Baskadia

... SAYS DEMOCRATIC DIVIDENDS MUST GO BEYOND POLICIES

Chief Whip of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Hilary Ekpang Bisong JP, FCPA has said that for democracy to be seen in active practice, things that benefits the masses must be seen in their impact and beyond policymaking or administrative pronouncements. He made the assertion in a goodwill message to mark this year's Democracy Day celebration.

"Your Excellencies, Dear compatriots. Today I congratulate us all, as we celebrate another remarkable event, Democracy Day.

June 12th, every year, is set aside to celebrate Democracy since the return to civil rule, reactivating the will of the people, as against the militarized governance, that altered our progress shortly after independence.

"Although this Day represents the first annulment of a democratically processed elections of June 12 1993, where the supposed winner, Chief M.K.O Abiola (of blessed memory),

it has become a day to take stock of our journey so far and make amends where necessary."

"The concept Democracy as "Government of the people", cannot be true if the ingredients such as Free and Fair elections; Freedoms of Speech; Human Rights etc, are not embedded in democratic governance.

Today, as we remember the efforts of our heroes of democracy such as Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa and very recently, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (who was the first Nigeria's seating President to concede to a winner), beckon on us all to now become apostles for true democracy and work hard to sustain it."

He reiterated that the responsibility of every government is protecting lives and render welfare services to the masses who submitted their 'individual sovereignties' to ensure that of the state is entrenched.