- Senator Ireti Kingibe encouraged Nigerians to uphold the ideals of democracy, emphasizing its benefits over authoritarian rule
- She acknowledged the progress made in respecting the rule of law, human rights, and diversity, urging continued commitment to these principles
Ireti Kingibe, the senator representing the FCT, has urged Nigerians to remain committed to the ideals of democracy because it is the best form of government.
The senator, whose election victory was confirmed by the Elections Petitions Court on February 25, made the call in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja to commemorate International Democracy Day.
Despite the hiccups and challenges that the country has faced since its return to democracy, she noted that Nigeria has held together and fared better under civilian democratic rule than it did under authoritarian regimes.
As we mark the International Day of Democracy, it is fitting that we celebrate the gains achieved by our adherence to the rule of law, while it is indubitable that we are not where we had expected to be when we commenced this democratic journey in 1999.
We have certainly made progress in terms of greater respect for the rule of law, the dignity of the human person, and the fundamental human rights of Nigerians. We must consolidate on these gains as we press for more commitment from everyone including governments across all levels, for greater tolerance and acceptance of our ethnic and religious diversity.
It is an incontrovertible fact that the things that bind us together as a people are far more resilient than the centrifugal forces threatening our unity. If we stand firm and together, we will defeat these forces, and only then can our nation fulfill its manifest destiny of being the voice of black peoples everywhere in the world, the lawmaker said.