the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, the most significant symbol of our democratic struggle, his wife, Kudirat, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and Pa Alfred Rewane, among others sacrificed their very lives. 

“They bravely surrendered their futures, so that our nation might have a better one. 

“Let us honour the memories of Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Arthur Nwankwo, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife and Adm.  Ndubuisi Kanu,” he said.

Others he said are Chief Frank Kokori, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Ganiyu Dawodu, Chief Ayo Fasanmi, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Olabiyi Durojaiye, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, Chima Ubani, and others who have transited to the higher realm,” he said.

He added that the sacrifices of General Alani Akinrinade, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Professor Wole Soyinka, Chief Ralph Obioha, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, among many others, should never be forgotten.

“For at least six years, they bore the pains and difficulties of life in exile.  

“While the exiled pro-democracy activists kept the fire burning, their comrades at home sustained the pressure on the military brass hats. “Among the latter are Olisa Agbakoba, Femi Falana, Abdul Oroh, Senator Shehu Sani, Governor Uba Sani, Chief Olu Falae, and other National Democratic Coalition leaders such as Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Ayo Opadokun. 

“The sacrifices they made, and the precious gift brought about by their selfless devotion can never be repaid. Neither shall it be forgotten,” said Tinubu.

He also said the nation could not have won the battle against military dictatorship without the irrepressible Nigerian journalists who mounted the barricades along with the pro-democracy activists.

“We celebrate them today, along with their media establishments such as The Punch, Guardian, National Concord, Tribune, The News/Tempo, and TELL Magazines. Military authorities proscribed these media establishments and jailed their journalists for standing for free speech and civil liberties,” he said.

“I stand uniquely placed in this regard. I was among those who took the risk to midwife the birth of our democracy. I am now a direct and obvious beneficiary of the fruits of those historic efforts.

“As president of this nation, I am morally and constitutionally bound to preserve this precious form of governance. I vow to do my utmost best to protect your rights, freedoms, and liberties as citizens of Nigeria.

“Even more than that, I pledge to do whatever is necessary to cement democracy as our way of life,” he said.

He said although the challenges were steep and multiple, he was grateful to lead Nigeria at this moment in her history and point in her democratic journey.  

“I come before you also to declare that our most important work remains before us. This real test has never been whether we would rise to challenge the slings of misfortune and grievous pain of dictatorship.

“The real test is whether we shall lower our guards as the shadow of despotism and its evident physical danger fade.

“I say to you here and now that as we celebrate the enshrinement of our political democracy, let us commit ourselves to the fulfilment of its equally important counterpart, the realisation of our economic democracy,” he said.

The President acknowledged the economic difficulties Nigerians face at this point in time.

He said the economy had been in desperate need of reform for decades and had been unbalanced because it was built on the flawed foundation of over-reliance on revenues from the exploitation of oil. 

He said the reforms initiated by his government were intended to create a stronger, better foundation for future growth.

“There is no doubt the reforms have occasioned hardship. Yet, they are necessary repairs required to fix the economy over the long run so that everyone has access to economic opportunity, fair pay and compensation for his endeavour and labour. 

“As we continue to reform the economy, I shall always listen to the people and will never turn my back on you. 

“In this spirit, we have negotiated in good faith and with open arms with organised labour on a new national minimum wage.

“We shall soon send an executive bill to the National Assembly to enshrine what has been agreed upon as part of our law for the next five years or less,” he said.

The President said he was committed building a Nigeria where no man is oppressed.     

“In the end, our national greatness will not be achieved by travelling the easy road. It can only be achieved by taking the right one. 

“The words of the American President Franklin Roosevelt certainly ring true: ‘There are many ways of going forward. But only one way of standing still!’

“We dare not slumber lest the good things awaiting our immediate future pass us by. We dare not plant our feet in idle standstill in the middle of the intersection of hope and despair,” he charged Nigerians. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

SA/SH

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edited by Sadiya Hamza

Democracy

Port Harcourt, June 11, 2024 (NAN) Some stakeholders in the South-South region have described the 25 years of uninterrupted democracy in the country as a mixed bag of enhanced freedom of speech and economic hardship.

The stakeholders who responded to a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) survey said that though democracy enhanced freedom of speech, it had been marred with hardship.

They said that under Nigeria’s democracy, the citizenry had been faced with untoward hardship and soaring inflation 

The stakeholders who identified faulty electoral process and wrong leadership as part of the reasons for the hardship in the country, however expressed the belief that democracy remained the best option for the nation.

