As Nigeria marked the June 12 Democracy Day, the Secretariat Membership Club (SMC) has urged politicians and stakeholders to uphold the sterling qualities of true democracy, including participation, accountability, unity in diversity, and shared responsibility, for Nigerians to enjoy the dividends.

The recommendation was contained in a statement issued by the General Secretary of the SMC, Emmanuel Adesuyi, at the end of the session organised by the club last Friday to celebrate the Democracy Day.

President of the club, Ayodeji Randle, while congratulating Nigerians on the celebration, identified four factors that could make Nigeria’s democracy viable, which, according to him, include general participation.

He said: “Democracy means every citizen has a voice. That’s why we’ve set aside time for open discussion. All citizens are equal.”

“On accountability, which is the second quality, he said that just as the club addresses all questions and agitations by members, government at all levels are expected to respond to all issues raised by citizens.

“On the need for unity in diversity, he said: “Though we came from different backgrounds, tribes, and opinions, democracy teaches us to disagree without breaking apart. Our strength is in respecting each other as we build one strong club and Nigeria.”

However, he said on shared responsibility, it implies civic responsibilities and duties, which include voting, donating, volunteering, and paying dues or taxes as the case may be.

He said when club members or citizens are free to speak up, when leadership listens, and when all take responsibilities, Nigeria would grow stronger, fairer, and become more welcoming for citizens and foreigners.

In his remark, Adesuyi stated that though the club had been marking the day, Randle had taken it a notch higher to consolidate on the status of SMC as a legacy club.

He said though members belonged to different political parties, they all gathered to celebrate June 12 because it symbolised freedom for all, irrespective of political affiliations.

He said most members were entitled to their individual and collective views on any matter, noting, however, that most members believed that President Bola Tinubu was on track in trying to correct certain ills perpetuated over the years.

Adesuyi, however, said that the President should do more to tackle insecurity decisively by engaging local security architecture.