As Nigeria celebrate another democracy day today, a call has been made for Nigerians to shun money-bag and clueless politicians in 2023 who has nothing to offer other than to plague the commonwealth with little or no solution to the numerous challenges facing the nation.
Making the assertion in a Democracy Day message made available to newsmen in Enugu yesterday, coordinator Enugu State Citizens Support for Equity and Good Governance (ESCSEG) Comr. Onyendozi E Onwe challenged Nigerians to avoid mistakes of the past when choose good leaders come 2023.
According to him, “bad policies know no ethnicity, religious or geographical boundary as everyone will be affected”. He urged Nigerians to embrace participatory democracy through regular engagement and assessment of all elected officials with a view to demand for improvement where necessary.
He also said that if democracy is the government of the people by the people and for the people, then citizens must take the driver’s seat in ensuring that political leaders are accountable to the people.
On the recent suspension of Twitter operation in Nigeria by Mohammadu Buhari led Federal government, he described the action as draconian, democratic-dictatorship and abuse of office.
“Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right which is the pillar of democracy” .
He described as laughable a statement credited to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the federation to prosecute anyone still using Twitter, and said that section 38(8) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) expressly provide that no person shall be held guilty of an offence unknown to law in Nigeria.
On the ongoing security challenges in the South East, Onwe stated that justice, fairness and equity remains the panacea.
“Where there is fairness and equity, there you see justice, where you see justice, peace reign supreme. The president should initiate peace building process through engagement of critical stakeholders in the zone and steps taken to address to perceived injustice in the region”, said ESCSEG helmsman.