Democracy Shouldn’t Be Left For Politicians Alone – Dickson
Former Bayelsa State Governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West in the Senate, Chief Henry Seriake Dickson, has urged the Nigerian media not to leave the duty of protecting and safeguarding the nation’s democracy for politicians and citizens alone.
Speaking during the conferment of an award by the Senate press corps on Friday, Dickson recalled that the media played a frontline role in the campaign against the military which eventually culminated in democratic governance in 1999.
He however commended the Nigerian media for its critical role in promoting and defending democratic governance in Nigeria.
He stressed that the media did not just act as a midwife for the nation’s democracy but has been working assiduously with its operators to ensure its growth and development.
According to him, the political class is delighted that the media is active in deepening democratic governance in the country.
He called for effective collaboration between the political elites and the media, saying that democracy must not be abandoned to politicians alone.
He said: “We (the politicians) are aware of our duty to collaborate with you at all times because the task of deepening, protecting our democracy can not be left to Politicians, the political parties, and even on the citizens of our country alone,
“We are aware of our duty to collaborate with you at all times, because the task of deepening, protecting our democracy can not be left to Politicians, the political parties, and even on the citizens of our country alone, without the participation of the Nigerian media, and we are delighted that the Nigeria media has been very active in this regards.
“The media fought in the days of the military, played a key role, a leading role in ushering in our nation’s Democracy, and we are as also grateful that did not just act as midwife of our nation’s Democracy and abandoned the fledgling baby of our nation’s Democracy to its operatives.
“The media has behaved as dutiful nurses working with other operators to nurture and deepen our Democracy. And we appreciate the work the Nigerian media has been doing and will continue to do. And we encourage you to fulfil your constitutional duties responsibility of informing, of educating the Nigeria People.”
