The Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Sunday noted with dismay that many Nigerians
have lost hope in the country, and wondered if they could continue to depend on
Nigeria for their happiness and lifetime goals.
He also called on citizens to
monitor elected leaders to ensure that the true tenets of democracy are
preserved and practised.
Dogara, who said this in a
message marking Nigeria’s 58 Independence anniversary, urged the citizens not
to give up hope and faith in the progress of the country, adding that they will
soon begin to experience the true benefits of democracy”.
In his words, “The failure of
governments over the years to provide good governance that will translate into
wealth and prosperity for the citizens, many citizens have lost hope in the
country and now wonder if they can continue to depend on it for their happiness
and lifetime goals.
“Through the effective
functioning of the three tiers of government, a Nigeria that sees all citizens
as equal and seeks to ensure that the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness will surely emerge.
“But all these can only be
achieved through vigilant monitoring of elected leaders to ensure that the true
tenets of democracy are preserved and practiced.
“For some of our citizens who
wonder whether they are in the position to invest their liberty in the pursuit
of happiness, I want to say they shouldn’t despair, as there is hope for the
living.
“That fully in the course of
history, the rich and powerful have always interchanged places with the poor
and vulnerable. So there is hope, and every reason for all Nigerians to
celebrate this democracy”.
Dogara added, “As a matter of
fact, in order for us to secure these rights, the framers of our constitution
allocated governmental powers among three equal branches of government, the
Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. The three greatly working
together makes it extremely necessary for compromise and consensus in
governance.
“Whenever you see a democracy
that is working; check it very well, it is consensus and compromise that drives
it. Of course this democracy that we all cherish is very fragile, and as such
we can’t take it for granted.”
He also called for more active
participation of citizens in governance, saying that any generation that
relaxes on vigilance would awaken to the rude shock that the courts and other
democratic institutions have been weaponised against them.
“And as much they have become
subjects, instead of citizens, where obeisance to the government is demanded as
against the government fearing the people.
On this premise, the Speaker
cautioned, “That must not be the case with our own democracy, and for us to
ensure that our democracy survives, we have to be eternally vigilant,”
“Be it in the South, West, North
and East, across all divides to unite for the common good for the pursuit of
our future and the advancement of our people”, adding that he believes that
nothing is impossible in a united, peaceful and democratic Nigeria.
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