Democracy dividends coming your way, Speaker assures Nigerians

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has congratulated Nigerians on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of unbroken democratic governance, assuring them that more dividends of democracy would come their way soon.

The regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar handed over power to a democratically elected government of Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999, following widespread condemnation of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late Moshood Abiola.

In a statement signed on Wednesday by the speaker’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, Abbas noted that Nigeria evolved in the past 25 years, adding that “The dividends of democracy are bound to reach more Nigerians.”

According to him, this year’s celebration marks a significant epoch in the life of the National Assembly, as it also coincides with the first anniversary of the 10th Assembly.

The statement read in part, “Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. The country has been navigating through the learning curves successfully; though it is not yet, the country has continued to grow in democratic experience and practice.”

The speaker, who represents Zaria Federal Constituency, Kaduna State, enjoined Nigerians across tribes and religions, genders, and age groups, to continue to contribute their quota to the growth and development of the country, assuring that Nigerians would morph into a nation that her citizens would be proud of.

Abbas further urged Nigerians to continue to support the government at all levels and remain law-abiding citizens, stressing that it is the collective responsibility of all “With the people as the critical stakeholders,” to make the government succeed in its plans, policies, and programmes.