Democracy Day: Osun Civil Societies seek free, fair elections
By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
As Nigeria marks Democracy Day, there is the need for government at all levels to double their efforts in the safety of lives and property, as well as guarantee a transparent process, as the nation moves to another election year.
Chairman, Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC), Comrade Waheed Lawal, stated this on Sunday, when members of the coalition held its annual June 12 rally in Osogbo, Osun State capital.
Lawal who berated the state of insecurity in the country expressed disappointment that 23 years after, Nigerians are still facing hardship in all strata of life, stressing that the continued ailing of the economy portends the insensitivity of the nation’s leaders to the plight of the masses.
He said, “MKO Abiola represented hope for a better Nigeria. It is unfortunate that 29 years after the annulment of June 12, Nigeria is still far from its expected development pedestal. It is so unfortunate that ever since the return of democracy, our politicians have continued to re-echo the campaign manifesto of the Shagari regime in 1976, as their agenda for Nigeria close to five decades after.
“We still premise our yardstick of good governance to building roads, schools, providing potable water, electricity and the basic necessities for survival, when nations who got independence after us have moved beyond the basics.
“We cannot over-emphasise how badly we need a working democracy where the will of the people will suppress the desire of the minority, who have been opportuned to continue to rule us, will manifest.
“The primary responsibility of every government is provision of adequate security for the protection of lives and property. With starring facts and incidents, Nigeria is far from winning the war against insurgencies, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, etc.
“The recent attack on a Catholic Church in Owo where many people were killed with scores injured is a sorrowful evidence that insecurity still pervades the country. We condemn the Owo massacre and call on the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of such dastard act.”
Corroborating him, Comrade Ayo Ologun, a member of the OCSC stressed the need for a free, fair and transparent process in the build-up to the July 16 governorship election in Osun and the general election, next year.
“The governorship election in Osun State is coming up on July 16, a month to this time. The precept of democracy which we are celebrating today is for the people to have free will of choosing who represent them in government. We demand from INEC, security agencies, political parties and all other stakeholders that the governorship election must be free, fair, transparent, credible and violent free.”
Residents of the state showered encomiums on members of the Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC), stressing that the movement has been instrumental to entrenching the tenets of democracy and justice, as well as timely demands for good governance in the society.
