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Former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has said those who push for “undemocratic alternatives” to democracy are spitting on the graves of Nigeria’s martyrs, who championed the cause of democracy in the country.
Fashola made this statement during an event organized by the Lagos house of assembly to commemorate Nigeria’s 25 years of uninterrupted democracy.
Speaking at the event themed ‘Federalism, the Quest for the Perfect Union’, Fashola said Nigeria must continue to cherish the memories of those who died in the fight for democracy.
According to the former Lagos state governor, democracy is “tedious” and that the nature of the system of government “frustrates” many across the world, stressing that democracy with all its freedoms does not necessarily mean the government would work well for the people.
“There are many who paid the ultimate price and did not even see the outcome that we gather here to commemorate.
“We must continue to honour their sacrifice and their memory by nurturing what took their lives more than most valued possessions.
“Those who do not know, or those who do but are impatient with democracy and therefore urge undemocratic alternatives spit on the graves of all the martyrs of our democracy and dishonour their memory.
“As I said, democracy can be tedious, this is globally acknowledged but its liberties are priceless for the preservation of the dignity of human civilization.
“The tedium of democracy understandably frustrates not a few people worldwide including Nigeria and you might’ve heard them express it in complaints about our federalism,” he said.
The ex-minister said although Nigeria’s federal system of government is not perfect, the country is on the path to perfection through reforms, adding that the idea of a perfect federal union is debatable but Nigeria’s quest “remains a most noble undertaking.
“This is the holy grail for many federal nations and Nigeria cannot be an exception. Whether a perfect union is even possible is debatable but the quest for it remains a most noble undertaking.
“Since Nigeria tasted federalism in 1954, under the Lyttleton constitution, its appeal has remained irresistible and this is understandable,” he stated.