Dr Darlington Orji, the Special Adviser to the Rivers Governor on Politics and Strategy, said that democracy provided freedom of speech and association in the nation.

He applauded the nation and its leaders for maintaining an uninterrupted democracy for 25 years, describing as “a plus”

Orji stated that remarkable developments had been achieved in different sectors of the economy within the past 25 years but that more efforts were needed to alleviate the suffering being faced by the people.

The governor’s aide said that deliberate steps should be taken to bring government and its dividends closer to the people.

“The essence of government is to bring services to the people, but Nigeria has yet to be at the expected democratic destination,” he said.

He urged government at all levels to cut down the cost of governance in order to have more resources to implement projects while serving the people.

He stressed the need for government to be committed to the electorate who voted them in as leaders and admonished the electorate to stop selling their votes so that they could hold their leaders accountable.

Orji said that the inflation rate, high cost of food and the slim income of the ordinary people were signals of hunger in the land.

He urged government to invest more in agriculture, reduce the interest rates on loans and make education available and affordable to the ordinary people.

Orji said that government should also provide good healthcare system and create the enabling environment for investors to strive.

“Nigeria is on the right track for choosing democratic rule, we are progressing, once the electorate hold leaders accountable, leaders will do what is right.

“The market prices will be controlled, jobs will be created, youth restiveness will be curbed to the barest minimum while crime will reduce and the economy will also be better than it is today,” he said 

Similarly, the former Chairman, Labour Party in South-South, Prince Ruben, said that democracy in the country only succeeded in allowing freedom of speech  and freedom of movement to the people but failed in its foundation.

He said that the foundation of democracy was supposed to be the electoral process especially the election itself, saying,” but we have a failed process”

“Democracy is not working because our electoral system is faulty and the reason is that the wrong people are appointed into positions of trust.

“Since 1999, the democracy foundation has been destroyed and that faulty foundation through our electoral system is causing the problem of Nigeria as a country.

“When the wrong people are in power, do not expect Nigerians to enjoy the dividends of democracy.’’

Ruben decried the rate at which the naira was falling and stated: “Nigeria’s economy is down, nothing is actually working”

He said that Nigerians were suffering, and that hunger had become the order of the day.

“Petrol is almost N1,000 per litre, prices of goods skyrocketed unimaginably, all these have made democracy dividends unachievable,” he said.

He urged the different tiers of government to consider the plights of Nigerians who were struggling to survive the current difficulties in the country.

“We may not see any improvement in the economic sector of this country, we need to go back and correct the faulty foundation from the electoral system.

“We must transmit our election results electronically, we must also enshrine our electoral transmission of results system in the constitution,” he said.

Ruben further said that Nigeria’s constitution should be reviewed to reflect electronic voting to eradicate violence, thuggery and snatching of ballot boxes during elections.

According to him, this will enable the county to elect good leaders and enthrone the needed change

Similarly, Mr Jimmy Aninege, a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River, stated that the Nigeria’s 25 years of democracy had been greeted with both challenges and some level of progress.

He further said that the nation’s democratic dividends had been uneven with some sectors and regions benefiting more than others.

Aninege, a former Secretary to the Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River, maintained that there had been uneven and non-inclusive economic growth.

He said that while there was an increase in GDP, unemployment and underemployment remained high, and poverty became widespread.

“This suggests that there is need for more investments in agriculture and infrastructure,” he said.

On enhancing democratic practice, the PDP stalwart said: “Nigeria needs to strengthen its institutions and tackle corruption, electoral fraud, and political exclusion”

Also speaking, some stakeholders in Akwa Ibom, have urged the Federal Government to improve the standard of living of Nigerians, revert the petroleum subsidy removal and tackle insecurity.

Mr Franklin Isong, the Director, Centre for Human Rights and Accountability Network, said that in the past 25 years, Nigeria had remained far from achieving the essence of democracy.

He said that the intention of democracy was to make governance closer to the people because democracy is the government of the people, for the people and by the people.

Isong urged the government to be sensitive to the plight of the governed by ensuring people-oriented policies for Nigerians to enjoy dividends of democracy.

He called for the review of the 1999 constitution to reflect the reality of time.

Also speaking, Mr Eyibio Okon, Secretary, Civil Liberties Organisation in Akwa Ibom, said that democracy had neither  improved the lives of the people nor yielded any positive fruit in the past 25 years.

“If you have to measure all the indices, democracy has made the rich to become richer and the poor to become poorer.

“I can comfortably tell you that democracy which ought to improve the wellbeing of Nigerians have only brought more hardships,” he said.

