The Committee for Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) on Saturday 11th May 2024 held its National Convention and Democracy Icons Award. The event held at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Center is to recognize the efforts, sacrifices, and resilience of lovers of our country.
Speaking with journalists at the sideline of the event, National Chairman of COPDEM, Rwang Pam Junior said there are two types of politicians: those in power and those out of power, whom he said must serve the best interest of the people.
He said Nigerian politicians must lead this country right and urged aides and family members to tell them what is right so that they can amend their policies.
He said; “If there are policies they have already taken and the policies are worthy, then we should help them and encourage them to implement policies not only have papers churning out of the National Assembly and no action is on the ground.
“People are tired of hearing that it is better; the dollar has gone up, gone down, they want to see it in terms of garri and cocoa, rice and beans in the streets.
“Once it has gone to that level then you are really impacting the people and if you have not gotten there then you have not started anything.”
He said the awards have been created for individuals who sacrificed everything risking intimidation, arrests and detention and spoke out in defence of democracy during the 2023 general elections.
According to him the likes of Dele Giwa, Gani Fawehinmi, Obadiah Mailafia, MKO Abiola and others alike who laid down their lives for the good and betterment of country should be celebrated.
Also speaking, the Secretary General of the Big Tent, Dr Austin Kemie Nigeria’s present crop of politicians do not conform to the principles of democracy unlike in the second republic when politicians and political parties had ideologies.
Dr. Austin said; “In the second republic, we had politicians with a conscience; I am sure some of you may be old enough to recall the politicians in the second republic.”
“For political parties at the time, you can easily identify what each of these political parties stood for like the NPN, PRP, UPN and so forth in the late 1970s and early 80s.”
Dr. Austin said the event was necessary because it brings stakeholders, citizens and compatriots around the country to remind them that democracy is an important implement that we need to advance good governance in Nigeria.
Major highlights of the event include presenting of awards to the recipients of the ICON awards which include prominent Nigerians like Peter Obi, Aisha Yesufu, Bishop Matthew Kukah, and the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who were recognized for their contributions to democracy and national development.
Also, COPDEM gave scholarships to three students Benedict Princess Nneka, Irinola Oluwaleke Michael, and Ekanem Precious Emmanuel, as part of the organization’s efforts to support education and empowerment.
