President of the Nigerian Senate Dr. Ahmad Lawan has expressed worry that Nigerians are celebrating Democracy Day this year amidst serious national challenges on the socio-political and economic fronts.
Senator Lawan who stated this in his democracy day message to Nigerians, noted that the sad situation has given vent to violent verbal and physical expressions that constitute a serious threat not just to Nigeria’s democracy but to the unity of the nation.
According to a statement signed by Senator Lawan & released this weekend, the Senate President said, “I felicitate with my fellow Nigerians on the occasion of our Democracy Day.”
“This Day has a tremendous significance for Nigerians who struggled so valiantly to establish Democracy in their beloved country and have vigilantly nurtured it with their tireless participation in the democratic process.”
“However, clouds always make way for a bright sky so we should not let the current situation to shake our faith in democracy and in our nation. No nation is free from challenges but great people use challenges to drive the wheel of national progress.
“We are not where we want to be yet in our democratic march but we are also not where we started. There will always remain much work to be done in democratic consolidation and nation-building. We should therefore never despair or contemplate a return to the undemocratic past that had cost us so much toil and blood to escape from”.
He urged Nigerians to respect the country’s diversity and use it to produce the harmony that makes democracy the best form of government yet invented by man.
3 CRITICAL BILLS
Senator Lawan believes that it has become imperative to use the democratic mechanisms available such as the periodic review of the constitution to pursue the Nigeria of our dreams.
“We have reached an advanced stage in the constitution review exercise. Our Committees at the Senate and House of Representatives are collating the views and submissions by Nigerians from across the country. The final report is now being expected and we hope to debate the recommendations and take a vote on them before we proceed on our annual vacation in July.”
“We are also set to pass the Electoral Act amendment Bill this June. This Bill contains provisions that address identified deficiencies in our electoral process so that we can sustain the progress that is being made in the system under the Fourth Republic,” he stated.
While congratulating all Nigerians on the journey so far, he urged all to remain steadfast in their commitment to democracy.
PR/EDWIN/Lateefah Ibrahim
