Democracy Not Opportunity for 'Political Rascality' - Obasanjo
- Um sorriso no 'deserto'!
President Olusegun Oba-sanjo in his national address marking the thanksgiving and Demo-cracy Day today, said that democracy should not be construed to mean an opportunity for genocide, ethnic clearing or"political rascality".
He emphasised that "on no account should democracy be taken as licence for mutual genocide, ethnic or religious cleansing. Democracy is not an opportunity for political rascality, fiscal indiscpline, the arrogance of power and the negation of collective ideals."
Obasanjo, who said that unlike the pre-1999 days, "today, we are a people resolutely determined to enthrone due process, integrity, probity, transparency, merit, competition and social justice"He however noted that it takes a shorter period and the exact opposite to destroy democracy and inflict pain, anguish, disillusionment, distrust, destruction and poverty on the people".
He added that "democracy emphasises debate, dialogue, consensus, interaction and strengthening of confidence, peace, harmony and stability with a view to encouraging development and progress. In strengthening our democracy, we must look critically, objectively and boldly at any situation action or condition that may threaten our common resolve to remain firmly on the democratic path, we must deal with roots rather than branches, with the disease rather than the symptoms. If we do not uproot the tree that is infecting our democracy, we will be deceiving ourselves".
President Obasanjo who said that " the notion that we lack discipline is also unfair and unjust. This is certainly not our identity", but said that" the notion that Nigeria is a nation of anything goes may have been right before 1999".
"Then commission agents were everywhere and it was the fashion to undermine due process, the rule of law and laid down rules and regulations. Certainly, no one can say this of Nigeria today. We must reject such unfair and mischievous descriptions and notions. Today, we are a people resolute with probity, transparency, merit and social justice".
Advising that Nigerians " eschew despondency, cynicism, indolence, jealously and automatic and permanent distrust of ourselves, especially our leaders, governments policies and programmes", the president added that " for the frustrations, pains, disappointments and dashed hopes of pre 1999, I can only apologise to Nigerians on behalf of the culprits.
"However to avoid a return to the dark, hopeless and mismanaged past, we must all join hands to build a truly democratic, productive, inclusive, tolerant, and caring nation where no one would be oppressed and social justice shall reign. It is possible to attain these ideals.We have the will, the capacity, the energy, the focus, and the blessings of God in several ways." President Obasanjo, in his address titled ' Building the Nigeria of Our Dreams" stated that ' today marks another critical but reassuring milestone in our glorious march towards the consolidation of our democratic enterprise, we have all at one time or the other, made sacrifices to ensure not just the survival of our dear democratic ethos and values including good governance, fundamental rights and freedom, gender equality, positive pluralism and social justice.
- Um sorriso no 'deserto'!
President Olusegun Oba-sanjo in his national address marking the thanksgiving and Demo-cracy Day today, said that democracy should not be construed to mean an opportunity for genocide, ethnic clearing or"political rascality".
He emphasised that "on no account should democracy be taken as licence for mutual genocide, ethnic or religious cleansing. Democracy is not an opportunity for political rascality, fiscal indiscpline, the arrogance of power and the negation of collective ideals."
Obasanjo, who said that unlike the pre-1999 days, "today, we are a people resolutely determined to enthrone due process, integrity, probity, transparency, merit, competition and social justice"He however noted that it takes a shorter period and the exact opposite to destroy democracy and inflict pain, anguish, disillusionment, distrust, destruction and poverty on the people".
He added that "democracy emphasises debate, dialogue, consensus, interaction and strengthening of confidence, peace, harmony and stability with a view to encouraging development and progress. In strengthening our democracy, we must look critically, objectively and boldly at any situation action or condition that may threaten our common resolve to remain firmly on the democratic path, we must deal with roots rather than branches, with the disease rather than the symptoms. If we do not uproot the tree that is infecting our democracy, we will be deceiving ourselves".
President Obasanjo who said that " the notion that we lack discipline is also unfair and unjust. This is certainly not our identity", but said that" the notion that Nigeria is a nation of anything goes may have been right before 1999".
"Then commission agents were everywhere and it was the fashion to undermine due process, the rule of law and laid down rules and regulations. Certainly, no one can say this of Nigeria today. We must reject such unfair and mischievous descriptions and notions. Today, we are a people resolute with probity, transparency, merit and social justice".
Advising that Nigerians " eschew despondency, cynicism, indolence, jealously and automatic and permanent distrust of ourselves, especially our leaders, governments policies and programmes", the president added that " for the frustrations, pains, disappointments and dashed hopes of pre 1999, I can only apologise to Nigerians on behalf of the culprits.
"However to avoid a return to the dark, hopeless and mismanaged past, we must all join hands to build a truly democratic, productive, inclusive, tolerant, and caring nation where no one would be oppressed and social justice shall reign. It is possible to attain these ideals.We have the will, the capacity, the energy, the focus, and the blessings of God in several ways." President Obasanjo, in his address titled ' Building the Nigeria of Our Dreams" stated that ' today marks another critical but reassuring milestone in our glorious march towards the consolidation of our democratic enterprise, we have all at one time or the other, made sacrifices to ensure not just the survival of our dear democratic ethos and values including good governance, fundamental rights and freedom, gender equality, positive pluralism and social justice.
publicado por MP às 23:14
