By Ayo Ibrahim
Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West) has called on all true democrats across party lines to rise up in defense of democracy and its values as a system of government best suited for resolving societal issues with its emphasis on the interest of the majority of the people.
In a message for the celebration of Democracy Day in Nigeria, signed by Chief Kayode Odunaro, his Media Adviser and made available to SINL Nigeria Online, the senator stated that in spite of its chequered history, our nascent democracy since 1999 has endured and survived a lot of challenges that should serve as lessons for all democrats to support the continuation of the system based on the rule of law and due process.
“As a democratic nation, we are faced with challenges that are not different from those face by other nations including the United States of America as reflected in its last presidential elections. The good thing is to allow the rule of law and due process to guide our practice with our peculiar idiosyncrasies while building and strengthening all our democratic institutions” he stated.
The senator who had won elections at five consecutive times at state and federal levels as well as judicial victories at election petitions and appeal tribunals restated his faith in the democratic system of selecting leaders stressing that any leader that refused to serve the interest of the people will soon find his way out of the system democratically in due course.
“The democracy we are celebrating today came at a huge cost. My brother was gunned down in the agitation for the validation of June 12 and an end to military dictatorship in Lagos. The symbol of June 12, Chief MKO Abiola and his dear wife, Kudirat paid the supreme price in the struggle for enthronement of democracy. Many went on exile. But we are happy that the sacrifices are not in vain as we celebrate yet another Democracy Day in Nigeria” he stated.
