The chairman board of directors of TELL Communications Limited, publishers of Tell Magazine, Chief Adeniyi Lasaki, has said that sustaining democracy in Nigeria would require the collective effort of not only the political class, but Nigerians in general.
He stated this Wednesday in Abuja during a conference organised by the publishing company for stakeholders in the political terrain, with the theme ” democracy and the rule of law”.
Stakeholders in attendance include: All Progressives Congress national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole,
former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, chairman of Air Peace airline, Chief Allen Onyema, Senator Shehu Sani, representatives of Sokoto state governor, representatives of different newspapers, among others.
Addressing participants at the conference, Lasaki said that the nation is still battling with insecurity, corruption and an ailing economy, adding that, most times, we complain that our investments on election days are not yielding the right dividends, but that democracy is still better than military dictatorship.
He said: “A lot has happened in the last twenty years. In fact, so much more since a conference of this nature in 2009. Some of these things were unfortunately not so charitable. But in all, we all agreed that by 1999 we returned to the best so far of the form of government that ingratiates itself with humanity. However, like a toddler, and that is despite that we were not totally new to representative democracy, we have taken false steps, stumbled and fallen when we were expected to move with speed.
“We may not have achieved
perfection, but the path or democracy is the sure step to genuine
development and progress. We believe that while we may not be cruising at the expected high speed, the hope of a better future is more alive today than witnessed under the military. We need to realise that the sustenance of democracy, the nurturing of democratic ideals and protection of its
principles are the responsibilities of everyone.”
Also speaking, Chairman of Air Peace Airline, Chief Allen Onyema, said Nigerians should start having nationalistic outlook in the affairs of the nation, instead of weaving ethnic colouration into every discourse affecting the nation.
“We have no other country besides Nigeria. Our problems will be greatly reduced if we start seeing our diversity as an opportunity instead of a problem. If an Hausa man start talking about the problems faced by the Igbo, Yoruba or any other ethnic group, we will be better for it,” he said.
