By Correspondent in Abuja
Former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, has said that democracy in Nigeria can only endure when it delivers tangible hope, community security, opportunities for the elderly, and justice for all citizens.
Isola made the assertion in his New Year message, made available on Thursday in Abuja, where he reflected on the shared responsibilities of political leaders and citizens in nurturing and sustaining democracy.
He called on Nigerians to make 2026 a defining turning point for the nation, noting that the New Year represents far more than a mere change of calendar.
“The year 2026 must therefore be a turning point, a year when leadership is guided by conscience, competence, and compassion; a year when governance truly reflects the aspirations of the people; and a year when citizenship is defined not only by rights but also by responsibility,” he said.
The former envoy extended warm New Year greetings to Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora, as well as friends of Nigeria across the globe.
According to him, the New Year “invites us to look back with honesty, forward with hope, and inward with responsibility.”
Isola emphasized that political leaders must listen more attentively and serve the people better, while citizens, on their part, must remain engaged, peaceful, vigilant, and constructive in holding leadership accountable.
He further stressed that Nigeria’s greatest strength lies in its unity of purpose, describing the country as richly blessed with cultural diversity, natural resources, and human capital.
“Our differences,ethnic, religious, and political, should never be instruments of division, but pillars of balance and mutual respect,” he added.
