Attah Ede, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has urged Nigerians to be on the alert against anti-democratic forces, saying, “We must guard our democracy jealously.”
He further stressed that, by deliberate efforts and design, Nigerians opted for the presidential system of democracy because it is participatory and representative enough, adding that, it is a way of life that must be held sacrosanct.
The Governor stated this in his goodwill message to Nigerians to commemorate the June 12 struggled.
Ortom recalled the tortuous journey to democratic rule and urged Nigerians to rise up to say, “Never again shall we allow undemocratic forces to take control of our collective destiny.”
He advocated the need to strengthen democratic institutions in the country “so that the practice of democracy should not be at the dictates or the whims and caprices of a few individuals who think they will lord it over the general public but the wishes of the people.”
While pointing out that the unabating security situation where armed Fulani terrorists are seizing our sovereignty is already a threat to our hard-earned democracy, Ortom lamented that security matter has not been given priority attention by the current APC-led federal government and is a cause for concern.
“Democracy should be our way of life. It is freedom to exercise our franchise in an uninterrupted environment. But the insecurity that has forced the majority of us away from our ancestral lands and made their living conditions less than humans because they are now forced to live in shanties is a major challenge. This is why the federal government must wake up to their responsibility and tackle the menace headlong. ”
“We cannot be celebrating democracy day when our citizens are now slaves and not free in their homes, schools, worship centres, workplaces, and cannot go to their farms or even travel freely on our roads or by train.
“We must tackle the issue of insecurity courageously if we are to practice democracy freely. ”
“My administration has in the last seven years, provided dividends of democracy in education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, and other critical sectors of development, in the face of daunting economic and security challenges.”
“We appreciate the people of Benue State for the support they have given us and assure them that our administration will not waver. We will sustain the tempo in this remaining year. ”
While paying glowing tribute to the June 12, 1993, democracy Martyr, Chief M.K.O.Abiola, Ortom prayed that what led to the ill-fated third republic would not occur again in Nigeria.