Okon, who is an Uyo-based lawyer, described the high cost of food in the country as a pointer to the hardship bestowed on Nigerians under the watch of democratic leaders.

According to him, democracy has thrown up opportunity for those who are supposed not to be in government to do things the way they like.

He advised the Federal government to cut down the cost of governance and appoint the right people into positions of trust.

Okon further called for the strengthening of the electoral process to ensure fairness, honesty and lack of bias.

He said that leaders would listen to the yearnings of the people if the electoral process was designed to make the people’s vote to count(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Reporters/JEO/AZU

===============

Edited by Jane-Francess Oraka and Azubuike Okeh

TEXT OF PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU’S NATIONAL BROADCAST ON THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNBROKEN DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA, DEMOCRACY DAY 12TH JUNE 2024.

1.     My fellow Nigerians, let me begin by congratulating all of us for witnessing the celebration of another Democracy Day today, the 12th day of June 2024. This year also marks our nation’s 25 years of uninterrupted democratic governance. 

2.     On this day, 31 years ago, we entered our rites of passage to becoming a true and enduring democratic society.

3.     Going through this passage was hard and dangerous. During the fateful six years that followed, we fought and struggled for our natural rights as human beings put on this earth by the divine hand of our Creator. 

4.     We lost great heroes and heroines along the way. In this struggle, the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, the most significant symbol of our democratic struggle, his wife, Kudirat, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and Pa Alfred Rewane, among others sacrificed their very lives. 

 5.     They bravely surrendered their futures, so that our nation might have a better one. 

 6.     Let us honour the memories of Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Arthur Nwankwo, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Frank Kokori, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Ganiyu Dawodu, Chief Ayo Fasanmi, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Olabiyi Durojaiye, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, Chima Ubani, and others who have transited to the higher realm. 

7.     The sacrifices of General Alani Akinrinade, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Professor Wole Soyinka, Chief Ralph Obioha, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, among many others, should never be forgotten. For at least six years, they bore the pains and difficulties of life in exile.  

8.     While the exiled pro-democracy activists kept the fire burning, their comrades at home sustained the pressure on the military brass hats. Among the latter are Olisa Agbakoba, Femi Falana, Abdul Oroh, Senator Shehu Sani, Governor Uba Sani, Chief Olu Falae, and other National Democratic Coalition leaders such as Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Ayo Opadokun. 

 9.     The sacrifices they made, and the precious gift brought about by their selfless devotion can never be repaid. Neither shall it be forgotten.

 10. We could not have won the battle against military dictatorship without the irrepressible Nigerian journalists who mounted the barricades along with the pro-democracy activists. We celebrate them today, along with their media establishments such as The Punch, Guardian, National Concord, Tribune, The News/Tempo, and TELL Magazines. Military authorities proscribed these media establishments and jailed their journalists for standing for free speech and civil liberties. 

11. Despite the lethal might of the military government, what appeared to be high and unyielding walls of dictatorship came tumbling down. The dismal fortress exists no longer. 

12.The power of an idea, the power of the people proved more potent than all the guns and munitions, and the threats of the strongmen.  

13. The nation exited the yoke of military rule in 1999 to become the most populous democracy on African soil, the beacon of democratic self-determination for the black race and one of the largest democracies in the world.

14. This change stands as a pivotal moment in human history. From this change, we shall never turn, nor shall the annals of mankind’s progress forget the sublime meaning of this great moment. 

15. Today, 25 years later, we celebrate the silver anniversary of our journey in democracy.   

16. We have steadied the course. 

 17. Democracy is neither a foreign nor abstract concept devoid of real-life meaning for us. Neither can we afford to reduce or minimalise it to being nothing but the mere holding of periodic elections where one candidate and party outdo another. 

18. While elections attract dramatic attention, they are but one aspect of democracy. Democracy is a way of life that encompasses a broad outlook of which elections are but a part. As such, a nation can have elections without being democratic. But a nation cannot be truly democratic without holding elections.   

19.That we have established a tradition of holding transparent, open, and fair elections gives credence to our democratic bearing. That we have experienced peaceful transitions of government affirms our democratic temperament. 

20. Fellow Nigerians, true democracy shines its light into the daily lives of the people who live under its nurturing wings. It affords us the freedom and liberty to think as we want, live where we want and pursue whatever legitimate endeavour that suits us.

21. Democracy does not assume some false or forced unity of opinion. In fact, democracy assumes that conflicting ideas and differing opinions shall be the order of the day. Given the diversity and variety of the human experience, there must be diverse perspectives and viewpoints.

