The Director-General of Michael Imodu National Institute For Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin, Mr Issa Aremu has urged Nigerians to safeguard democracy and not allow the country to fall back into a military dictatorship.
Aremu gave the admonition in his remark at MINILS’s maiden celebration of Nigeria’s Democracy day, held at the institution’s Training Hall in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, North Central Nigeria
The famous labour leader said that Nigeria and other African countries should not allow themselves to be taken back into a military dictatorship which is often characterised by gross violations of workers’, trade unions and human rights, making example of the situation in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea.
He said that “Nigeria and indeed Africa should never return to the dark days of military dictatorship with all its gross violations of workers’, trade unions and human rights. We are in interesting times of democracy renaissance in Africa.
“However there are disturbing developments in West Africa. Mali in particular has become a new word for whimsical additive senseless coups. Today all civil societies and political parties in Africa must join ECOWAS to condemn the unhelpful military coups in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.
“Military class in West Africa should subordinate themselves to elected civil authorities.
Aremu however urged ECOWAS to toughen the sanctions on military juntas to force them to return to civil rule, stressing that the continent needs a more democratic society than military incursions.
He said, “ECOWAS should toughen the sanctions against military juntas and make sure they return to barracks. Africa needs more democracy to deepen democracy, not military intervention.”
On the forthcoming general elections, the labour activist expressed optimism about the anticipated success of the polls referring to the just concluded political parties’ primaries.
He said, “I’m full of optimism that the electoral process will be free and fair judging by the democracy now at play in all the primaries of the political parties.”
Aremu suggested that political parties should tailor their manifestos and electioneering plans to target the direct needs of the people such as the welfare and security of the citizens.
He noted that “Election should be issues-based. I will like to suggest that all the parties should draw manifesto issues from chapter II of the 1999 constitution dealing with fundamental principles and directives of states concerning welfare and security of the citizens”.
Dominica Nwabufo
