By Femi Ogunshola
The members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday took turns to reflect on the 25 years of uninterrupted democracy in the country, with some happy at the feat, while many were not comfortable with how the nation had fared.
Members highlighted both the strides made and the challenges confronting the nation’s democratic journey.
According to Rep. Julius Ihonbvere, the Leader of the House, there is a lot to say about Nigeria’s democracy.
“We need to make our institutions strong. We need to entrench a culture of constitutionalism.
”We need to do things better for the benefit of the country. I congratulate Nigerians on its 25 years of democracy.’’
He prayed that the leadership of the country would have the courage to do what was necessary.
Similarly, Rep. Kingsley Chinda, the Minority leader of the House, said it was a thing of pride that the country had sustained the democratic experience for 25 years with smooth transitions of governments at all levels.
“Several people thought that the country will not survive its crises over the years, but here we are in the temple of our democracy, working hard and getting answers to our prayers.
“We must ask ourselves how our performance has been in the last 25 years, with the interest of the people as our guide,” he said.
He, however, expressed reservations on how the nation had fared in the areas of press freedom, workers’ freedom, and obedience to the tenets of democracy.
“Clearly, there are several things the leaders have left unfulfilled. Many hopes have been dashed and public expectations not met.
“Nigerian workers will be going on strike a few days from today. They have been at war with their employers over minimum wage. We need to be more proactive to ensure that that strike does not hold.”
He also spoke on the issue of insecurity.
“People should be able to trust the government to perform its basic role of protecting life and property. That is the first role of the Social Contract. Any government that cannot do that, has failed the people.
“We have many things that should have been done to curtail the current security challenges which have been left undone,” he lamented.
In the same vein, Rep. Sada Soli (APC-Katsina), said that the country’s democracy had provided citizens with the needed space to participate in the leadership recuitment process.
He added that it had equally guaranteed civil liberty which was not there during the military era.
He also said that the journey had provided accountability where people held leaders accountable, adding that it had equally created economic opportunities through liberalisation.
“It has also ensured social mobility where people advance, based on their intellect,” he said.
Rep. Idris Wase (APC-Plateau), in his contribution, said that he was a beneficiary of democracy in the country.
”I wouldn’t have been here if not for democracy. While congratulating Nigerians for 25 years of unbroken democracy, I dare say that we all have benefited and are still benefiting from it.
”This is contrary to the past, when some people will sit in a small room and call themselves the supreme military council. I believe the door to prosperity is here,” Wase said.
Rep. Alhasan Ado-Doguwa (APC-Kano), on his part, congratulated President Bola Tinubu on his achievements in the last one year, and Nigerians for the 25 years of unbroken progress.
“We have done quite well in the delivery of democratic dividends and meeting the expectations of the people.
”The military ran the country without the institution of parliament, and the fact that we now have this institution back, calls for celebration.
“This institution has helped our democracy and put the nation in the right corner,” he said.
He, however, called on the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that the issue of local government autonomy in the country was not negotiable.
“We are still facing security challenges in the country; the government should be proactive so that our people can sleep with their two eyes closed.”
Rep. James Faleke (APC-Lagos), also spoke on the gains of representative rule.
“Without democracy, there is no way someone from Kogi will be representing the most advanced commercial nerve of the nation – Lagos. I am a beneficiary of the unity weaved by democracy.
“We allow debates here openly, which cannot be done in the military. Today, people can stand up to talk without any attack. Without any fear.
“When then President Umaru Yar’adua died, there was a doctrine of necessity. Without democracy, nothing of such would have been heard. Someone could just have casually sat down and selected a leader, unchallenged,” he said.
He added, however, that there was the need to improve on the gains of democracy while calling for unity among all segments of populations.
Rep. Zainab Gimba (APC-Borno), congratulated Nigerians for the uninterrupted 25-year democracy, adding that there were democracies where the three arms of government and the freedom of the press had been compromised.
“We should be proud in Nigeria because this has not been our lot. The press is free. The people are free. There has never been a scenario where women have been disenfranchised from voting and being voted for.”
According to her, looking at these scenarios, the womenfolk should be grateful.
“We cannot take the issue of insecurity and other challenges away, but we should work hard to face them and solve them.
“The issues of malnutrition, hunger, bandits and kidnapping are things that should be revisited so that when we are celebrating our 26 years, we will be happy to say we have gone past them.”
Rep. Obiageli Orogbu (LP-Anambra), however, said that there was nothing to celebrate.
Hear her: “We should be celebrating access to education and security. We need to move a step further. Democracy should give the downtrodden a better life. Unless the poor are happy, we cannot boast of democracy,” she said. (NAN)
