Democracy Day: Nwite Foundation sends message to Tinubu

Senator Polycarp Nwite Foundation for Democratic Accountability (SPNFDA), has said that Nigeria would not make any realistic progress in her democratic journey unless systemic failures that enable divisiveness, nepotism and avarice are tackled decisively by the country’s leadership.

The Nwite Foundation said this in a congratulatory message it sent to President Bola Tinubu, on his emergence as the 16th president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In the message sent on the cusp of June 12 Democracy Day celebration, the Foundation recalled the spirit of togetherness and oneness of purpose that brought Nigerians of different backgrounds and leanings together in the pro-democracy movement of the 90s which helped to actualize the present democratic dispensation.

The Foundation therefore said unity of Nigeria, prosperity and welfare of the people should be the single most important task of the President Tinubu’s government

The foundation named after the late 3rd Republic Senator Polycarp Nwite, an advocate of democracy and former Senior Presidential aide who, like President Tinubu, was incarcerated by the military junta, during the June 12, 1993 political crisis.

The statement issued in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State was signed by its executive director, Mr. Michael Nwite, to mark Democracy Day.

According to the statement, “Democracy in its purest form only exists to serve the best interest of the people, in an equitable, just, transparent and unifying manner, that enables trust and engenders patriotism and pride in nationhood; and belief in democratic practice and leadership.”

Mr Nwite said further in the statement: “We are absolutely convinced and confident that President Tinubu, being one of the courageous fighters for the enthronement of Democracy in Nigeria, as the current man in the driving seat of Nigeria’s democratic leadership, is not only conversant with the democratic principles, norms and nuances, but is also willing and courageous enough to lead Nigeria to the future that would abhor divisiveness, fight nepotism, ethnic and religious bigotry, government indifference and insensitivity to the plight of the people and glaring injustice of unequal distribution of opportunities and common wealth of the nation.

“We are most glad, and I believe that our late father, Senator Nwite would’ve shared the same sentiments, were he to be alive, that President Tinubu, who he fondly called ‘Bola’,, now has the opportunity to fix Nigeria for the good of the people, in a democratic setting, like they had dreamed about, both in the tranches and in detention camp at Alagbon Close, Lagos state, where they were next-door cell mates in the dark days of military dictatorship.

“The tough decisions President Tinubu have made right from his first day in office are indicative of a President who will lead from the front and make tough calls for the overall good of the people.

“Nigeria deserves a leader that will be bold and decisive in policy formulation, implementation and declarations that will guarantee delivery of democratic dividends and accountability to the Nigerian people.

“Today, as we remember and celebrate our Heroes of Democracy, both dead and alive, we urge President Tinubu to urgently take decisive steps to fight corruption, criminality and the intractable insecurity challenges across the nation.

The Foundation said this was necessary because no government can make any “meaningful progress in a situation characterised by multidimensional insecurity, fear and despondency, as we have in the nation at the moment.”

The Foundation implored the President to also take decisive actions on education, health and electricity power generation/distribution to curb youth unemployment and their current mass migration to foreign lands in search of better livelihood.

Senator Nwite, was Former Nigeria Ambassador to Botswana, a Senior Special Assistant to President Yar’Adua and also a front line member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), a broad coalition of Nigerians, formed in May 1994 to fight for the enthronement of civil rule in Nigeria.