Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State has
urged Nigerians to reject what he Tuesday described as “prison-yard democracy,
typified by the ignoble meddlesomeness, rascality and high-handedness of some
security agencies against democratic institutions” in Nigeria in recent times.
Speaking against the background of Monday’s siege to
the Benue State House of Assembly and other perceived violations of the
country’s democratic culture including the attacks on the national legislature,
the All Progressives Congress, APC governor described the developments as
aberrations that go against the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.
Tambuwal who became the first APC governor to openly
chide recent happenings in the country said:
“Nigerians must, in strong terms, say no to
prison-yard democracy, where the rights of the citizenry are shackled to the
caprices of a few, as if we now run a nation of helpless inmates.
If the people of Nigeria are so unfortunate to
endure the growling nightmare occasioned by deprivation of most things that a
democracy should ordinarily provide; If they are now accustomed to the pangs of
hunger, unemployment, shabby infrastructure, poor healthcare and general
hopelessness, they should, in the interest of democracy and the youths, stand
against anything that has the potential of robbing them of their inalienable
rights to live and make choices as free citizens.”
The governor said further: “These are unfortunate
incidents, an aberration, a reprehensible attack on the fundamental human
rights and privileges of fellow Nigerians and a direct attack on our fledgling
democracy. We should condemn this crass and impudent exhibition of uncivilized
conduct, so that we can keep peace and maintain a civilized society.
“Democracy is about freedom, of choice and
association. It is about the people and the supremacy of the will of the
people. Democracy, loses its essential value when the overall interest of the
people takes a back seat in any supposedly democratic setting”, the governor
said.
He adds that legitimate political choices and
movements, including cross-carpeting, are part of a democratic enterprise,
saying: “Any attempt to bully people out of their legitimate, democratic
choices is a war against democracy, the rights of the citizenry, that power
this unique people-oriented system of governance.”
Tambuwal said: “I also call on our leaders at all
levels, to guard their utterances, in order not to drive our nation further
down the path of divisiveness and ethnic/religious mistrust. Let us water our
democracy, using the fountains of equity, fairness and justice for all.”
Credit: Vanguard
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