Second Republic President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, has extolled President Goodluck Jonathan for the good work he has been doing since his assumption of office, especially in fostering national unity.
Shagari – whose tenure was incidentally cut short unceremoniously by the major contender to President Jonathan’s re-election bid, Muhammadu Buhari (of the All Progressives Congress, APC) in 1983 – also expressed his happiness over the 16-year uninterrupted democratic rule which the the country has witnessed, praying for a sustenance of the same.
“There is no better indicator that, while much remains to be achieved, our beloved Nigeria is slowly but surely maturing politically. Almost unwittingly, we are strengthening our democratic practice. And we must acknowledge and be thankful of the fact that Jonathan has taken it upon himself to diligently promote one Nigeria not only in words but in action.”
“Without the acceleration of electoral reforms achieved as a result of President Jonathan’s political will, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, would not have been able to guarantee relatively free and fair elections in 2011.
“While the Jonathan administration lays claim, and rightly so, for assuring that INEC could carry out its work unimpeded by what had become almost routine ‘bottlenecks’ and practices in the administration of Nigerian elections hitherto, we must not forget the role popular opinion played as well. Much remains to be done, but we are now more confident that INEC can become an effective and independent institution.”
Speaking on the book, Shagari said: “As I looked through the book, I was reminded of the responsibilities and roles our leaders undertake daily to help move our beloved nation forward. In the case of President Jonathan, a lot has been said and written about his style, strategy and keenness. Anyone who picks up at this book will surely appreciate how hard he works, how earnest he is and how much energy and bonhomie he brings along with him.
“The book also reminds me of how much Nigeria’s states and communities are inter-linked in so many ways. This is a reminder of the role citizens play in securing democracy and democratic institutions. And Indeed Nigerians have been at the forefront in ensuring that ‘things’ get better.
“Most of all, I was reminded how much, over the past four years, our young democracy has grown in terms of tolerance and inclusion which embraces, accepts and celebrates our diverse cultures and communities.”
Shagari also said he hopes more of such books will be produced and published as such stories will “heighten our collective understanding of how our democracy is being built. Stories that will remind us of how far we have come. Stories that will inspire us to continue to hold our political leaders accountable for ensuring that Nigeria delivers the basic needs of Nigerians, and that it takes on its global responsibilities and leadership with same sense of focus with which it is nurturing and building its democratic traditions.”
