Politics
GOV. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State says democratic governance must have a positive impact on the people through an improved standard of living.
Akeredolu said this in Akure in a broadcast to commemorate the 2020 Democracy Day on Friday.
The governor said the welfare of the people must be the basis of engagement while challenges must remain the focus of governance.
According to him, the achievements of any administration must be clearly discernable in the quality of living of the people.
“The people must be able to relate with the activities of government at all levels, and this administration has remained focused on the need to bring purposeful leadership to bear,” he said.
Akeredolu also said the recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day exemplified the readiness of the Federal Government to lead the country on the path of democratic ethos for which the symbol of the struggle paid the supreme sacrifice.
The governor further said it was beyond the symbolic recognition celebrated with a public holiday but extended to signify the commencement of the journey toward national rebirth.
“It celebrates the triumph of resilience. It is a death stroke on the canvass of justice.
“Today’s occasion should serve as a reminder to us all about the possibility and inevitability of success through commitment.
“It’s possible to achieve greatness if we dedicate our lives to serve our state in truth and in deeds,” he said.
Mr Timothy Owoeye, the Speaker of Osun House of Assembly, on his part, used the occasion to call on well-meaning Nigerians and government to support people and businesses to survive the post-COVID-19 era.
The Speaker made the call in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Alabi, to commemorate Friday’s Democracy Day.
Owoeye, who said it was worthy to celebrate Nigeria’s 21 years of unbroken democratic governance, congratulated Nigerians for their resilience and for believing in democracy,
He called on the people to support the efforts of the government to deepen democratic values as major stakeholders in the process of governance.
Owoeye stressed that the celebration had been low key due to the ravaging COVID-19, adding that it was imperative for the country to focus on a post-pandemic economy.
“This pandemic has taken a toll on the global economy and I am concerned about the dwindling economic fortune and the job losses among others.
“Governments and well meaning individuals must fashion out ways to rescue our people, most especially those who fell into the poverty index due to the Coronavirus pandemic,” he said.
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Alhaji AbdulRasheed Adeniyi, has urged politicians to see the Democracy Day as a wakeup call to deliver the dividends of democracy to their constituents.
Adeniyi, who made the plea on Friday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan, said majority of Nigerians had not benefited from the nation’s democratic experience.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for declaring June 12 as Democracy Day, urging political office holders to prioritise the welfare of the people.
The PDP chieftain noted that the country had been experiencing stable democracy since 1999 and implored politicians to shun acts that were inimical to democratic governance.
Adeniyi, however, decried the high rate of corruption among some politicians, noting that the menace was negatively affecting the nation’s economic development.
He called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission to do more in tackling the corruption in the country. (NAN)
– Jun. 12, 2020 @ 12:35 GMT |
Tags: Democracy Day: Akeredolu Osun Speaker make case for good governance
