By Umar Bayo Abdulwahab
Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr Bukola Saraki, has urged Nigerians to stand and speak as one to demand a process that “will ensure credible elections in 2015.”
Saraki, in a Democracy Day message to Nigerians, urged them to demand that “in 2015 Nigeria display its commitment to democracy, so that we have credible, free and transparent elections.”
He said: “This is a process that starts now, that sees democratic and transparent processes to select candidates through to election day where we are free to vote for the candidate we believe in.
“Democracy is not practiced by mirroring the language that we speak, where we come from or what religion we worship; democracy is the opportunity to address the issues that affect us all. Issues affect us all across Nigeria regardless of gender, age or religion.”
He added: “We must acknowledge some of the realities that have presented themselves when election-time comes in our country, and enlighten others and ourselves against them.
“We must also continue to strive towards the definition or perhaps redefinition of the path that we as a country have chosen to take.
“It is not prudent for a country such as ours to always be reactionary in our response to events. We must begin to look into raising and elevating proactive leaders who will not only defend this country when it is attacked, but will make Nigeria strong, so that any enemies, foreign or domestic, that may aspire to threaten the security of our nation and its people will be dealt with before they have the chance to cause us harm.
“These are difficult times, and as such, these times call for leadership that is not about shifting blame or indifference to the plight of Nigerians, but leadership that is all about achieving results – however the problems may choose to present themselves.”
