Thank Your Stars We Are In A Democracy- Presidency

The Presidency on Tuesday knocked some Northern youths for their recent statement on the security challenges being faced in the country, saying that they would have met harsh retribution from a dictatorial government.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement, asked the youths to thank their stars that the nation is operating a “truly democratic government” where free speech is guaranteed.

A coalition of Northern youth groups had on Monday asked the Federal Government to stop the massive killings and raiding of communities in the North by bandits and Boko Haram insurgents.

In separate statements, they decried the deplorable security situation in the North and demanded the immediate removal of the service chiefs.

On its part, the Coalition of Northern Groups had in its June 12 message said Nigeria, particularly the north, has had the worst set of incompetent leaders in the last five years.

But Shehu said it amounted to a grave mistake for the Northern youths to dissociate themselves from Democracy Day and, in effect de-cognizing democracy as a chosen system of government.

He said, “For a start, if the group dared to issue such a comment under non-democratic method, they would have met a swift and harsh retribution from a dictatorial government.

“They should thank their stars that we are operating a truly democratic government where the rights of free speech are guaranteed and protected.

“This government has done more than any other – elected or not elected – to curtail and beat back the terrorists.