TheCable

Ovie Omo-Agege, former deputy senate president, has asked Nigerians to work assiduously for the strengthening of institutions of governance to make democracy more responsive to the yearnings of the people.

In an Independence Day goodwill message to Nigerians, Omo-Agege, who is also the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta state, said all levels of government — federal, states and local governments — should be involved in the task so that all institutions in our democratic dispensation fulfill their constitutional tasks and responsibilities.

In a statement signed by Sunny Areh, media adviser to the former deputy senate president, Omo-Agege said with Bola Tinubu as president, Nigerians should join hands with him to build strong institutions.

“I believe Nigeria is lucky at this time to have President Bola Tinubu leading the charge. He has a sterling record in strengthening the institutions of government, of upholding the various arm’s independence and of making democracy work for the people from his time as governor,” Omo-Agege said.

“In the challenging times we are in, the best recipe for restoring Nigeria is to ensure that all institutions stand firmly as envisaged in the constitution. This should be the case in states and local government areas, not just the federal government.”

Omo-Agege said there is no alternative route to securing and strengthening democratic rule than through strong institutions, especially at state and local government levels.

“When institutions at the levels of government closer to the people are strong, then actual power will devolve to the people and our democracy will be the better for it,” he said.

“After over 24 years of unbroken democratic rule and 63 years of Independence, Nigeria is ripe enough to be counted not just as a bastion of democratic rule but a defender of democracy.”