Get ready for real democracy, Opara-Ndudu tells Imo citizens

As Nigerians celebrate the 19th anniversary of the country’s return to democracy, on Tuesday, a front- line politician and governorship aspirant,  Hon.Nich Opara-Ndudu has assured Imo State citizens of a better future and urged them to be ready for real democracy dividend next year, when a better government committed to the people would be installed in the state.

Opara-Ndudu,  who is seeking the ticket of the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) for 2019 gubernatorial election felicitated with Imo citizens on the anniversary and enjoined them to be confident in their determinations to consolidate democracy in the country, while  assuring them of the light in the tunnel for them in 2019.

He spoke, when he received  members  of the Centre for Democracy Initiative of Nigeria (CDIN), led by  Kelechi  Ariwodo, who came to pay him a courtesy visit in his country home in Emekuku in Owerri North Local Government Area of the State.

The former commissioner told his  guests  that if he gets the mandate of the people to preside over the affairs  of Imo State in the election,  he would make the people  to see and enjoy the beauty of democracy .

Because, according to him, democracy is a people-oriented government ,hence they should be made to enjoy all the benefits that have made it the most attractive system of government in the world.

Nigeria returned to competitive democracy in 1999 after decades of military rule. It was a  thing of joy for Nigerians who had hoped for a life much better than during the military era.

But , as glasses  clatter in government houses across the country in celebration, many Nigerians are  still expecting the fulfilment of the promised democracy dividend  made to them by the political class.

Only a few Nigerians could testify that democratic rule from 1999 to date has direct positive impact on their lives.

Among the few beneficiaries are members of the political elites in the state and their cronies just as the people do not have connections with their so-called leaders.

Opara-Ndudu,who is a former bank boss, noted that democracy ,as system of government based on the consent of the governed, is a situation where the people’s voice is government decisions,  freedom of speech  association and movement, adding that it is also about inclusiveness, contrary to what currently obtains in Imo State and the country in general.

According to him, freedom is one of the most cherished values of man,and democracy makes it possible , adding that this harmonises with the principles of APGA, which he said will neither censor nor gag anybody in the state.

He said he would put things right next year if  the people give him the mandate to run the affairs of Imo State in addition to providing jobs, quality education, and building a resilient economy through industrialisation and mechanised agriculture.

Earlier,  Mr. Ariwador,  who led the team expressed  confidence in Opara-Ndudu , saying that he has  all the qualities to liberate Imo State from misrule.

He also urged Imolites to put APGA led government in the state next year in order to consolidate democracy and for the economic development of the state.