Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has stated that the nation, Nigeria cannot afford to be celebrating democracy day, when its citizens are living like slaves in their homeland.
The governor who disclosed this in his goodwill message to Nigerians in commemoration of the June 12 celebration, also urged Nigerians to be on the guard against anti-democratic forces.
Read Also: Democracy Day: Buhari Reiterates Free, Transparent Electoral Process
In a statement signed on Sunday, June 12, by Nathaniel Ikyur, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Ortom, the governor advocated the strengthening of democratic institutions in the country.
Ortom who paid tribute to the martyr of June 12, Chief M.K.O Abiola, further prayed that what led to the ill-fated third republic will not occur again in Nigeria.
Read Also: Despite Power Outage, IKEDC Sends ‘Brighter Future’ Democracy Message
He said:
Never again shall we allow undemocratic forces take control of our collective destiny. We must guard our democracy jealously.
The practice of democracy should not be at the dictates or the whims and caprices of a few individuals who think they will lord it over the general public.
Democracy should be our way of life. It is freedom to exercise our franchise in an uninterrupted environment. But insecurity has forced majority of our people away from their ancestral lands and made their living conditions less than humans because they are now forced to live in shanties is a major challenge.
This is why the federal government must wake up to their responsibility and tackle the menace headlong.
According to him,
By deliberate efforts and design, Nigerians opted for the presidential system of democracy because it is participatory and representative enough. It is a way of life that must be held sacrosanct.
The unabating security situation where armed Fulani terrorists are seizing our sovereignty is already a threat to our hard earned democracy, a development that has not been given priority attention by the the current APC led federal government is a cause for concern.
Ortom therefore insisted that:
We cannot be celebrating democracy day when our citizens are now slaves and not free in their homes, schools, worship centres, workplaces and cannot go to their farms or even travel freely on our roads or by train. We must tackle the issue of insecurity courageously if we are to practice democracy freely.
Giving account of his stewardship, Ortom said:
In the last seven years, I’ve provided dividends of democracy in (the area of) education, health, agriculture, infrastructure and other critical sectors of development, in the face of daunting economic and security challenges.
We appreciate the people of Benue state for the support given us and assure them that our administration will not waver. We will sustain the tempo in this remaining year.
