Alhaji Ahmed Dogara, former Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger, has called on the National Assembly to urgently pass the Local Government Autonomy Bill in the interest of democracy.
Dogara told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Minna that the decision of the lawmakers to formally approve a proposed amended draft of local government reforms in the constitution was highly commendable.
According to him, if the proposed amendment is passed into law, it will set free the local governments from the strong-hold of state governments.
“The only way the country can move forward is when the government respects the feelings of its citizens and guarantee the rule of law.
“When the feelings of the people are not respected, it becomes a problem, people will begin to agitate for one thing or the other,” he said.
He also called on Nigerians to resist any attempt by any group to forment trouble and try to destroy the existing peace in the country.
According to him, “there is a reason God put us together as Nigeria, and until we key into that purpose, it will be difficult to benefit from the abundant human and mineral resources at our disposal.
“Peace is the foundation for an enduring prosperity and we all must make the necessary sacrifice for peace to reign’’.