Democracy Can Only Thrive If Home Grown – Senator Agadaga
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by Oyagiri Chime-emeleThe Senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District, in the National Assembly, Senator Benson Agadaga, has asserted that true democracy can only thrive if it is home grown.
Senator Agadaga made the statement during a chat with media men Thursday, November 28, at Yenagoa during the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, GJF Democracy Dialogue series 2023.
The lawmaker said the copying of British and American democracies by Africans would not engender the expected development in the continent
He stated that the practice of democracy has been a challenge in Nigeria because of its total importation and lack of home grown ingredients that would have fostered it. He cited the issue of tenure, declaring that it must not be as applicable in other climes.
The senator, who canvassed for a seven year tenure for governors said: “We need seven years to be in the office when voted in as a governor. Our governor is doing well for the few years in office, but is now faced with the problem of contesting for another election, spending all the time running about. If Gov Douye Diri is allowed to settle down for just five years, we know where he would have taken the state to.
“We need democracy that is home grown for us to look at those things that would promote democracy but the continuous importation of everything from America and Britain.”
Agadaga, who is also the Senate chairman on Oil and Gas Host Communities, hinted that some bills passed by the senate are self serving than for the public good, urging that laws for the masses to enjoy be of priority. He pointed to a law that makes Ministers to resign from office a year before contesting for an elective position, while a National Assembly member would remain in his chamber and contest for another election.
He urged his colleagues to take seriously its oversight functions in order to build strong democratic institutions and also make the citizenry benefit immensely from established people oriented organisations. He further added that the PIA would remain a paper work except the National Assembly committee saddled with the responsibility to ensure its proper implementation do the needful.
