Senate
President, David Mark, on Thursday urged the President-elect, Muhammadu
Buhari, to adhere strictly to the rule of law, and respect human
rights while discharging his constitutional responsibilities.
He
specifically appealed to him to “do the needful for citizens anchoring
his actions on adherence to rule of law, respect for human rights,
freedom of expression, equity and justice.”
The senate
president said he anticipated an egalitarian society under the new
government where all citizens would be safe and protected to live and
carry out his or her legitimate duty without fear of molestation or
harassment in any part of Nigeria.
Mark, who
stated this in his goodwill message to Nigerians on the occasion of
Democracy Day celebration, also said, “all hands must be on the deck
where everyone plays his or her role to ensure that our democracy
endures.”
The senate
president took stock of the 16 years of uninterrupted democratic rule in
Nigeria and urged citizens to persevere more for the continued
sustenance of the system of government.
He said, “All Nigerians deserve commendation. We have done well so far. We must strive more to make democracy a way of life.
“As
an active participant in our democratic journey since 1999, I can say
without any fear of contradiction that our democracy has endured.
“The
successes recorded so far, especially with the last general elections,
clearly shows the unwavering commitment of Nigerians to its fruition.”
He noted the
challenges of the democratic experiment and expressed optimism that
all the initial hiccups would be confined to history soon.
Mark
believes that despite its imperfections, democracy remains the best form
of government that is not just representative but participatory.
He therefore
enjoined Nigerians and the international community to support the new
administration just as he implored them to build on the foundations of
previous governments and make progress.
He also
promised that the National Assembly will continue to cooperate and,
indeed, lay solid legislative framework for the executive arm of
government to deliver dividends of democracy to the citizenry without
compromising the independence of the parliament.
Source: punchng
Source: punchng
