The Senator representing Bayelsa West, Henry Seriake Dickson remarked on Monday that democracy would continue to falter in Nigeria and on the African continent until the citizens are empowered to hold the political leadership to account.
Senator Dickson lent his voice to the discussion on the subject matter of the colloquium, “Is Democracy Failing in Africa?”, organised in Abuja to mark the 60th birthday of former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha.
Dickson, the immediate past governor of Bayelsa State, stated, “We cannot have a democracy with docile and ignorant citizens or a citizenry that is constantly manipulated along ethnic and religious lines. Citizens must have firm commitment about what they want from their leadership and be ready to pay the price”.
The text of the Bayelsa West senator is reproduced below:
“Earlier today, I attended a Colloquium to mark the 60th birthday of my brother, the Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha.
“I joined his family, friends and associates and all, to congratulate him and wish him long life, good health and many more years of service to the country.
“Rt. Hon. Ihedioha was my colleague in the House of Representatives, where he rose to be Majority Whip and Deputy Speaker. I also recall that he was elected governor of Imo State, even though I feel sad that his tenure was terminated the way it was. I am, however, impressed that he took his removal with equanimity, and he is still one of the major players around the Federation. I wish him well and thank you all for coming.
“On the subject matter of the Colloquium, “Is Democracy Failing in Africa?”, my view is that while it is true that Africa is having problems with Democracy, especially in West Africa, something needs to be done about it.
Leaders need to always put the interest of the people topmost and strive for service and development of the country.
“On the part of the citizens, they need to be armed with information, and on guard against politicians who may want to use them and divide them, especially along ethnic and religious lines.
Civilian autocracy is no better than military dictatorship and should be resisted and stopped.
“We should, therefore, all work together to deepen our democracy, meaning that we, the political elites, must commit to following the constitution, the laws, and due process; and always remember that we are there to serve the people and the common good.
“The people of Nigeria need to be organized and empowered and awoken, through sensitizations and workshops to enable them to realize and assert their full rights as citizens, to actualize their full democratic potentials.
“We cannot have a democracy with docile and ignorant citizens or a citizenry that is constantly manipulated along ethnic and religious lines. Citizens must have a firm commitment to what they want from their leadership and be ready to pay the price.
“Going forward, we need to organize ourselves and get to the grassroots to sensitize the Nigerian citizens. Democracy will continue to fail until the citizens wake up and are empowered by information and knowledge, alongside leadership and direction given by the elites to hold those who lead them or serve them to account and assert the benefits conferred by democracy under the constitution and laws.
This we must do. HSD”.
