Hon. Adebayo Babajide Gabriel, a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly representing Ibadan North Constituency 2, has urged constituents and Nigerians to work collectively towards achieving a productive democracy aligned with the principles of equality and justice.
Honorable Babajide made this appeal today in a statement released to newsmen on the occasion of the country’s Democracy Day celebration.
He acknowledged that the democracy we have today should not be undermined by weak leadership but should be supported by selflessness and commitment to ensuring the right actions are taken for the rapid development of our country.
Speaking further, the Jagaban of the 9th and 10th Assembly stated, “As we mark this year’s Democracy Day, we must remember that in the struggle to return our country to civilian rule, some patriotic Nigerians had the courage to sacrifice their time, freedom, and lives.
Many were unjustly jailed, and many lives were lost, including that of Chief MKO Abiola, the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
“I promise to uphold all the tenets of democracy as an elected state lawmaker representing Ibadan North Constituency 2 at the Oyo State House of Assembly.
I assure you, my people, that I will continue to provide effective representation and be your voice because it is my responsibility to ensure you all feel a sense of belonging and benefit from this hard-earned democracy we are commemorating today.
“Therefore, it is not enough for us to celebrate Democracy Day every year; we need to ensure that the efforts of the heroes of Nigeria’s democracy are not in vain.
The best way to do this is to collectively work towards achieving an improved democracy devoid of electoral manipulations, where people decide who governs them without fear or intimidation,” he said.
In strengthening our democracy, we must ensure justice, fairness, and equity are entrenched in our actions and internal democracy to create an egalitarian society where development, peace, progress, and prosperity thrive.
The lawmaker concluded by asserting that Democracy Day is a celebration of our freedom and a reminder of our responsibility to build a better future for ourselves and generations to come.
