Democratic Rule Stabilized Nigeria, Now We Have To Secure It - Babatope

Former Transport Minister, Chief Ebenezer Babatope,  stated that the positive impact of democratic rule in governance had helped Nigeria to stabilize the polity.

He said this at the 17th Anniversary Public Lecture organized by the Bayelsa government in commemoration of the 17 years of the state’s creation.

"Nigeria is a multi-tribal and multi-religious nation. Our delicate balancing of the operations of these essential features of our socio-political lives had helped tremendously in ensuring the triumph of democracy in our nation. "Though we have conflicts, our nation has not gone under because no matter our faults, we have not allowed the basic tenets of democracy and democratic governance to be subverted in our country.

Babatope noted that the current challenge facing the country is how to make democracy work and survive. He said for him it was clear that democracy is the only form of government that can guarantee the survival of Nigeria as a nation.

"Democracy not only permits the freedom of choice and movement, it equally ensures that the fundamental rights of Nigerians are respected. "I have always been amazed when I hear people say that the military may instigate a coup simply because we have some problems in our political arrangements.''

Babatope also said that the Nigerian military had grown in professionalism and had shown the required maturity in attitude toward the political affairs of the country. However, he warned that it would never be in the interest of the Nigerian military to be used to subvert or overthrow the country's constitution:

"If Nigeria's armed forces should allow themselves to be caught in this kind of game, then, it will be a gradual descent into perfidy," he stated.

The lecture was attended by notable dignitaries from within and outside the state, including ex-Speaker of the House of Representives, Alhaji Ghali Na'Abba. Others were one-time governor of Anambra, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, traditional rulers, members of the Bayelsa executive council and civil society groups, among others. (NAN)