Democracy Day: Saraki, Ekweremadu call for stronger economy, lawfulness

Leke Baiyewu, Abuja

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has called for concerted effort by all Nigerians to build a strong economy as a means of sustaining the country’s democracy.

Saraki made the call in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, to commemorate the 2017 Democracy Day celebration.

The Senate President said the real challenge to the sustenance of the democracy, which the country had experienced in the last 18 years, was the need for a solid economy that would ensure that the citizens enjoyed high standard of living and there was even development across the country.

He urged Nigerians to support the policies of government aimed at “involving the private sector in key sectors of the economy, focussing on locally manufactured goods, encouraging small and medium scale entrepreneurs, developing alternative sources of foreign exchange other than oil, directing attention to commercial  agriculture and mining of mineral resources, eliminating smuggling and other activities which can sabotage the economy.”

Saraki stated that if the people could rally behind government policies to develop the economy and create a vibrant private sector by eschewing all activities which threaten the stability of the country, then, “many of the problems which bedevil the nation’s politics will be eliminated and our democracy will grow from strength to strength.”

He said, “I want to congratulate all Nigerians for the successes we have recorded so far in our democratic journey. We cannot afford to remove our legs from the gas pedal. Government definitely is determined to make life more abundant for our people.

“All Nigerians deserve commendation. We have done well so far. We must strive more to make democracy a way of life. The successes recorded so far, demonstrate the unwavering commitment of Nigerians to sustain and grow our democracy.

“Let us celebrate with hope that the present economic challenges will soon give way to a prosperous country that we can all be proud of. Our democratic institutions need to be strengthened to perform their duties in the service of all Nigerians irrespective of the government in power.”

Also, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, stressed the need to uphold constitutionalism and the rule of law to speed up growth of the nation’s democracy.

Ekweremadu said this in his Democracy Day message to Nigerians, which was issued by the Special Adviser (Media) to Deputy President of the Senate, Uche Anichukwu, on Sunday.

The Deputy Senate President maintained that the difference between democracy and undemocratic forms of government was the guarantee of human rights and rule of law.

He said, “As we celebrate the 18th anniversary of the return of democracy, we must remind ourselves that the greatest blessings of democracy are not just good roads, hospitals, electricity and other socio-economic infrastructure, which are still grossly inadequate, anyway. Any government is capable of providing one, and even several dictatorships around the world have indeed provided betters ones.

“The greatest blessings of democracy are constitutionalism, rule of law, respect for human rights, courts, separation of powers and the ballot box.

“Unless we apply the break and uphold the rule of law and democratic conventions and practices in all ramifications, our greatest losses, moving forward, will not be economic recession, lack of critical infrastructure, among others, but an irredeemably deteriorated civilian rule where the decisions of the courts, letters and spirit of the law, resolutions of the legislature, electoral choices of Nigerians as expressed through the ballot no longer count.”