Olisa Metuh breaks silence, calls for leaders' re-commitment to democratic values

- Olisa Metuh has called on Nigerian leaders to re-commit to the values and tenets of democracy

- Metuh made the call on his Facebook page on Monday, May 29

- He said this year's Democracy Day celebration should help douse the growing tension in Nigeria and resolve all national differences

The former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Olisa Metuh on Monday, May 29, called on Nigerian leaders to re-commit to the values and tenets of democracy.

Metuh said should help douse the growing tension in Nigeria and resolve all national differences.

The PDP in a post on his Facebook page said the underlying values of democracy; the principle of separation of power, respect for the constitution and rule of law, protection of personal and political rights of citizens, freedom of association and speech, fair and free elections and even equitable distribution of wealth as guaranteed by democracy have been eroded.

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Adding that autocratic regimes, the antithesis of democracy are often able to record the kind of benchmarks that has become the fashion, Metuh said Democracy Day celebrations should be enforced through values on which true democracy is built.

Metuh said: "The focus of our Democracy Day celebrations ought therefore to be the level of subscription to and enforcement of the values on which true democracy is built rather than the brick-and-mortar achievements, real or imagined, of agencies and departments of the executive arm."

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"It is easier to sit on the sidelines, criticizing and condemning, than to actually be in the arena, balancing diverse and conflicting interests, and managing still to forge unity, peace and progress on democratic principles," Metuh said.

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He further advised that this year’s democracy day celebration should serve engender a re-commitment to the upholding of democratic ideals so that the citizens can enjoy, "a country where their personal and political liberties are much better protected ……and where they are free, within the ambit of the law to hold opinions, ventilate their views and associate freely without any form of molestation..”

NAIJ.com had earlier reported that the Acting President had urged Nigerians to endeavour to sacrifice towards Nigeria's growth and development.

Osinbajo also warned leaders clamouring for disunity and spreading speeches of hatred to desist from such acts.

You can watch this NAIJ.com video of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo speaking on Biafra war: