Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says despite the current
challenges, Nigeria’s democracy is showing signs of positive growth.
Osinbajo spoke on Sunday at the 2022 Democracy Day
inter-denominational church service, held at the National Christian Centre in
Abuja.
According to the vice-president, the events that have
characterised Nigeria’s politics since the beginning of democratic rule in 1999
show that the country is capable of fostering good governance.
“In the last couple of weeks, party primaries have been held by political parties, big and small and across the country, without violence, rancour or the prevalence of bitter court cases as have characterised the process in times past. We are growing,” he said.
“The social contract between the government and the people
with the ballot as arbiter is daily being strengthened. The combined effort of
government, the people and civil society across the federation are bringing us
closer to our highest democratic ideals and aspirations.
“So, this is a day for gratitude and hope — a day to remind
ourselves that what was once thought impossible of Nigeria has been proven
possible, and that what is yet considered so, is well within our grasps. We
only have to keep moving forward, each one of us playing our part.
“It is possible for light to overcome darkness; it is
possible for joy to overcome sorrow; it is possible for peace to prevail over
terror; it is possible for us to be united, irrespective of our cultural,
linguistic, religious or even ideological differences.
“Jesus said to the crowd in Luke 12:54: ‘When you see a
cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘it’s going to rain,’ and it
does.’ We have seen the rain coming over Nigeria. A rain of peace and
prosperity — one which like the goodness of God, touches everyone no matter who
or where they are.
“Today, let us rest assured in the promise and possibilities
of Nigeria. We have the talent, and the resources to be a beacon of hope and
standard-bearer for the rest of Africa and the black race.”
Osinbajo added that he believes in the possibilities that
Nigeria can achieve, adding that the country will overcome its challenges.
“We have been progressively proving that we have what it
takes to run an open, honest and transparent government that guarantees the
rule of law and secures every corner of the nation; that in this decade, we can
lift 100 million people out of poverty and guarantee equal access to education
and opportunities for our women, bringing to fruition the most comprehensive
social welfare programme for the poor and vulnerable on this side of the
planet,” he said.
“We know the challenges. We live with them. But we also
know, and we have seen, in the words of Paul the Apostle that: ‘in all these
things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us’, and that our
nation will continue its long but steady march toward the fulfillment of its
God-ordained destiny.
“I believe you are as persuaded as I am because we know
that: ‘all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who
are the called according to His purpose’. All things are working toward the
emergence of a stronger, unified, peaceful and economically prosperous
Nigeria.”
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