A Message From Law Students Association On Democracy Day
Democracy Day is a very historic day is our dear nation’s history, the same which arouses convoluted feelings of joy and sobriety, hope and melancholic reminiscence.
On this day, as we relish the freedom brought by democracy, we must also remember the price paid for it – the martyrs who paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the entrenchment of constitutional democracy must also be duly celebrated and their legacies preserved.
Undoubtedly, the best way to ensure the sacrifice of these heroes do not end in vain is to progress beyond democratic ornaments to imbibing its true spirit in our institutions and governmental processes.
We must progress beyond merely organizing periodic elections, to ensuring that the will of the people truly prevail through the ballot. True separation of powers must be religiously practiced at all levels of government, the judiciary must be insulated from undue interference in the execution of its constitutional duties.
As law students, the future of the Bar and Bench, which allegorize the law, we stand that the rule of law must take prominence in Nigeria’s democracy as this is the hallmark of true democracy.
Despite our lapses, we must not fail to recognize how far we have come. From the dark days of strong suppression of any tinge of democracy to 21 years of uninterrupted democratic practice. This indeed gives us hope, that tomorrow will be better.
In conclusion, as Wael Gholim once opined, “The power of the people is much stronger than the people in power”. We as Nigerians irrespective of political, ethnic, religious and class differences must take up the responsibility to be custodians of our democracy. We must recognize that only a few cannot effect the systematic improvements we strongly yearn for, hence, we must collectively work towards the growth of our democracy. Political apathy, indifference, violence and propaganda must be dumped as they are encumbrances to the growth of our cherished democracy.
May the labour of our heros not be in vain.
God bless Nigeria.