Saraki advises Nigerians to hold leaders accountable

Senate President Bukola Saraki on Wednesday urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of holding their leaders accountable in the cause of governing them.

Saraki ,in a statement to mark the president and governors’ inauguration, said Nigerians must take full ownership of democracy, its institutions and use them to entrench peace, welfare and improved standard of living for all the people.

In the statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, he also implored the people to be good followers and law-abiding at all times, stressing that democracy was about the people who should use it to achieve social justice, equity, inclusiveness and economic self-reliance.

Saraki also expressed joy on the 20 years of democracy in the country without interruption.

He said: “We should avoid conflicts and blood-letting as no country can develop in the midst of chaos.

We should all steer clear of issues, comments and situations that emphasise our fault lines.”

According to him,“It is a thing of absolute joy and national pride that we are today celebrating two decades of sustained democratic governance in the country.

“It is my hope that every Nigerian will look back at how far we have come in the last 20 years and resolve to continue to preserve our democracy, not minding the observed lapses in the operation of the system.

“We should continue to strive to preserve the present form of democratic governance because democracy still remains the best system of government.

“We have a duty to translate this dream into measurable realities in terms of the security and welfare of the people as well as the socio-economic and political advancement of the country.

“I believe that all our newly sworn-in leaders are fully abreast of the present realities and, therefore, would spare no effort in working to turn the country around for the better”.