By Omonu YG Nelson
The National Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and Allied People’s Movement (APM), Alhaji Yusuf Muhammad Dantalle has emphasised the importance of strengthening democracy in Nigeria, especially in light of upcoming anniversaries.
Dantalle, who spoke on Monday, May 13, 2024 at a meeting with INEC officials and political party leaders, highlighted key milestone, the one-year anniversary of current elected officials on May 29th, 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, and 64 years of independence.
“This month, specifically 29th May, 2024 marks the one Year anniversary of the current elected officers, 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, since the restoration of civil rule on 29th May, 1999.
Sixty four Years of Political Independence.
The question is, how far have we gone in deepening/strengthening democracy in Nigeria?”
He urged those present to reflect on Nigeria’s progress in deepening democracy and further stressed the importance of collaboration between INEC, political parties, and other stakeholders to protect democracy from “anti-democratic and reactionary forces.”
He condemned divisive politics and urged politicians to adhere to democratic ideals.
“It is food for thought and calls for sober reflection in the quest for a strong, united, progressive, equitable and just democratic nation.
Our hard earned democracy must be sustained. It should not be allowed to derail by the activities of anti-democratic and reactionary forces.”
The IPAC chairman tasked political stakeholders to do everything to safeguard Nigeria’s hard earned democracy, while frowning at actions and utterances by politicians capable of overheating the political climate in any part of the country.
“INEC, leaders of Political Parties, civil society organizations, security agencies, Judiciary, The Press and citizens must be firm and decisive in protecting the nation’s democracy and forestall political upheavals as we currently have in some parts of the country.
“We condemn in strong terms politics of bitterness, do-or-die politics and divisive politics that have tendencies of undermining our emerging democracy. It is unacceptable! Politicians must abide by democratic ideals, ethics and ethos, and desist from inflammatory utterances and actions detrimental to the growth democracy.”
