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.