•Assures on benefits of current difficulties
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima has reminded Nigerians that the country’s broken past and a promising future from the current administration will not be without a price.
He admitted that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration was aware of the difficulties Nigerians are passing through, assuring that it would listen and adjust where necessary, account for its stewardship in all manners.
Represented by Hakeem Baba Ahmed at a National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria in Abuja, yesterday, the former governor of Borno State assured that the Tinubu-led administration will continue to provide evidence of the values of the democratic systems, especially in fixing major weaknesses of the economy, securing communities, fighting corruption, supporting free and fair elections, strengthening the independence of the judiciary and improving national cohesion.
“Nigerian democracy must mean a lot more than asking Nigerians to line up every four years to elect leaders. It must mean, in practical terms, that leaders commit to the demands of elected leadership in very transparent manners, that mandates given to them to govern make them servants to interests of the people, custodians of their assets, and protectors of their interests.
“The best leaders are people who exercise power only to promote the interests of their people. The challenge for leaders in democratic systems is to lead with the vision which identifies a path and destination that ultimately benefit the citizens, even where some have legitimate reservations, or have issues with them.
“I would like to assure Nigerians that our administration is acutely aware of many concerns over our direction and goals, particularly given the difficulties which some of our policies inevitably generate.
“We are involved in correcting many defects in our economy and approaches to securing the citizens. We have been honest to admit that this transition from a broken past and a promising future will not be without a price, and we will remain focussed on easing the pain and ensuring that we do not take our eyes off the goals.
“We will listen and adjust where necessary, and we will account for our stewardship in all manners our challenging democratic systems demand. I am convinced that we will reap the benefits of our current, unavoidable difficulties.
“I am convinced that Nigeria shall rise again, answer to its full potential and lead the way to a future that would have learnt lessons from a difficult past into a world in which our country will be a key player, and our young will be active champions of a democratic system because it speaks to them.”
Shettima noted that democracy, though imperfect, remains the best form of government.
“It has been said many times that democracy is an imperfect system, yet superior to all others. We will continue to seek to provide evidence of the values of the democratic systems by, among others, fixing major weaknesses of our economy, securing our communities, fighting corruption, supporting free and fair elections, strengthening the independence of the judiciary and improving national cohesion.”
In attendance were former governors Victor Ubong Attah of Akwa-Ibom, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, Rivers, Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti, Emeka Ihedioha, Imo, Abdulfatah Ahmed, Kwara, Waziri Tambuwa, Sokoto States, past ministers like Bolaji Abdullahi, Youth and Sports, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, State for Education, past Senator, Ben Obi, Abiodu Olujimi and many other dignitaries.