The governors, in their goodwill messages on the 14th Democracy Day celebration, noted that Nigeria as a nation, has come to stay as one entity.
In a broadcast to mark the Democracy Day in Calabar, Imoke said that democracy offered hope of achieving and strengthening the democratic environment that all Nigerians aspire to live in.
According to him, the democratic successes achieved in the past 14 years of democracy, have exceeded expectations.
“In 1999, when this democratic dispensation commenced, our ideals and ambitions were indeed lofty and to some, even unattainable.
“This achievement demands collective commendation for every facet of our society as detractors only served to spur us on towards reaching out desired result.
“Consequently, the results of our collective efforts have become evident and tangible through socio-economic development and growth,’’ he said.
He urged the people of Cross River to consolidate the democracy and continue to instil and observe the essential democratic tenets for a more prosperous State.
In Enugu, Chime urged politicians to use the occasion of the 14th democracy rule of the country to unite to ensure quality leadership for the people.
The goodwill message signed by his Press Secretary, Mr Chukwudi Achife, on Wednesday, urged all Nigerians to continue to pursue ideals and actions that would strengthen rather than undermine democracy.
He said that unity, especially among the political class, would help in sustaining the confidence and respect of the people, adding that rancour was a deterrent to development and sustenance of democracy.
Chime congratulated Nigeria for its 14 years of uninterrupted democracy, noting that it had proved commitment and zeal to make things right.
“The political class should continue to work in unity to sustain the confidence and respect of the people,’’ he said
The governor noted that in spite of the challenges facing the country, it had remained strong.
He called on the people to support government’s transformation programmes aimed at driving the nation forward.
In Ibadan, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, while calling for unity, pledged to achieve the best of all he had in stock for the people.
Ajimobi said that his administration had recorded tremendous feats from the urban renewal programme, which was aimed at transforming the state.
He said that the statement government had within the last two years, constructed roads across the statae, likewise making the Eleyele-Dugbe road a dual carriage way as well as Challenge-Toll Gate road, Challenge-New garage roads and others at Oyo, Iseyin and Ogbomoso.
The governor said that the government had constructed bridges such as the Mokola Fly-over, the restoration bridge along secretariat-bodija-Agbowo road and built two new modern motor parks at Iwo road and Podo.
He disclosed that his administration had changed the face of transportation in the state with the injection of luxury buses and tricycles into the Urban Mass Transit scheme.
Ajimobi said that the state government, under the Urban Renewal Programme, had built neighbourhood markets at strategic places as well as beautified places like Iwo road, Molete, Mokola and Agodi-Gate.
“The one-time dirtiest city in Africa is now getting new accolade as one of the neatest in Nigeria, having rid the streets of trading.
“It is a task that all of us must do, no matter how discomforting it may be at the initial stages,’’ he said.
In Ilorin, the immediate past acting Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, described democratic rule as the best system of government across the world, in spite of all odds.
In a statement, Baraje congratulated Nigerians on the Democracy Day celebration, stressing that what the people needed was patience and more understanding with the leaders.
According to him, democracy is the only system of government that allows the citizens to voice out their views without interference.
He, however, urged those in positions of responsibility particularly politicians, to always have the fear of God and redeem their electioneering pledges.
In Abeokuta, the PDP Chairman in Ogun, Mr Bayo Dayo, described the journey as 14 years of challenges and 14 years of successes.
He noted that over this period, Nigeria had been able to maintain political stability as well as created and strengthened critical institutions to support democratic governance.
Dayo recalled that a number of incidents capable of truncating the democratic process but Nigerians stood firm to ensure the survival of democracy in Nigeria.
”Nigerians have proven that if they want, they can come together to safeguard their unity and common interest as a people.
”By surviving the incidents, Nigeria’s democracy has come a long way and it is gradually becoming more institutionalised,” he said.
(NAN)
Post a Comment