By Olugbenga Salami
As Nigerians celebrate this year’s Democracy Day, the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, has reminded them that June 12 was more than just a date.
Lawan, in a statement he personally signed and released on Sunday to felicitate with Nigerians on the occasion, said: “It represents a milestone in our journey to entrench a democratic polity, as on that day 29 years ago, Nigerians rose above primordial sentiments and proclaimed the oneness of their nation and the unity of its people.”
“That day too, they proclaimed their preference for a democratic system that offers them good governance, freedom and life more abundant.
“The statement of that day propelled us into the longest period of democracy in our nation’s history.
“However, as we all know, democracy is a process that requires popular participation, tolerance of the views and rights of others and the spirit of sportsmanship for its sustenance.
“As we march on in our democratic journey, we should always remember the tenets and rules of the game, respect the rights of others and faithfully discharge our civic responsibilities as important stakeholders in a nation building project,”
Lawan further urged Nigerians to be confident in their ability to turn things around for the good of all as they strive to build a better nation.
“Our goal should be to build our nation with the bricks of equity, fairness and justice, so that it can withstand challenges as they may come,” he added.
The Senate President assured that the National Assembly would always be alive to its duties, as it did in the recent passage of the Electoral Reform Bill, now referred to as Electoral Act 2022, for which Parliament has received commendations from the great Nigerian public.
