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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Secretary General of the Big Tent, Austin Kamie, has argued that Nigeria’s Second Republic had the best politicians who were selfless and worked for the development of the country.
Kamie, who was the Chairman of the National Convention and Democracy Icon Awards organised by the Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM), yesterday in Abuja, rued that the current crop of leaders care less about the well being of citizens.
“Our politicians are not living up to expectations. May be you can talk about the Second Republic we had politicians with conscience.
“I am sure some of you are old enough to know what the different political parties like the NPN, PRC, UPN stood for. But in this current dispensation we do not have politicians that can drive democracy as it were.
“This event is to bring stakeholders, compatriots together across the country, to remind us that democracy is an important implement that we need to implement good governance in Nigeria. That is why we are here,” he said.
Also, COPDEM National Chairman Rwang Pam, said the event was to recognise individuals who played vital roles against all odds in the 2023 general elections.
Pam, also, recognised some politicians posthumously who defended democracy and paid the ultimate price.
He challenged the contemporary leaders to be selfless and corrupt -free for the sake of their children and those yet unborn.
“We are members of the Coalition for the Protection of Democracy. As the name implies, we are a conglomeration of support groups that emerged during the 2023 February general elections especially the presidential election.
“We came together because we found out that we had like minds, similar objectives and desires to see that Nigeria become better than what it was.
“In previous elections, after the declaration of the winner, everybody melted and it became business as usual and there was no one to hold government and institutions of government accountable.
“Corruption, nepotism and mismanagement are not only government; it runs through the whole system. We want to see Nigeria grow and do better.
“Therefore, these people who campaigned and supported some candidates decided to sit together and still talk about Nigeria and make it better.
“The award is to look back and celebrate those who sacrificed all, risking the tension, arrest and intimidation, and in the face of all that they still spoke the truth in defense of democracy. We felt such people should not be thrown to the wind.
“On the posthumous level, we have heroes like Dele Giwa, Gani Fawehinmi, Dora Akunyili.”
Those awarded included Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi; former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, among others.
Also, scholarships were given to Benedict Princess Nneka Irinola Oluwaleke Michael and Ekanem Precious Emmanuel, of University of Nigeria (UNN), Osun State University, and Arthur Jarvis University, Cross River State, respectively..