22. What democracy demands is that we do not resolve differences through force and repression. But we make allowance for the legitimacy of views that differ from our own.  

23. Where other forms of government impose against the will of the people, democracy aims to make leaders sufficiently humble that they conduct themselves as servants of the common good, not as viceroys of the narrow interests of the mighty.

24. My dear compatriots, Nigeria faced a decision of untold gravity twenty-five years ago: Whether to veer toward a better destination or continue aimlessly in the fog of dictatorship.

25. We made the right choice then. We must continue with that choice now.

26. As Nigerians, we must remind ourselves that no matter how complicated democracy may be, it is the best form of governance in the long run. We must also be aware that there are those among us who will try to exploit current challenges to undermine, if not destroy, this democracy for which so much has already been given. 

27. These people do this not to make things better but to subject all other people and things to their control and dominance until the point that, if you are not counted among their elite, then your life will be small and no longer owned by you. 

28. This is the great battle of our day and the major reason we specially celebrate this Democracy day.

29. Fellow Nigerians, our Democracy is more than a historic fact. It is a living, breathing reality. 

30. The true meaning of this day is not to focus solely on the great deeds of the past that have brought us to this point.  

31. Yes, we pay eternal honour to those who laid down their lives, sacrificing everything to pave the way for the nation. 

32. I stand uniquely placed in this regard. I was among those who took the risk to midwife the birth of our democracy. I am now a direct and obvious beneficiary of the fruits of those historic efforts.

33. As president of this nation, I am morally and constitutionally bound to preserve this precious form of governance. I vow to do my utmost best to protect your rights, freedoms, and liberties as citizens of Nigeria.

34. Even more than that, I pledge to do whatever is necessary to cement democracy as our way of life. 

35. Although the challenges are steep and multiple, I am grateful to lead Nigeria at this moment in her history and point in her democratic journey.  

36. I come before you also to declare that our most important work remains before us. This real test has never been whether we would rise to challenge the slings of misfortune and grievous pain of dictatorship.

37. The real test is whether we shall lower our guards as the shadow of despotism and its evident physical danger fade.

 38. I say to you here and now that as we celebrate the enshrinement of our political democracy, let us commit ourselves to the fulfilment of its equally important counterpart, the realisation of our economic democracy.

 39.  I understand the economic difficulties we face as a nation. 

 40. Our economy has been in desperate need of reform for decades. It has been unbalanced because it was built on the flawed foundation of over-reliance on revenues from the exploitation of oil. 

 41. The reforms we have initiated are intended to create a stronger, better foundation for future growth. There is no doubt the reforms have occasioned hardship. Yet, they are necessary repairs required to fix the economy over the long run so that everyone has access to economic opportunity, fair pay and compensation for his endeavour and labour. 

 42. As we continue to reform the economy, I shall always listen to the people and will never turn my back on you. 

43. In this spirit, we have negotiated in good faith and with open arms with organized labour on a new national minimum wage. We shall soon send an executive bill to the National Assembly to enshrine what has been agreed upon as part of our law for the next five years or less.

44. In the face of labour’s call for a national strike, we did not seek to oppress or crack down on the workers as a dictatorial government would have done. We chose the path of cooperation over conflict.

 45. No one was arrested or threatened. Instead, the labour leadership was invited to break bread and negotiate toward a good-faith resolution.  

 46. Reasoned discussion and principled compromise are hallmarks of democracy. These themes shall continue to animate my policies and interaction with the constituent parts of our political economy.

 47. I take on this vital task without fear or favour and I commit myself to this work until we have built a Nigeria where no man is oppressed.     

48. In the end, our national greatness will not be achieved by travelling the easy road. It can only be achieved by taking the right one. 

 49. The words of the American President Franklin Roosevelt certainly ring true:

 “There are many ways of going forward. But only one way of standing still”!

50. We dare not slumber lest the good things awaiting our immediate future pass us by. We dare not plant our feet in idle standstill in the middle of the intersection of hope and despair. 

 51. We know the proper way forward and we shall take it!

 52. The initial rays of a brighter tomorrow now appear on the early horizon. An abundant future and our capacity to achieve that future lie within our reach. Democracy and the institutions it begets offer to take us to our profound destination. 

53. Let us board this progressive train together. Together, let us move Nigeria forward. 

54. Let’s continue to keep the fire of democracy burning. Let’s keep the torch lit for generations to come. 

 55. May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and preserve our democracy.

 56. I wish us all Happy Democracy Day.

  PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR