President of the Senate, Senator David Mark for the umpteenth time admitted the challenges including security militating against the nation but expressed optimism that they are not insurmountable .
” All we need is a collective resolve to confront our challenges and find a lasting solution to them”, Senator Mark said at a church service to mark the 2013 democracy day at St. Mulumba Catholic Chaplaincy, Apo, Abuja .
Senator Mark explained that the State of emergency proclamation in some States of the Federation was a last resort to tame the lingering menace of insecurity and bring normalcy back to the land.
The Senate President charged every Nigerian to be a good Apostle of peace in the country in order to facilitate delivery of the dividend of democracy.
He stated that the nation is currently passing through some difficulties especially in the areas of security and socio-economy challenges pointing out that “We can collectively resolve to say enough is enough. All our efforts towards development would come to naught if the crisis continues.
“The state of emergency proclamation on three States was a last resort to curtail the unabating insurgency. And I know it is yielding positive result. Very soon, it will be over as our military formations are living up to the task”.
He thanked Nigerians for their perseverance and cooperation in the propagation and sustenance of democracy adding that democracy is a process everyone should uphold in order to benefit from it dividends.
His words, : “It was by choice and design that the nation chose democracy as best form of government. Democracy promotes rule of law, upholds human rights, freedom of speech and indeed participatory.
“Whichever faith or religion, I urge Nigerians to continue to pray for peace, unity and progress of the nation.
On the part of legislature, the Senate President assured of continued and responsive legislation that will carter for the yearnings and aspirations of all Nigerians.
“We shall continue to identify and prioritize key areas where legislations would be required for the rapid transformation of the economy and polity. We shall be patriotic, honest, fair and just in the discharged of our duties and be guided by the Constitution and fear of God”, he stressed.
Earlier in the homely, Rev. Father Innocent Jooji called on religious leaders to do away with provocative statements that may generate crisis, saying Nigeria remain the only country of all Nigerians.
He charged the people to remain steadfast in prayers for the elected leaders to have political will to deliver dividends of democracy to the electorate just as he tasked political office holders make the citizenry the focal point of their policies and programmes.
