NNPP felicitates with Nigerians on democracy day celebration
… Implores Nigerians to support government to deliver dividends of democracy
Maureen Aguta
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has felicitates with all Nigerians on this year’s celebration of Democracy Day, saying this year’s celebration is unique as it marks the country’s 26 years of uninterrupted democracy.
A statement by the Founder of NNPP, Chief Boniface Aniebonam said: “We agree that it is not yet uhuru but however acknowledge that tremendous progress has been made as a nation looking at the journey so far. We insist that what temporarily divide us as a people is elections and political elites, once it’s over we are expected to unite in the interest of the people in order to enjoy the full gains and dividends of democracy.
“We therefore call on all well meaning lovers of democracy to lay down their political differences, embrace unity and responsible partnership with the government as we celebrate this year’s democracy day.”
He called for a united Nigeria, a united people that are determined to sustain the development of the country. He added that Nigerians must use this celebration as a moment to reflect on the nation’s journey so far and to what extent citizens have tapped into our religious, cultural and ethnic diversities.
Aniebonam said: “While praying for an end to insecurity leading to incessant loss of innocent lives, we call on the government to do more in securing the lives and properties of innocent and taxpaying citizens. The government must be decisive to halt the ongoing senseless killings in many parts of Nigeria including Plateau, Benue, Niger, Zamfara, Borno and several others and restore sanity for economic activities to thrive optimally.”
According to him, it’s in the public domain that the Lion of Budillon is known to be a man who is not afraid to take a decision in a matter of urgent state importance, he removed the oil subsidy that his predecessors could not be bold enough to stop the fraud against the state treasury, “it is our belief that it is time for him to activate all the state coercive force to stop elements and sponsors of insecurity in Nigeria.”
He said, “In every democracy, the power to associate is sacred and even enshrined in the Nigerian constitution 1999 (as amended). It is therefore utterly out of place to consider the ongoing political realignments as an attempt to make the country a one party state.
“As we approach 2027, Nigerians have the democratic right to move across political parties, it’s only incumbent on political parties to do more to plug holes created by the exit of such members. Any attempt to stop these movements is clearly an infringement on the rights to association and free movement which democratic principles clearly uphold.
“The fear of Nigeria democracy drifting into one party system does not arise, so individuals moving from one party to another does not mean a realignment of registered political parties with similar ideology, therefore movement of individual politicians are inconsequential to the subject matter,” he stressed.
Aniebonam further advised the political elites who have access to government to understand that it shall be more productive to reach out to government through direct engagement and or memo on the best way to re-event Nigeria than playing to the gallery through media interventions
To Mr. President and his council of ministers, he commended for showing strong leadership judging from where you started, the expectations of Nigerians are very high in tackling insecurity and downgrading corruption act in our country.
“However it is the belief of new Nigeria people’s party that it is time for most Nigerians to participate fully in building a new Nigeria of our dreams, carrying long list of complaints cannot help other than responsible partnership with the government
“We therefore call for total adherence to the principles of rule of law which is the hub with which democracy revolves. All tiers of government, federal, state and local councils as well as Nigerians must ensure the survival of our democracy by adhering strictly to the rule of law and constitutionality,” he said.
The NNPP leader also admonished the political class that all instruments of democracy must be protected, activated and made to function optimally. “Yes, we can do it, through participation and mass movement against the evils of the society as we keep this conversation going forward,” he stated.