(Lokoja)
As Nigerians mark Democracy Day, signifying 21 years of unbroken civilian administration in the country, they have been urged to have faith in the ability of the Buhari-led administration “to lift the nation out of the woods.”
Prince Matthew Kolawole, the Speaker, Kogi House of Assembly gave the advice in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Femi Olugbemi on Friday in Lokoja to commemorate the event.
He, however, called on the people not to entertain fear in the ability of President Muhammadu Buhari administration to rescue the country from its various challenges.
“Nigerians don’t need to entertain any fears in the ability of the current administration, led by a progressive party and personality in the person of President Muhammadu Buhari to move the nation forward.
“The foundation being laid is in the right direction,” he said.
The Speaker noted that through the recognition and designation of June 12 as “Democracy Day” in Nigeria, the President had demonstrated his commitment to the rapid socio-economic, political development and advancement of the country.
“The recognition and designation of June 12, as Democracy Day in Nigeria by the current administration, shows that there is hope for the country,”he added.
The action of the present administration, he noted, was a reflection of late Chief MKO Abiola’s vision for the Nigeria, if he were to be alive to govern Nigeria
The speaker expressed delight that the mission of the late Abiola to have a nation that could truly work for the masses was, however, not in vain.
Duaglobalnews recalls that MKO, contested the presidential election on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) but could not realise his ambition.
Though the election was judged the most transparent and freest in the history of elections in Nigeria,the General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) regime cancelled the results of the poll and Abiola later died in a questionable circumstances.
The Speaker added that every citizen had a role to play in the quest to attain a better Nigeria.
He urged that all hands be on deck and be committed to play their respective parts in “making the dreams of our forefathers come true”.
Kolawole congratulated Nigerians for witnessing the first ever Democracy Day to be celebrated on June 12.
He stated that Buhari was steering the state craft in the right direction and laying a solid foundation for advancement of the country.
He said that in spite of the challenges facing the nation, including the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the Buhari administration had made appreciable achievements in the major sectors of the economy.
The achievements, according to him, are in the spheres of Agriculture, infrastructure development, fight against corruption, health, education, youth engagement and support for the vulnerable and the elderly among many others.
The Speaker, who however, decried the security situation in the country, saying that it had assumed worrisome dimension, called for multi-sectoral and collective approach to tackle the menace.
Kolawole assured that the state legislative under his watch would continue to collaborate with other arms of government to make laws for the promotion of good governance in the state.
He urged people of the state to continue to support and rally round Gov. Yahaya Bello’s administration in the bid to move the state to an enviable height.
