The National Chairman, National Rescue Movement, Senator S. M. Dansadau has urged Nigerians to use dialogue and inclusiveness to solve the nation’s challenges.
Dansadau was speaking on Saturday through the National Secretary Barrister Obidike Okolo on benefits derived from democracy in the country.
Dansadau noted that democracy had thrived for over 21 years in the country.
According to him, it thrived amidst missing links meant to further bring out the beauty of the institution in the country.
“We have a course to celebrate even though we are not there yet.
“The vital missing link is use of dialogue and inclusiveness to solve challenges as mature minds instead of a situation where state and non-state actors heat-up the polity unduly.
“For now, that is what separates us from the advanced democracies such as U.S., Great Britain, France etc.
“We cannot afford to be sending negative and wrong rhetorics in any slightest unfavourable development and action.
“Our political leaders, whom most Nigerians look up to, should guard their tongues and utterances,’’ he said.
Dansadau noted that for the past 21 years Nigerians had exercised their liberty in electing their representatives and the electoral process had been getting better with successive elections.
“Constituency projects are gradually being seen and felt by most community dwellers in most parts of the country.
“There is free association especially if such association does not jeopardise national security,’’ he said.
In the area of infrastructure, the party chieftain said that successive governments had tried to bridge the infrastructure gap, while the citizenry now have the right to demand for infrastructure and hold elected leaders accountable.
“However, the infrastructure gap remains wide but it is something to be sorted out with time as the nation progress in its democratic journey,’’ he added.
He urged leaders to be more responsive to the yearnings of the people, noting that there still remains a lot to be done to improve the lives of citizens.
