The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has challenged all Nigerians to preserve the fundamental ingredients of the nation’s democracy, saying blessings of democracy were the intangibles.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ekweremadu made the call in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Uche Anichukwu, in a goodwill message to Nigerians on the occasion of the 2018 Democracy Day.
He said although several countries built world-class infrastructure, prosperous economy and maintained high Human Development Index under autocratic regimes, democracy gave rule of law, fundamental human rights, liberties, checks and balances, justice and unity, among others.
He said: “The core blessings of democracy are liberties, human rights, rule of law, separation of powers, checks and balances, independent electoral umpire, independent judiciary, independent legislature, which all combine to deliver good governance.
“Democracy does not envisage a situation where any arm of government, no matter how well intended, expropriates or discountenances the constitutional roles of other arms.
“Wilful disregard for these basic elements and flagrant abuse of critical institutions of democracy portend grave danger for democracy. It is recipe for anarchy and slow poison to democracy.
“On the occasion of the nation’s 19th Democracy Day, leaders and citizens alike must recommit to unity and justice, directing our energies to safeguarding the nation’s democracy from all forms of excesses that diminish it and compromise development.”
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