Senator Dino Melaye, who represented the Kogi Central during the 8th National Assembly, has said the presence of democracy in the country should stimulate development rather than the destruction of lives and properties happening in several parts of the nation.
Dino Melaye, who said this in a statement to Mark the 2021 Democracy Day, lamented the nation’s current state, noting that the country is enveloped in injustice and inequality.
He urged Nigerians to ignore the leaders’ failure and work towards making the country a better place for all.
The statement reads, “28 years after the annulment of the freest and fairest elections, and we are still on a learning curve. Still, working at perfecting our nation, or are we? Our nation, unfortunately, is permeated by inequalities at all levels, with injustices slithering through it and bleeding a slow yet turbulent death.
“I take responsibility for my failures and refuse to let our beloved nation die this gradual death from fear of repression, from complicity.
“Failure of leadership at all levels is fast becoming our death knell. Where are our champions? Our noble religious sages? Our gallant civil society? Our diligent, ethical press? Our luminary professors? Our righteous public servants?
“Our visionary industrialists? Our achiever C in C? Why are their voices not bellowing for transparency, accountability, justice, and patriotism? Why are their actions like afterthoughts made for photo ops or soundbites without any real conviction to nationalism?
“I could list the inequalities and injustices ranging from skewed appointments, lack of security, teeming unemployment, economic regression, outdated education, unfair justice system, inadequate healthcare, all these problems are underpinned with a lack of vision or strategy to mitigate and impending implosion.
“My stance is to speak truth to power, to get them to understand their failures so they may even redeem themselves.
“Democracy is a chance for us to build not to destroy; to reorient and aspire; to give our guts for the glory. Nigeria is our nation, and in the absence of leadership, we all have to become builders.
“We can’t allow the false, pied pipers to lead our present and future generations into an abyss. Nigeria is a golden nugget that we must polish through our actions by building a social and political conscience. It is imperative to strategize, organize and prepare for 2023”.
