By Gambo Jagindi
June 12, 2020
Democracy Day: Amb. Nihi calls for rule of law to sustains democracy
The Pan-African Youth Union (PYU) office of the Commissioner for Youth Political Participation in Africa, Ambassador Oladele John Nihi, has stressed for Nigerians to take the concept of rule of law seriously for the sustenance of democracy in the country.
The Ambassador said this in a statement he issued in Abuja on Friday in commemoration of Nigeria Democracy day.
He noted that Nigeria had been having a robust democratic era without the interference of the military or external forces,leading to the country’s 21st Democracy Day in 2020.
This positive development, he added, prompted PYU Commissioner for Youth Political Participation in Africa to congratulate Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country for sustaining democracy for over two decades.
While noting that the country needed to drastically adjust in some key areas, to strengthen dividends of democracy to her citizens. Amb. Nihi called for drastic reduction in corruption in the country.
set two points agenda for possible consideration by Nigeria’s political leaders:
He reminded the political leaders that with a growing population of almost 200 million and abundance of untapped resources and a partially privatised economy, Nigeria should be regarded as a treasure on the African continent for potential investors.
The Ambassador,however, expressed concern that this had not been because of widespread corruption, volatile political tensions and a history of violent elections and frauds, a development he noted had deterred many foreign investment in the country.
According to him, these challenges have also undermined the legitimacy of Nigeria’s democracy and its potential to integrate Africa into the global economy.
He argued that with corruption giving way to a sanitised society, there would be proper and effective harnessing of the resources in Nigeria.
Nihi, who also said that the country could place Africa on a roadmap to economic stability stressed that this process must be done within the context of ensuring that corruption remains a minimal phenomenon in Nigeria.
The commissioner commended President Buhari’s fight against corruption,adding that this had boosted effort in that Nigeria standing tall among other global communities, worthy of emulation.
He, however, called on Buhari to intensify more efforts in reducing corruption to the barest minimum to enable his administration to lay solid foundation for the emergence of much expected peace and realistic social, economic and political development to the delight of all and sundry.